There are a lot of things I am passionate about. That might be one of the things that sets me apart from my peers, in fact. As a sixteen year old, I've found it to be incredibly difficult to express my political passion. I started this blog, that's one thing. I also started Salem Youth For Change (which you can read more about here), so that's something else. This idea of being passionate beyond my... age comes out in ways other than politics of course. For example, education. I love it. I love the college experience, so I'm getting started at the youngest age I can.
I write a lot as well, not just blogs, but more creative writing too. I have about five half-novels, some screenplays, and lots of short stories and poems. I had a thought the other night. The title of my New York Time's best seller. Politics portrayed through a sixteen (almost seventeen... I hope you're preparing your gifts...) year old's eyes. Not just any sixteen year old, though that would be interesting in itself, but a sixteen year old that is potentially more informed than the masses of society (not to, uh, play my horn loudly in the ears of others).
So here, for you, today (or tomorrow, or the next day), is a glimpse. A glimpse into the brain, the surge, and the world of my political mind.
(this is an inaccurate picture of my brain. I'm not really being controlled by a dictator... nor am I a man. It's called irony)
The first door you walk through takes you to a swimming pool. Inside the swimming pool, sporting patriotic speedos and bikinis, are our current Republican presidential candidates- Sarah Palin is life guarding with her rifle. One could easily mistake this pool as a cesspool, but we'll pretend there is a fine line for now. As of right now, the two leading candidates are Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. I've researched both of them many times, along with most of the other candidates (Huntsman, by the way, is my "favorite"... or at least, most rational). Looking at Gingrich as a teenage girl, I have a looming sense of: I would never want to be in the same room as this guy. His child labor views? Creepy. His sexist comments? Creepy. But here's the thing. It would be amazing if he won against Romney. The reason is that there is no possible way, unless hallucinogens were distributed in the voting box, he could win against Obama.
As the chlorine starts getting to your head, and Bachmann seems to be copying the Palin theory of coming to a public event with three lines memorized for any question (don't believe me? See for yourself), you decide to back away slowly. Or jet out of there. No one is blaming you.
Down the hall and to the left we come across the topic of socialism. If you've never honestly read about socialism, from a source that isn't Fox news, go do it now. I really really love the idea of socialism. Of course, I don't believe it would work in what we have left of a society today, but if started from the root with a strong core and equal participation among everyone in a community, I truly believe it could be a very effective way of governing. Today I delivered my speech on Women Oppression from a Marxist Perspective in my speech class. It may have gone over some of my fellow students' heads, but it was really fun and challenging for me to write this speech. I got to dig into not only the Communist Manifesto, but The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Summary as well! If you are at all interested in Marx and Engels, and the concepts they created, I highly suggest both short books. A main point that works for me with socialism is the advocacy for equality. Obama by the way, as much as I do wish it were true, is not a socialist.
Back in the awkward architecture of the PS201 classroom, we talked quite a bit about slanted news sources, about bias, etc. This is actually my biggest aggravation. I've had A LOT of personal experience with it, as I'm sure most of us who can recognize it have. I have a... relative who is constantly roaring on about the importance of neutrality, looking at situations from all sides, not obtaining all your information from a one-sided source. However, he mainly quotes Fox news and regurgitates the words of Rush Limbaugh in HIS blog. He's totally going to read this and hate me, but hey, it is for the sake of academics. It's obvious that I have an opinion. I have a limp to the left. However, as often as I can, I read the same stories from each standpoint. My go-to neutrality sites are NPR, BBC, and Al Jazeera. Being sixteen and looking around at my "elders", it's really kind of disappointing in most instances. My mother (who I know won't read this, so we're okay) is one of the least politically informed people I know. Other relatives, some teachers (not ours of course, she is wonderfully informed), peers, celebrities, and quite frankly a whole lot of politicians, are not at all informed. So how am I supposed to grow into adulthood with an overbearing idea of apathy?
It's a question that haunts and takes over most of the kids in my generation. I mentioned that I have gone to many extents to be able to express myself politically without filling out a ballot. Unfortunately, the larger portion of my peers haven't found that idea yet. I know, most of you reading this are registered to vote, and at least somewhat informed as well. So just, keep in mind that there is another generation growing up, going to be replacing what you are now, so don't forget to stress the importance to them as well. I'm trying anyway.
Pop your knuckles, stretch your back, yawn a bit, and feel free to leave my mind. It's getting a bit humid in here anyway.
DING DING
The clock strikes 1:02, and I decide to actually sleep before a full day of work and studying during my lunch break.
