Yesterday, while I was looking at the "Rock the Vote" website, I came across a blog criticizing Suzanne Fields's opinion on the the validity of the youth vote. Fields, a syndicated columnist for the Washington Times, wrote this past May that the youth may not know what these presidential debates are all about, considering that "The young have been short-changed by the educationists for decades, not learning very much." She even had the nerve to pick fun at the "Rock the Vote" movement by titling her column "Rock the Ignorance."
What surprised me more was when she said that a major problem in our education system are the textbooks that are "spiced with anti-Western criticism." And most of her evidence of this criticism and "political correctness" is the lack of anti-Islamic messages in today's textbooks. Are you kidding me? Does she really think having a more open-minded view of the world makes our generation less educated? And she writes for a major media publication?
Although our generation has its faults, the youth today are unquestionably more connected globally that previous generations, and OUR views on foreign policy are key to this election. At my American university in Madrid, I'm surrounded by Arabs, Africans, Western & Eastern Europeans, Latinos, and more. My parents and grandparents never had this opportunity. Living in Mississippi during desegregation, my parents didn't go to school with any blacks until they were in their mid-high school years. I, on the other hand, grew up going to a 95% black high school and junior high. And you're telling me this young, globalized world view isn't valid in the election?
Check out her article for yourself: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/may/22/rock-the-ignorance-1836/
And the Rock the Vote blog criticizing her article: http://www.blog.rockthevote.com/2008/05/washington-times-youth-vote-ignorant.html
¡Que fuerte me parece!
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This is completely true in that a broader and more open minded view of the world does not harm but in fact helps the youth vote. However, I can definitely see where Fields could doubt a generation where not even half of its citizens turn out to the polls, much less register to vote. This also discourages me as a young voter because I know many who have wonderful, fact based opinions and out of sheer laziness do not even register to participate in any type of election.
As United States citizens the vote is the most powerful voice that we have; in some situations the only one that matters. My challenge to all who read this is that before you give your opinion, before you take up a sign and protest, before you even write your congressman or other elected official, ask yourself if you have held up your end of the bargain. As youth we cannot think that our voice will be listened to if politicians and news journalists think that we really don't matter. I am convinced that the youth vote and the youth themselves will be taken much more seriously when 70 to 80 percent show up to utilize the most important and effective voice that we have in this nation. This is by far the most powerful tool that we have as a people and it is the most easy to use.
The youth are the most up to date on many issues and the changing of times. We also must bear the new economic burdens that are coming into effect and those that are already here to stay. Our opinion should be valued but won't be until we vote to make that happen.
Bessieleigh I really enjoy following your blog i hope that you keep the posts coming
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