Michigan Journal of International Law Volume 18 Issue 3 1997 The Fallacy of Neutrality: Diary of an Election Observer Jeanne M. Woods Loyola University New Orleans School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil Part of the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Election Law Commons, Law and Politics Commons, and the Law and Race Commons Recommended Citation Jeanne M. Woods, The Fallacy of Neutrality: Diary of an Election Observer, 18 MICH. J. INT'L L. 475 (1997). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil/vol18/iss3/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Michigan Journal of International Law at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Michigan Journal of International Law by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. THE FALLACY OF NEUTRALITY: DIARY OF AN ELECTION OBSERVER Jeanne M. Woods* "What's past is Prologue... Tuesday, April 26, 1994. Shrouded in a Rawlsian veil of ignorance,2 1 have no anchor in time or space. The veil is quite fashionable: lacy; black; seductive. Draped in its folds I am ageless and nameless, undefined by race, creed, or gen- der. I have no past. My will is free, unencumbered by history or tradi- tion. I am newly born. Nearby in a Capetown hospital, another newborn prepares to emerge from the dark warmth of her mother's womb. At 1:45 p.m., a baby girl will brave the glare of flourescent reality as her mother is gently coaxed by those around her.