US Presidential elections, by James O'Fee

For those of you who don't read a newspaper, watch the television or listen to the radio, today sees the Presidential elections in the USA. The process which began last year, or before, when various political worthies announced that they were going forward as Presidential candidates. The caravan which began with the primaries in the snows of New Hampshire and then weaved its way through many, if not all, of the 50+ States, today reaches its conclusion with the Democratic and Republican candidates returning to their home states (Arizona and Illinois) to await the decision of the people.

Few of us on this side of the Atlantic have a vote (but see below), so why do our mass media give the American decison such an enormous degree of attention? It's not our election, nor do I see elections in any other foreign land receiving anything more than a tiny fraction of this coverage.

The first answer must be that it matters. In the past years, the USA has led Britain into two wars in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. These continue and only on Saturday we were welcoming soldiers from the Royal Irish Regimant attack from Afghanistan. Yet that war continues. In the last few days, the son-in-law (an officer in the Marines) of a friend of mine has been called at short notice to return for active service to that country.

Secondly, we speak the same language and are part of the same Anglo-American cultural sphere. (But Germans, French and Italians follow the elections as well). Thirdly, the presidential elections are largely about personalities. All can easily form his own opinion of the leading figures.

The only person I know who definitely has a vote is 'Andy'. Andy was born in Northern Ireland as a member of a large family. His mother couldn't cope so that, during the Second World war,she sent Andy to California to be raised by his uncle. Andy became a US Marine and served in the Korean War. Afterwards he worked in security for the Hollywood movie studios. He got to know many of the big stars.

Yet Andy chose to retire back to Northern Ireland. I would expect to see him in the coming Remembrance Day parade, wearing his US Marine beret.