As a 17 year old white female living in America, I do not exactly receive much respect in the way of my opinions on politics. However, I do not believe my thoughts on an issue should be overlooked due to something I can not control-my age. No person is truly stupid enough to claim I do not know what I am talking about based on gender, but they can certainly discriminate against me based on age.
Today was the first time I was allowed to vote in an election and the feeling was quite incredible. It's not so much the fact that I supported a candidate that may eventually make it to the White House, but more the fact that I, for the first time since birth, was actually able to particpate in this country's history. I was suddenly no longer the child reading about history in the text books, but rather i was involved in it.
Think of it like being in the NeverEnding Story. It's that moment where you realize that Sebastian is not reading the story, but actually influencing it and making it happen.
In my school, voting is taught and stressed as one of the most important parts of our political system. This is the part where the people can be heard and recognized, and if the people are overlooked in an election, then that is our first sign that our country is in danger.
But my thoughts are more to this effect-
Who has never voted and is over the age of 18? Why did you choose not to vote?
Who votes every election? Why do you vote every time?
I want to know what the difference is between the way i view our government and how other people view it. Enlighten me and perhaps question your own motives.
-Kidd
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