Friday, Mar. 07, 2008

Facing the pressures of the first vote

By MARIA GROSS

Teen Scene Writer

My family has always been very political, so when I turned 18 last November, took that dreaded trip to the DMV, and when the weary employee asked me if I wanted to register; I was ready. However, signing up to vote and choosing the leader of your country for the next four years are two completely different things, and until a few hours before I actually cast my vote I wasn’t sure I was cut out for the latter.

Growing up I was raised on a steady diet of Fox News. Ann Coulter was praised at family gatherings. Conservative talk radio was constantly blaring in the car, and I even got The O’Reilly Factor For Kids for making the honor roll one year. In 2004, it was as if I was a personal warrior against John Kerry for all the smack talk against his campaign I took part in. As the years went by, I started to get less passionate about the president I had fought so hard for. I shrugged it off as if I was growing out of some political phase and didn’t think much about the decision that was looming above me… until I received my voter’s registration card in the mail.

Oh no, I thought. I could feel the pressure of voting on my finger tips as I held the thin card. You’re probably thinking, why not just skip out on voting? I had gone through enough history classes to understand the fact that people had died for my right to vote and I wasn’t about to let their death be in vain. My heart wasn’t any longer in my parents’ political party, and I refused to be another mundane voter who just followed their family because it was easier and not because it was what they believed was right.

So, I researched. I went back and forth. Finding unbiased sources was hard, sorting through the lies of the presidential hopefuls was harder, but when I stood in the shabby building to vote I knew I was doing what I thought was right. Even when my patriotic dad gasped at my selection I could still feel the pride beaming from him. I took my own lead, and although it wasn’t his first choice (or second… or third), he could respect me more for it.

It’s true, this primary wasn’t the big vote, but it still felt gratifying and I recommend those who qualify take advantage of what others fought so hard for you to do. For those who are eligible to vote and those who are still waiting their turn, remember to find out what battles you are passionate about because you can’t fight everything. Especially things you aren’t interested in. Most of all, stand strong on what you believe in, no matter what you believe in, even if you are standing alone.