Spring Break
Voting for the world as it should be
Michelle Obama
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Opinion
When I was a kid, my father volunteered as a precinct captain for the Democratic Party in our neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Some of my earliest memories are of tagging along as he went from door to door. He registered people to vote. If our neighbors needed absentee ballots, he arranged it. He helped them figure out how they'd get to the voting booth on Election Day.
He did all this because he believed in the value of each person's voice in the political process. But it took me years to appreciate what he was teaching me during those walks around the neighborhood.
Like so many people, I took my right to vote for granted. I never had to march for it. I never knew what it felt like to be turned away while others were told that their voice counted. So when I got to vote for the first time, I did it dutifully-but without any excitement.
But now I feel differently. And I hope every young person in this country can learn from me. Because what my dad was trying to show me was that voting is not a dry responsibility. Participating in the political process is challenging, fascinating and fun.
Many young Americans already know this. During the past 19 months, I've traveled to every corner of the country with my husband on his thrilling campaign for the presidency. We have been dazzled by the young people we've met. Our country is full of bright, curious, creative and passionate young men and women, who have an enormous capacity for hard work and a deep belief that a better world is possible.
So far, youth turnout in this campaign has been remarkable. More than six million young voters participated in primaries or caucuses this year. That's an increase of more than 100 percent since 2004. And at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, nearly 1 in 5 delegates were between the ages of 18 and 29.
I've seen this youthful energy and optimism before-when I met Barack 20 years ago.
When we were first getting to know one another, Barack took me to a community meeting in a neighborhood in Chicago where people were working hard to get back on their feet after local steel plants shut down and jobs dried up. There, Barack gave a talk about his experiences as a community organizer. He spoke about the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be. And he said that ordinary people can narrow that gap, if they work together for change.
He did all this because he believed in the value of each person's voice in the political process. But it took me years to appreciate what he was teaching me during those walks around the neighborhood.
Like so many people, I took my right to vote for granted. I never had to march for it. I never knew what it felt like to be turned away while others were told that their voice counted. So when I got to vote for the first time, I did it dutifully-but without any excitement.
But now I feel differently. And I hope every young person in this country can learn from me. Because what my dad was trying to show me was that voting is not a dry responsibility. Participating in the political process is challenging, fascinating and fun.
Many young Americans already know this. During the past 19 months, I've traveled to every corner of the country with my husband on his thrilling campaign for the presidency. We have been dazzled by the young people we've met. Our country is full of bright, curious, creative and passionate young men and women, who have an enormous capacity for hard work and a deep belief that a better world is possible.
So far, youth turnout in this campaign has been remarkable. More than six million young voters participated in primaries or caucuses this year. That's an increase of more than 100 percent since 2004. And at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, nearly 1 in 5 delegates were between the ages of 18 and 29.
I've seen this youthful energy and optimism before-when I met Barack 20 years ago.
When we were first getting to know one another, Barack took me to a community meeting in a neighborhood in Chicago where people were working hard to get back on their feet after local steel plants shut down and jobs dried up. There, Barack gave a talk about his experiences as a community organizer. He spoke about the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be. And he said that ordinary people can narrow that gap, if they work together for change.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Hah
posted 9/11/08 @ 10:41 PM EST
Wow. What a proud day for TEC. A total abdication of journalism on the front page and a rousing call for the youth to stand up and fight the battles of today for the futures of tomorrow from the wife of a presidential candidate right beneath a column by the youth saying they would rather not bother 'cause they are just so darned angsty that the world's political and social processes do not resemble the perfect world of loving and kindness they have been dreaming about. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/12/08 @ 3:00 AM EST
when you were previewing this article did you perhaps spare a thought to consider that perhaps an article by the wife of a canidate (any canidate) would be a rather bad idea. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/12/08 @ 3:14 AM EST
Do you know what would have been a better article if you wanted to talk about voting and the importance of voting? Why not interview some of the women around remember a time before they had a right to vote. (Continued…)
jimbo327
posted 9/12/08 @ 9:18 AM EST
Vote for my husband so I can live in that big white house in DC! Vote for him and I'll even say I'm proud to be an American! Anything for that big white house and that great coronation comes with it as the next Messiah. (Continued…)
Post a Comment