In 2000, I had my first taste of the democratic voting process. I was in the 6th grade at Public School 9 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and we were learning about how the voting process works by watching and reporting the presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush. We did lots of research on their platforms, policies and backgrounds. It was so exciting to see the process in action. By unanimous vote, Al Gore was my class’ pick for president. In our eyes, he couldn’t lose; logic and fairy-tale endings were on his side. Boy, were we in for a rude awakening from our dream of American democracy.
Somehow, George W. Bush became our 43rd President of the United States. I felt so betrayed by the people who actually voted. But I was only 11. “Maybe they know something I don’t,” I reasoned. By the time I was 15, I was disillusioned and just accepted that the “majority” was a group of self-righteous idiots and considered moving to another country as soon as I possibly could. I no longer believed that democracy was really worth anything because it seemed to me that people had no say. I felt it was an unfair system, and it was the job of the people to fight it, rallying in the streets and protesting the law we saw as inherently unfair. We were just rebellious teenagers asserting our voice and expressing our teen angst.
But then, by the time I reached the voting age of 18, something magical happened. Something never seen before; something I expected to happen perhaps by the time I reached my father’s age: A woman, Hillary Clinton, and a black guy, Barack Obama, were running for the presidency. For me, Barack Obama was a sign of hope, that 1% chance of affecting positive change that was desperately needed. He was an inspiration, reminding us to fight for what was right even if the odds were against us, even if it was painful, even if it looks impossible to everyone else.
Today, I know that the political process is just one necessary step in the process of progress and producing effective change that we want to see. As citizens, it’s our responsibility to hold the government accountable. I know there are people who think voting doesn’t mean anything because the system is flawed or that they don’t need to because they’re active in their communities and they do more than the government has ever done. But the people who put Bush in the White House are voting. It’s possible, even if we think the odds are against us, to be heard and be properly represented by politicians who have a vested interest in serving us. Obama is a clear example of that. The way he works is a reminder that it takes time, passion, and work to effect change. It’s not just a one time thing.
So, I’m voting today because I am so invested in improving the world around me that I’m willing to exhaust all the options I have to do so. And the political process is obviously a reliable way to do so since people gave their lives just to be heard.
I know that some candidates in elections today, including New Jersey Governor John Corzine and New York City Mayoral Candidate Bill Thompson, are running on a message that basically states that if I voted for Obama’s agenda in 2008, I must vote for those who will execute that agenda on the local level in 2009. To me, who Obama chooses to support holds more weight than who attaches themselves to his name. In a way I think its kind of a cop out because he’s the president of the entire country; theoretically, anyone can say they support him because they don’t have a choice at this point. I would be more impressed if they shadowed Obama in the way that they choose to operate in office.
For the record, I don’t stan (stalker-fan) for Obama just ’cause its the cool thing to do or because he’s attractive or because he’s black. I stand for Obama because he’s one of the very few politicians that is willing to be transparent, something
we rarely see in politics. He sets the standard for the type of politicians we need to see more often. Even if he turns out to be wrong about everything, he’s truthful and willing to take responsibility. If Corzine is legitimately trying to co-sign Obama, I hope he’s taking notes.One year ago today, I voted for Barack Hussein Obama. For the first time, I was able to be a part of the change I wanted to see. It was my first time voting, my first time participating in a system that I once believed did not work in my favor.
Christine L. Edmond is a Spelman College student and a daughter of BlackEnterprise.com Editor-in-Chief Alfred A. Edmond Jr.
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