Sara White is 20, so this is her first time voting in a presidential election. She writes,
My parents always raised me to remember my rights and how important it was to vote. I took these lessons to heart and registered to vote as soon as I turned 18.
But, here’s where the funny stuff comes in. My parents are very, very staunch conservatives. They voted for Bush twice and think McCain will be a fantastic president. I, on the other hand, am very liberal and have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when they start talking about how poor people deserve to be poor and how McCain is so good for the country.
I’m studying abroad this semester but made sure to request my absentee ballot before I left the country. My parents know that I’m voting for Obama, I haven’t kept this intention a secret, and now they wish they hadn’t taught me to be so responsible about voting!
You know, the only time I ever feel anything close to patriotism is when I vote. I still get a little verklempt. Then again, the first time I voted was in 2000, and you see how that turned out.
If you’re already registered to vote but want to do more, check out Pollworkers for Democracy where you can sign up to be a pollworker or pollwatcher on election day.
IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE email fauxrealtho at gmail dot com with “VOTE” in the title. You still have through early October to get registered to vote in the 2008 presidential election.
wow, that has to be one of the saddest things I’ve ever read. sadly, it seems to e the complete mindset of the staunch conservative: your rights are precious, but only as long as you agree with us