Monday
Oct252004
Rebel Politics
Monday, October 25, 2004 at 02:30PM
"Who are you going to vote for, Mommy?"
This was the question four years ago, from my then-five-year-old son, before the Bush-Gore presidential race in 2000. He was in Kindergarten, and I was a younger, less experienced, more overwhelmed mother, with the five-year-old, his three-year-old sister, and a four-month-old baby.
I didn't know who or where I was most of the time (it's like that when they are all that young!), much less who I was going to vote for--IF I was going to vote at all. Aside from the fact that I would have to figure out how to register (we'd just moved to a new county), where to go to vote, and how to find the time--what to do with the children; I didn't have a clue about the candidates or the issues. At that time in my life, I was exhausted 24/7, and the biggest decision of the week was Domino's or Pizza Hut--that was about all I could handle!
I have historically not been very politically active. Overwhelmed with the issues I do have some control over, I've always understood the apathy and hopelessness some people feel about voting: "My vote is not going to count anyway," and, "The politicians--they're all the same."
When I did come up for air, in between playdates and laundry marathons, and had a brief glance at the news or a newspaper, the candidates at the time were virtually indistinguishable to me.
In 2000, we were new to the neighborhood--a staunch, old guard Republican community. While I didn't necessarily feel the same way, I didn't have the nerve (back then) to fly in the face of upper middle-class consensus and plant a Gore-Lieberman sign in my yard. One of our neighbors did--and you should have seen the flurry of Bush/Cheney signs that cropped up overnight! Birds of a feather, apparently, really do flock together.
In 2000, I was not above considering the political advice of a 5-year-old. I figured he was probably much better informed than I was.
"I don't know, Zach. What do you think?"
With very little hesitation, he replied: "I'm going to vote for Al Gore--he likes cookies, and he cares about the earth."
Fair enough--makes more sense than many of the arguments you hear when you actually do pay attention to the debates and advertising.
"Who is everyone else in your class voting for?"
"They're going to vote for George Bush--he likes money."
Yes, I should have known.
Four years later, I ask my now-nine-year-old son what he thinks, what they talk about in school about politics and the upcoming election. His answer breaks my heart:
"I don't know, Mom--they're all the same, it doesn't make any difference."
Four years later, I have the time. I am not as overwhelmed with the needs and demands of very young children. I am more settled, although sometimes I feel very much like a fish out of water in my community (but that's a whole ?nother story). I am older, and, I'd like to think, wiser; certainly more aware and involved in the many issues that affect my life, my country, my world, and the future of my children. Having often struggled through the last four eventful, difficult years, I can't be apathetic, or ignorant this time.
And we have to teach and set an example for our children--it is their future.
So we have watched the debates, and tried to stay informed on all the many issues, foreign and domestic. We talk about it. A lot. To the point of, "Can we talk about something else now, Mom?"
I was invited to participate on the "Voice of Atlanta" media survey and opinion advisory board for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The first assignment was to watch and respond to the debates--presidential and vice. I completed my survey and replied promptly by the end-of-debate-plus-fifteen-minutes deadline each night. I was thrilled to be quoted in the paper on Wednesday, October 6th, after the vice presidential debate:
Pg. A15 -- ELECTION 2004/Rating the debate - Voice of Atlanta (There are about a dozen quotes arranged on the page):
"Cheney came across much better than President Bush's performance last week. But still manipulative, self-serving, and much less than truthful, he just handles it better...Sen. Edwards actually answered the questions asked. He's easier to look at, too."
SHERRI CALDWELL,
Atlanta
Splits ballot, but tends to vote for Democrats
2004: Favors Kerry
So there you go. As hard as I try to be politically active, intelligent, aware, on top of the issues--still The Rebel Housewife!
This was the question four years ago, from my then-five-year-old son, before the Bush-Gore presidential race in 2000. He was in Kindergarten, and I was a younger, less experienced, more overwhelmed mother, with the five-year-old, his three-year-old sister, and a four-month-old baby.
I didn't know who or where I was most of the time (it's like that when they are all that young!), much less who I was going to vote for--IF I was going to vote at all. Aside from the fact that I would have to figure out how to register (we'd just moved to a new county), where to go to vote, and how to find the time--what to do with the children; I didn't have a clue about the candidates or the issues. At that time in my life, I was exhausted 24/7, and the biggest decision of the week was Domino's or Pizza Hut--that was about all I could handle!
I have historically not been very politically active. Overwhelmed with the issues I do have some control over, I've always understood the apathy and hopelessness some people feel about voting: "My vote is not going to count anyway," and, "The politicians--they're all the same."
When I did come up for air, in between playdates and laundry marathons, and had a brief glance at the news or a newspaper, the candidates at the time were virtually indistinguishable to me.
In 2000, we were new to the neighborhood--a staunch, old guard Republican community. While I didn't necessarily feel the same way, I didn't have the nerve (back then) to fly in the face of upper middle-class consensus and plant a Gore-Lieberman sign in my yard. One of our neighbors did--and you should have seen the flurry of Bush/Cheney signs that cropped up overnight! Birds of a feather, apparently, really do flock together.
In 2000, I was not above considering the political advice of a 5-year-old. I figured he was probably much better informed than I was.
"I don't know, Zach. What do you think?"
With very little hesitation, he replied: "I'm going to vote for Al Gore--he likes cookies, and he cares about the earth."
Fair enough--makes more sense than many of the arguments you hear when you actually do pay attention to the debates and advertising.
"Who is everyone else in your class voting for?"
"They're going to vote for George Bush--he likes money."
Yes, I should have known.
Four years later, I ask my now-nine-year-old son what he thinks, what they talk about in school about politics and the upcoming election. His answer breaks my heart:
"I don't know, Mom--they're all the same, it doesn't make any difference."
Four years later, I have the time. I am not as overwhelmed with the needs and demands of very young children. I am more settled, although sometimes I feel very much like a fish out of water in my community (but that's a whole ?nother story). I am older, and, I'd like to think, wiser; certainly more aware and involved in the many issues that affect my life, my country, my world, and the future of my children. Having often struggled through the last four eventful, difficult years, I can't be apathetic, or ignorant this time.
And we have to teach and set an example for our children--it is their future.
So we have watched the debates, and tried to stay informed on all the many issues, foreign and domestic. We talk about it. A lot. To the point of, "Can we talk about something else now, Mom?"
I was invited to participate on the "Voice of Atlanta" media survey and opinion advisory board for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The first assignment was to watch and respond to the debates--presidential and vice. I completed my survey and replied promptly by the end-of-debate-plus-fifteen-minutes deadline each night. I was thrilled to be quoted in the paper on Wednesday, October 6th, after the vice presidential debate:
Pg. A15 -- ELECTION 2004/Rating the debate - Voice of Atlanta (There are about a dozen quotes arranged on the page):
"Cheney came across much better than President Bush's performance last week. But still manipulative, self-serving, and much less than truthful, he just handles it better...Sen. Edwards actually answered the questions asked. He's easier to look at, too."
SHERRI CALDWELL,
Atlanta
Splits ballot, but tends to vote for Democrats
2004: Favors Kerry
So there you go. As hard as I try to be politically active, intelligent, aware, on top of the issues--still The Rebel Housewife!