Let's rewind a little.

Think back eight years ago. How old were you? I realized that, eight years ago, that I had my birthday. That's right. My birthday happened when Bush got elected in 2000.

This seems like a pretty simple fact -- duh Bush has been in office for eight years - but think about it. There is an entire generation that is casting their votes for the first time that have grown up under the policies of the Bush administration. We have seen No Child Left Behind fail first hand in our high schools. We have seen our siblings, our friends, and finally ourselves take out ridiculous loans that will put us in debt, maybe literally, for the rest of our lives to go to college. We have seen the Bush administration attack the rights of women, minorities, and pretty much everyone's rights but those who are rich, male, and white.

But, let's not forgot 9/11. Yes, it was the rallying cry for the Bush administration to start two wars, but ignoring that so many people died that day is what is really unpatriotic. I'm not asking for sanctification, but I am going to say that I was thirteen when it happened. That memory will always be in the minds of my generation because everything changed for us that day. Our friends and family went to Afghanistan and Iraq because the Bush administration was able to use the fear from 9/11 and do whatever they pleased. And what they did was start two wars that killed our friends and family members abroad and burdened those left at home as the economy began to degrade. Let's not forget how, when my friends started to turn eighteen, I began to fear that Bush would reinstate the draft because it wasn't already enough that my friends in the army, navy, and the marines were risking their lives needlessly in a pointless war.

And we won't forget Katrina. The rug was pulled out from under the feet of the Bush administration the day that Katrina hit. Whatever card house they had left standing toppled. Now, they couldn't deal with a national disaster along with the fact that they couldn't deal with a national crisis. Many of us wanted to skip school and help the people along the Gulf Coast region, and some of us left with parents or organizations to help clean up New Orleans. The Asian tsunami had felt so far away, but Katrina hit home. The images, the stories, and the humbling disaster made us see again the incompetency of our government.

And now, is there any wonder that the youth have come out in such large numbers to vote? I'm surprised that this has surprised the national news media. Obama acted as the pied piper and played us the song that we already wanted to hear, and the young people in this country obviously weren't alone in their opinions. My generation has watched eight years of incompetency, and we realize, more than ever, that this is our future. We don't want another eight years of wars, terror, fear, and disaster.

In the end, this is why it scares me when I hear about voter purges. It's going to probably be difficult to vote on many college campuses, especially in battle ground or red states, but please go and vote. Age is irrelevant in that respect. There are plenty of good posts hanging around about where to go in case of voter fraud. Go read them and get the phone numbers of who to call if you witness any illegal practices.

And voting is very much a feminist issue. This election has shown us how sexism, racism, and all the other -isms are alive and well in America. However you personally chose to vote, do not ignore those that have used these tools to undermine their opponents.

And all I have to say is that I hope I wake up, on my twentieth birthday, with Obama as my new president.

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November 3, 2008 11:25 PM

[0+]  wax_ghost said:

I was 20 years old when Bush was elected! So not only has his administration framed a huge part of my adult life, the only other president I can compare him to is Clinton, which was obviously a much better time for this country.

I'd like to feel hope again. I'd like to be able to believe in my own future again. So I hope Obama is our new president on your twentieth birthday too.

And happy birthday. :)

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November 4, 2008 10:44 AM

[0+]  Dori said:

Tomorrow is my birthday as well, and I remember very clearly the year I turned 21 and Bush won a second time.

Please America. Think clearly about the past eight years, and give me and Heather Dawn Lynn the best birthday present i think either of us could ask for.

Please give us Change.

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