The ride home from school today was filled with discussion on who I had voted for and why.
That's right, I voted today to beat the rush. Mine was the 689th ballot cast in my ballot-holding-machine-thingy at the County Clerk's office.
Anyhoo, the school my children attend is holding a mock election on Nov. 4th. Evan says he's voting for "Barry O'Vama." Flynn immediately took a contrary position until she found out that I'd also voted for "Barry".
Trying to put my reasoning for voting for the person I voted for into words and concepts my 7- and 5-year-old could understand without sounding jaded, cynical and (more than) slightly bitter was a daunting task. I told them that most of the ideas that Senator McCain has are ideas and beliefs I don't share and I'm more in harmony with Senator Obama's ideas. And while my kids tried to paint McCain as a bad person, I tried to tell them that Sen. McCain is not actually bad, he's a good man but he's just not the right choice to be president.
I couldn't tell them how disgusted I am with our current president and that Sen. McCain's presidency would mean more of the same; that the United States is currently a corporate state thanks very much to Mr. Bush and his greedy cronies. I also didn't mention McCain's running mate.
I did tell them that Senator Obama would change things for the better; that the thought of his presidency makes me hopeful for a better future for them; that Sen. Obama is fired up and his energy is infectious.
After this, Evan was silent for a bit then said, "Why don't they just work together?"
I couldn't answer him. Who knows? Maybe they will. Maybe they'll think like a 7-year-old.
That's right, I voted today to beat the rush. Mine was the 689th ballot cast in my ballot-holding-machine-thingy at the County Clerk's office.
Anyhoo, the school my children attend is holding a mock election on Nov. 4th. Evan says he's voting for "Barry O'Vama." Flynn immediately took a contrary position until she found out that I'd also voted for "Barry".
Trying to put my reasoning for voting for the person I voted for into words and concepts my 7- and 5-year-old could understand without sounding jaded, cynical and (more than) slightly bitter was a daunting task. I told them that most of the ideas that Senator McCain has are ideas and beliefs I don't share and I'm more in harmony with Senator Obama's ideas. And while my kids tried to paint McCain as a bad person, I tried to tell them that Sen. McCain is not actually bad, he's a good man but he's just not the right choice to be president.
I couldn't tell them how disgusted I am with our current president and that Sen. McCain's presidency would mean more of the same; that the United States is currently a corporate state thanks very much to Mr. Bush and his greedy cronies. I also didn't mention McCain's running mate.
I did tell them that Senator Obama would change things for the better; that the thought of his presidency makes me hopeful for a better future for them; that Sen. Obama is fired up and his energy is infectious.
After this, Evan was silent for a bit then said, "Why don't they just work together?"
I couldn't answer him. Who knows? Maybe they will. Maybe they'll think like a 7-year-old.
5 comments:
Evan sounds like a truly remarkable child. I'll be posting my political blog soon.
Smart boy! Congress should have him as a paid consultant.
TB's school is doing a mock election on the 3rd and then will compare on the 5th to see how they divided out compared to the country.
TB says he is voting for John McCain but then hesitates and asks "is that the brown guy because I like him not the creepy old guy" LOL Hopefully, his teacher will help him cast his vote for the right person, since he seems unable to remember his name.
MT calls him "Irock Obama" :)
I'm right there with ya, Missy! And I don't know what it is--but you all seem so... sooooo... friggin' BRILLIANT! ...not sure why I get that distinct and inescapable impression.... :D
"This One" for "That One,"
Gary
It is such an exciting time, isn't it? I can't wait to tell my children about this historic election. I feel change on the prairie winds ...
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