A minor's perspective is different. We are more ignorant, more immature, and easily influenced by our peers. We are the LOL generation, the Internet generation, the generation of fast-food-eating-texting-googling-celebrity-crazed adolescents.
However, we are the ones inheriting this mess "you adults" created for us. (Not to point fingers or anything.)
My dad introduced me to this site before the primaries, when I began to show some interest in politics...and I must say, this was an extreme insult to my teenage ego. I had thought that I knew more about worldly issues than most people my age, but this site just blew me away. Some diaries have made me laugh, some have made me cry, and others I plainly did not even understand at all. This site has pushed me to take the initiative and research...and procrastinate my English papers.
But don't get me wrong, I'm still basically an idiot that's ignorant about pretty much everything.
How can I convince my high-school peers in a very Republican state (Texas) to vote for Obama?
I would have liked to research the answer to this question myself, but to look at the histories of both candidates, and research the entire U.S. government system would take years. And I don't have years. I have 7 days.
Let me paint you a picture of where I'm from. As a resident of a middle/upper class suburb near Houston, many people are voting for McCain. It's no surprise that most of them make over 250 thousand dollars, and their kids refute every my every attempt to convert them with with "B...But his taxes!"
One of my friends touted an "Obama is my Homeboy" t-shirt a few days ago, and "mysteriously" failed his chemistry quiz that very day, a quiz that I had helped him study for. Even more "mysterious" is the fact that we knew the oxidation numbers inside out, and while I received a 95%, he received a 65%.
On Friday, during our lunch period, a student asked to speak on the microphone system to "encourage people to vote." This is how he encouraged us:
"Hey fellow students! Yesterday I cast my vote for the first time...against that Communist Pig Obama!
...Nevermind that that the kid was immediately escorted to the Principal's office, and that half the teachers had bitten their lips and glared at him on his way out...he created an uproar. For a single, blissful day, my pretentious and ignorant high school was swept away in the waves of politics.
Chemistry: (My class right after lunch)
Me: Hey, did you guys hear about that guy?
Classmate 1: Yeah, like, I was in that lunch. That, like, made me like laugh my pants off!
Classmate 2: What guy? I was eating my sandwich.
Algebra:
Classmate 1: I heard the "Microphone Guy" got 3 days of ISS (In School Suspension).
Me: Really?
Classmate 1: Yeah I was so mad...I'm voting for Obama.
Classmate 2: Me too! He's a good speaker...
Me: Why do you guys like Obama?
Classmate 1: He's black! Just kidding...but...uh...
Classmate 2: ...-mumbles something incoherent-
Spanish:
Me: Why do you like McCain?
Classmate 1: He has so much more experience!
Me: Oh? Explain yourself.
Classmate 1: For one, let's look at how they reacted to the invasion of Georgia. McCain says: "Cut off all ties with Russia! We don't need them anymore!" But look at Obama! All he says is, "Let's meet with the U.N. Security Council!" Problem is, Russia is in that group, and they can veto anything we put out to that council.
Me: But Russia isn't the only country in that group.
Classmate 1: We need to cut off all ties with Russia! Shoot at them, for all I care!
Me: But we can't do that. We have to have good relationships with other countries...and especially with a world power like Russa. You don't want nuclear missiles flying over your house, do you?
Classmate 1: Whatever...
...And then after school, a group of kids got together in the rotunda and started to chart "Obama! Obama!".
...I also have some fellow political-junkie on my school newspaper staff. One, - a friend of mine - is a person who believes that "FOX strives to be neutral" and that "Obama is a socialist". We used to have lively discussions during class about both candidates, but recently, her passion for politics has become so "strong"...that my name has somehow become "socialist". This is part play and part serious, but our conversations have become something similar to this:
"Come 'ere socialist, and help me out with this article." and "No, you cannot borrow my pencil until you tell me who you're voting for."
:::::
Now you've gotten a feel for my high school. People mostly tell me:
"He has no experience!"
"His taxes are horrendous!"
"He wants us to become a socialist country!"
"I don't want to pay for health care for a person that isn't even trying to sustain themselves!"
"Obama has been fighting a much dirtier campaign than McCain!"
"Everyone's just voting for him because he's black."
...And nonsense like that.
How do I fend off these attacks? I'm sure some of us younger and less-educated ones are wondering how they could quickly respond to questions like this... And I'm definitely a fan of some sarcasm.
UPDATE: Thanks SO much everyone! I'm extremely surprised and greatful at the amazing responses I've gotten from everyone! (Plus, I now know what a tip jar is...) I'm reading each comment carefully...and there are many great suggestions! Thanks everyone! I'll answer some repeating questions here:
- People have asked for MY knowledge on the election, so that they could better gage my understanding, etc. My parents are online subscribers of the NY Times, and their clean and easy-access charts and summaries on the views of each candidate have proved to be extremely useful in my quest for knowledge. (My friends all say: "Of course! This is why you're voting for Obama!")I've seen all of the presidential and vice-presidential debates, and researched each candidate on their websites. (Understanding is a whole other matter). No, I have not read the Consitution...yet. But I'd be happy to recite the "Preamble" in song form! It's a thing we learned in 5th grade. And if it means anything, I'm also a huge fan of Saturday Night Live, and Jon Stewart.
- Why am I fighting for the votes of a lost state? This is a no-brainer! Because no state isn't completely lost until November 4th! Besides, the fact that my friends are voting for McCain is not good for my heart!