- Posted
- Feb 7th 2008
- Mood
- Enthusiastic
[THIS IS DIRECTED AT YOUNG AMERICANS]... AKA: If you are not an American, then this isn't necessarily directed at you, but I'm sure you can consider some of my words and apply it to your own homeland and, hopefully, be a little inspired too.
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This may seem a little out of character for me, being the little cyberpunk that I am, but I have a serious point to make. This is long,
but please read it to the end.
Here is my serious question: Do you like how things are in America today? Do you like how it's been for the past chunk of years? I can guess most of you would say ,"No, Sam. Not really." Have you ever made a complaint about America or the people 'in charge?' I know damn well that I have. But.. here's the thing: You can't just sit on your butt and complain and not try to do something about it. If you don't know what's going on with the Presidential candidates or just don't care; please think twice. Ignorance isn't bliss. It's just ignorance.
As an artist or art appreciator: Think of stories, anime/manga, games, comics, or stuff of that sort that you like. So many story-lines focus on issues causing problems for everyone, a country, a planet, etc... and the protagonists overcome obstacles and have the courage to make the change. It's inspiring! It's
frickin' sweet, man! That's why we like these stories or games. We can often liken ourselves to a character in them. Well, it's the same situation in real life, guys. There are issues and we have to learn to deal with em. I know politics isn't the must fun subject in the world. In fact, it usually irritates me. Or puts me to sleep. No, we aren't battling monsters, or clomping around in mech suits (I WISH!!) or grandiose, fantastical things like that. But the end of this year will see a new American President, and that... that's monumental to me. It will be my first time voting for a President, second time voting in general. I think there are important people to keep an eye on; people who can make our home better. Don't you
want that? I can't be the only one inspired here, sheesh. Lol!
"Say WUT?! Sam Larson cares about this stuff??"
Oh baby, you bet I do. I
refuse to be ignorant.
If you aren't registered to vote, please get it done. Registered voters,
young voters, we need to make our votes count. Please. It's our future. Heck, our present, I should say. Do you really want to sit around and just take it how it is? Keep letting people from older generations who don't have the same thoughts or philosophies as us run things, spilling over to dictate our future? Barely any of the people in the 18-25 age bracket vote, but we should be the
most people doing it because it will matter most to us in the end. And for the love of god, DO NOT GO BY WHAT YOU SEE ON TELEVISION! Like it or (believe it or not) what you see from candidates on any side is fabricated to a certain extent or skewed by bias from the news channel it's on. The best way to know what the candidates are really about is by researching it for yourself, from NON BIASED sources (get the facts, not the rumors!), and ask every day people what concerns they have about this country and what they think could be done to help make it better, especially your peers. Form your own opinions from these resources.
Do it for yourself. It might be a little boring at times, but it's sure as hell better than being uninformed and uncaring... and then complaining about it afterwards. Ever hear the word hypocritical? Lol!
I won't tell you who to vote for; you have to make that decision for yourself. But if you'd like to ask me why I'm supporting the candidate that I am (not hard to find out who), please ask and I will tell you my opinions, whatever they are worth.
Thanks to everyone who read this all the way through, and a million thanks to young people who are inspired to educate themselves and vote. It's gonna be an interesting year!
!!
Samantha
StarGazerAngel Says:
I like to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report because they make our politicians look like the morons they are. :3 Granted, I know it's satire, but I find it more educational than the campaign ads and the news cover.
I'm a little iffy on voting myself. Normally, I'd be all for it, but as I plan to move to the UK within 2 years, I wouldn't feel very right voting only to leave and "escape" the consequences, as it were. That, and I am NOT voting for Clinton. She's a liar in my eyes. >( Here, for the Michigan primaries, the other Dem. candidates said the wouldn't appear on the ballot because Michigan had moved the primary date up. All the Dem. candidates had agreed they wouldn't be on the ballot before the date was even moved. So what happens? When the primaries are moved up for a few states, CLINTON says "nah, I'm gonna be on the ballot. See you suckers later". >.> Yeah, how about no?
Yeah, I think this country has gone to shit. That's why my plans are to leave it. The man I love isn't here, and apparently, neither are the principles and values I hold dear anymore.
>(
Good woman, you are.
Jyoshiki Says:
I am very cynical on the subject of politics to begin with, so whatever I say will, unfortunately, reflect that; thusly, I will not say much about it at all, especially about voting. I really don't feel like getting into it, honestly.
However, I will say that as for Clinton, I will never vote for anyone who supported the war, despite whatever claims she makes about it now. I really just don't like her, and my sister brought up an interesting point today - aside from Regan, all my life (and hers, as we're only two years apart)...our entire generation, actually...it's either been a Bush or a Clinton in charge. Feels more like a monarchy than a democracy...but of course, I kind of feel that anyway about our government in general, especially when I see people like Dubya in charge.
Pixelstx Says:
i totally agree with you. we do need to get out there and vote. i would do it, but i am not old enough to vote.
VolkColopatrion Says:
Yes m'am!
now, to hope that Obama gets the Nomination
Spiramy Says:
I live in England, am below voting age and don't even take politics in school, but nonethess i've been following the events in america very closely via the politics show every sunday morning.
I don't know about lies and rumours and stuff, but it looks to me that it's likely to be a republican victory overall. I'm not sure how it works, but that's the gist i got. And it was weird what happened with everyone thinking Clinton was out of the race not too long ago only to have the polls smash the opinion stuff they'd found out beforehand. They say it's because voters were fine to say that they wanted Obama for candidacy, but when they got into the secrecy of the voting booth, they changed their mind at the last minute and decided that they just weren't ready to vote for him. It seems strange, yet predicatable at the same time. and i heard there's lots of religeous opposition for him too, and people trying to link him with terrorist organizations and stuff in order to try and lose him favour.
A lot of it seems rather childish really. Either way on the democrat side, it seems like progress, though in the case of Hilary Clinton it seems a little too muhc like progress for progress' sake, which is almost worse than no progress because it takes advantage of people. Either way, i wish i could play an active role in this, because it will affect Britain in the long run, not that Britain is the only thing i care about, far from it. I just thought i'd put my opinions out there to prove that people form other countries are interested in this as well.
Apollyna Says:
There's this quiz somewhere on the ABC website, and it gives you the three candidates you most match up with. If I could vote, I would pick Obama, and he was in my top three. xD
NAAN Says:
And for the love of god, DO NOT GO BY WHAT YOU SEE ON TELEVISION! Like it or (believe it or not) what you see from candidates on any side is fabricated to a certain extent or skewed by bias from the news channel it's on. The best way to know what the candidates are really about is by researching it for yourself, from NON BIASED sources (get the facts, not the rumors!), and ask every day people what concerns they have about this country and what they think could be done to help make it better, especially your peers. Form your own opinions from these resources.
I AGREE IMMENSELY! I hope you don't mind me saying, but personally I was for Romney. Thanks to the news media however, McCain and Huckabee have gotten more delegates than Romney despite [they] being really crappy and just plain weak. It's been proven: Romney is so much better than they are, and yet the news media hates because he's rich and Mormon. Since when did religion become such a big issue? What was Kennnedy's situation, huh? And Romney wasn't always rich; he was poor when he got and it's by his presevationa and skills that he was able to be financially secure. At least he's (or was :( ) paying his own campaign, instead of taking bribes and whatnot.
We need a STRONG president, one who's not afraid to not be politically correct, if you know what I mean. If you're from another party, fine with me. but I think we should be walking towards what's good for the country even though you're Dem or Repu. That's why no matter who wins on the Republican side, I'm voting Dem (or not voting at all.) This was my first vote for President and it was the first time in my life that I was ACTUALLY INTERESTED in politics. I mean, REALLY interested. Thanks to the idiots McCaHuck though who ruined it for me. >: (
aibichan Says:
Reading this was like a slap on the wrist for me. I'm guilty of being one of those freshly legal adults that uses the defense "I don't care" to get out of this topic, which honestly usually leaves me in the dust. I'm also guilty of wanting to go with the flow and vote for Clinton because it was "The thing to do" among who I talked to. Not only that, but the entirety of my family does not vote. They hold personal opinions about presidents, but my mom, specifically, has never voted, only worsening my passive opinion about politics.
However I have heard the talk of how Clinton isn't as favored by women (That was a news headline on TV) as one would think, and since then the dirt pile on her has just gotten higher and higher. And now I'm starting to honestly question her and the possibility that I've shrugged off Obama. I will be legal to vote this November, but I'd like to know more about Obama and Clinton... but honestly? CNN.com and MSN.com don't look too promising. Like the biased news channels, the internet is also full of biased.
Where would you go for legit information on the two, since my parents and my friends either don't care, are too young to care, or don't know much about it and aren't voting?
namzinato Says:
It was inspiring. I'm unfortunately not able to vote until July, but the words from this journal entry might stick in my mind for that long. I'll research as best as I can so when my 18th birthday passes in summer I might be prepared for the November elections.
And it is so punk to talk about changing the government. Viva la revolution! If you want a revolution, you've got to make a difference on your own. =3 Like this entry.
The problem is so many people do not want to sacrifice the time they spend trying just to get by financially on research and real devotion to change, and can you blame them? It's a sort of difficult time, so I'd agree it's pretty much up to the youth who still get enough support from their P and M to have nothing better to do anyway but look into this.