Trick or Treat (read: Bush or Kerry)

On this beautiful Scottish Halloween day, I have read the blogs and papers and scan over commentary on the hostages, Bin Laden tape and all ther rest, it is apparent that President Bush needs these crises and/or emergencies to survive and appear to be a coherent leader. The media and subsequently the American public feed into this by covering the latest reaction to an event. What about schools? What about healthcare? What about jobs? There are MILLIONS of events in this country he could be reacting too. But he chooses the big bad wolf model because it scares enough people into voting Republican. If he didn't have some "evil doer" to react to, he wouldn't have these GRAND opportunities appear decisive. A peace time president he is not, as he would have surely failed in most if not all accounts. Peace ISN'T what he wants, and therefore he shouldn't be what the American people want on November 2.

The Power of Nightmares

Perhaps I was meant to move to Scotland. To live in and be exposed to a new culture with different norms, values and beliefs. I am thrilled about all that I am reading and watching and learning about. I am also discovering a that I am able to discern my political views and philosophy in new and constructive ways now that I am out of the confines of American media. I am astounded at how frequently I am confronted with the realization that I feel like I have been leading to and spouting off about for a long long time. Religion will make people do crazy things. Isn't it odd, that, in our identities in this world, when we are born we CANNOT CHOOSE: race, gender, sexual orientation, class (although you can move from this), physical appearance, etc. BUT, although we can be born into a religion, it is, in my opinion, the single greatest factor to cause grief and havoc on this world. We (generally speaking) actively choose to pursue a faith (catholics, protestants, born-again, muslim, jews, etc), and, a great deal a people will pursue that faith to such fanatical heights that they use religion to justify the Killing or removal of others. It would seem, if one from space lets say, took a cursory glance at our world, that people allover the world are trying to kill everyone else so they can be the last ones here. What sparked this latest rant? The Power of Nightmares on BBC2. Now that is a documentary that should be shown in the states, but I doubt it will.

What was our motto again, hate or be kind?

The Education Department is poised to give more access to the Boy Scout of America, a "patriotic youth group". That's right, give more access to a discriminatory group. Promote values of hate and exclusion to impressionable young people. As long as they salute that flag, let them hate and exclude anyone they want. I can see the signs now: BSA group meets at 12:00pm, over lunch. All are welcome. Except the queers. I used to be a Boy Scout (imagine if they knew I was queer?!!? I probably would have used by one of them to earn the Hate Gays badge!) and now I'm a government teacher. The irony of allowing a group that discriminates into an institution based on equality (by need, ability, religion, etc) is hysterical!

Only in America do we continue the viscious cycle of denying then granting rights to blacks, women, American Indians, 18 year olds, Irish-Americans, Jews, Japanese-Americans, Quakers, Italian-Americans, Muslims, and loads of other groups over and over again through out history, and NOT learn from our mistakes.

What Really Matters

I was recently informed that a story I had written as part of an anthology was one of several cut, because the publisher wanted a shorter book, from an upcoming publication on gay teachers. I was disappointed, but hey, what can you do. Perhaps I'll try to publish it somewhere else!?!
But for now, I think it will serve as a good blog article today.


What Really Matters

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."
-- Robert Frost


I reminisce about a particular day during the fall of 2000 frequently. It was typical afternoon for a third year teacher: slightly unorganized and a little unfocused, but, not completely unproductive. Fifth hour had begun, and, like so many other days, the class was trying to persuade me away from the content at hand, ninth grade government. It still being early in the school year, the students and I were still trying to determine just what we could say to one another and still get away with and what went too far On this particular day, the borders of this vaguely defined arena were blown away with one simple exchange.
“Mr. Johnson, are you married?” Aaron asked with such ease, as if it had been the topic of our conversation for hours. “No”, I responded. “Do you have a girlfriend?” he continued. “No”, I responded, feeling slightly nervous now. “You don’t have a girlfriend,” less a question then a statement this time. “No”, I responded, a third time, wishing that he would stop this line of questioning. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” he questioned further. “I just don’t, Aaron!” I answered, a little louder, a little annoyed now. “Come on, why doesn’t someone like you have a girlfriend. You’re a fun and good looking guy.” “Aaron, I don’t date girls.” He sort of cocked his head to the left, confused, much like a puppy trying to figure out what his master is trying to teach him. Then I continued to talk, stuck between clarifying and overstating the point, “Aaron, I’m gay.” Just like that, I was out. And suddenly I was freaked out. I was a third year teacher. I was a teacher without tenure. I was, a teacher, who, up until this moment, had never once had the complete attention of every single student in the classroom, at one time. I was amazed. But I guess it was time.

I came out during my senior year of college, with the help of a great school psychologist, to my friends and family. I started with the easy ones, the girls that probably already knew and then moved on to the ones who refused to believe because I was too cute or fun to lead what they dubbed a “lonely and hard” life. I ended with my closest male friend, who, I thought would disown me on the spot. All of them took the news remarkably well. I finally shared it with the last person in the world I wanted to tell, but once I did, I knew I would be free from the closet, the fear and the despair, forever: my father. He did not take it very well at first. Normally not a man of many words, he left me to stumble over his extreme silence for several months until my stepmother intervened and made us sit down to talk about the matter. A few angry words from him and a few angry words from me, and it was done, I was gay and he was still my dad. It was a liberating summer; the summer before I student taught.
It was the start of many bold exchanges for me.
I student taught in an urban school on the west side of St. Paul. My master teacher was a 26 year veteran and a great source of knowledge. I got the impression though, that he did things the way they’ve always been done, very traditional. It came as a bit of a shock to him that, upon the students’ continued use of the term “gay” to mean something or someone was stupid, I stopped the class and came out to them. I asked the two students, one an African American male and the other a female of Latino descent, if they would appreciate my use of racial slurs to describe something or someone as dumb. They screamed ”No”! Then I said, “Well, this gay man doesn’t appreciate it either.” And that was it. I received no questions, no second thoughts or strange looks. I was out and I still had about 6 weeks of student teaching left. After class was over, I told my master teacher. He was not very happy with my choice, mostly out of respect of my safety, as I was not yet a full time teacher with rights or a contract. A large part of my ease of coming out I think was my naiveté of schools and politics, but, what was done was done. I informed the principal, and shared my story and she could not have been more supportive. I felt like the whole world was on my side. My confidence grew. I finished out the term and proceeded to look for a job the next spring. If I could truly be myself and teach, I would be happy.
During my search, I fell into a great transition job that involved both young people and government. I began working with an organization called Project 120 in January of 1999. Each week of the three month legislative session, I worked with of 20-30 different high school students from across the state. They came to St. Paul, the capital, for five days and four nights to learn about state government. I was an evening instructor and it was my charge to help run in-services on how bills became laws, help facilitate diversity workshops and supervise the social or “fun” evening activities like laser tag and ping pong.
It was during these 12 weeks that I was able to meet maybe different students from all walks of life and both educate them on my content knowledge and interact with them in an informal setting. I would frequently field the typical stream of adolescent questions, usually, but not always, in the same order:
Are you married? (no)
Do you have a girlfriend? (no)
Are you gay? (yes)
Do you have a boyfriend? (yes)
Some of the more intuitive kids went straight to questions 3 or 4! Nevertheless, I was able to be a teacher, and adult and a gay person to these students. I believe my openness and honesty was made easier because the situation we were all in. We are essentially thrown into a group of strangers and, by simple proximity and circumstance, were obligated to adapt to different lifestyles, races and ideas then we were typically used to seeing. It was a great experience for me and the 500 or 600 students that I worked with over the 3 years I was with Project 120.
It was during the very first year of Project 120, around week seven or so, that I came to know two students from the a central Minnesota school district who I would never forget: Tom was wheelchair-bound due to the many heart surgeries that he had endured, and Chris was kind enough to assist Tom by pushing him around. Tom, with all his medical issues, ended up having more life and vigor in his little finger than I or any of the students had combined. Tom was inspirational and a wonderment to all of us. We laughed, we talked and we shared so much about our lives in just a few short days. He said to me, and I’ll never forget it, “You’re an awesome person and an awesome teacher. I want you to apply in my school district. We are building two new schools, and I think you would do a great job.” This 15 year old kid was so mature and wise beyond his yearsthat he was counseling me on how and where to get a job! I did just what he told me to do. I applied at school in the southern part of the growing district in April. I interviewed in mid-May on a Tuesday and was hired the next day. Boom, just like that, I had a job. I had Tom to thank.
I soon discovered that the district was fairly conservative, and despite my ease of coming out to friends, family, students in my first two teaching experiences, I was instantly very quiet about my personal life. I was a non-tenured teacher who needed this job, so I couldn’t screw it up by coming out. All the courage I had prior to this was instantly balled up inside of me again. I avoided personal questions and usually just led people to believe that I was single. I hated being the “single guy” who could stay late and come in early all the time to prepare. I hated it, because I wasn’t.single: I was in a relationship with a man, but it just so happens that I was excited to do a good job and was willing to put in the extra hours. But most of all I hated lying, because I was lying to spare them the trouble of working with a gay person and not for my benefit. I was not happy in my present situation, and it was apparent in my classroom. My classroom management was authoritative, and my lessons were cookie-cutter-straight-from-the-book. No creativity, no passion. That’s because I wasn’t teaching. Some liar, pretending he wasn’t a queer, was teaching, and he wasn’t very good.
This would go on for two years, despite my longing to come out. I had even discussed this with colleagues about how and when I should do it, but was always told to play it safe. I hated safe. I would rather not work than not be me. I had had it so good for so long with being me and everyone accepting it. I just couldn’t imagine that my students wouldn’t accept me for who I was.
It was during my second year of teaching that I came across a book titled One teacher in 10. I scanned the queer sections of book stores a lot, searching for stories of solace and empowerment. When I found this book, one for gay and lesbian teachers, I snatched it up and raced home. It was these stories that restored my faith in myself as a teacher and help rebuild my courage in my gay self. Eventually it did help me achieve what I was seeking.
Everyone was staring at me. I couldn’t believe that I just came out, so quickly. Normally I had just deflected such inquiries with passive brush offs or my own question of “What does that have to do with Government?” And now I felt flush and a little sick. Then the hands started to rise. Instantly, I said, with the ease of a 20 year veteran, “you can have 10 questions, and then we move on, deal?” They agreed. I can’t say that I remember all of the questions, but I do remember counting because I wanted to get off the topic as quickly as possible. The usual laundry list of questions came up: When did you know? Do your parents know? What do they think? Do you have a boyfriend? What is it like, to be gay? After the intense but brief examination of Mr. Johnson’s personal life, I continued the lesson, a little shaky, but, also with a secret sense of victory. My nervousness gave way to composure. My level of empathy increased dramatically, and I think my students appreciated my vulnerability and sympathized with me. On many levels, I sensed their low-self-esteem-adolescent-persons were proud that I shared such a sacred and private part of my life with them. I shared the experience with my colleagues and principal at the day’s end and they were happy for me. Most were a little nervous for me, but nevertheless, I had their support.
Mr. Johnson was out.
I have been at the same school for my entire career thus far. I have just begun my sixth year of teaching at a brand the new high school, which was built across the street from my old building. I have had nothing but support from my coworkers, students, administration and several school board members. I am amazed at how accepting my district and my school have been. I am certain that not everyone in the district agrees with my orientation or is supportive but, if so, I’ve been lucky that they have chosen not to express themselves publicly.
I recently had a oneday retreat with our school’s staff. During our introductions, I did not hesitate for a moment to express who was, and did so with a funny story about staring with a new staff five years prior. I stood up and shared that Gail, an English teacher I taught next to had, on many occasions, tried to set me up with her nieces and friends and other women by bringing in pictures to show me. This had gone on for about 5 or 6 weeks, and, it was early in the school year. I knew that I would not be able to endure these awkward conversations for the remainder of the school year! I was sort of dumbfounded as to how to handle this situation, not knowing how this woman, who was at least 25 years my senior, would respond. I sought out another teacher, who, by my estimation was as liberal as they come, and peeked into her classroom and said, “Sue, can I talk to you?” “Sure, Ryan, come on in!” she exclaimed. “Well, I have a situation and I need your advice, but first, I have to tell you something.” I said, sheepishly. “Well, what is it?” she inquired. “Um, I’m gay.” Suddenly a big grin shot across her face and she laughed out loud and said, “Honey, I knew you were gay five minutes before I met you!” I busted out laughing and with a newfound ease, shared my dilemma with Sue. She promptly marched me into Gail’s room and flatly told her, “Gail, Ryan’s gay, quit trying to set him up with girls!” I had no idea how close those two women were, and how liberal and tolerant they BOTH were. We laughed about that for a long time, and I’ve never forgot the story. However, a part of me realized that Sue and Gail might have, because as I was telling the story to my new staff, one which Gail and Sue are part of, they started to cry and then laugh. I think they suddenly realized the impact they have had on my life
Upon reflection of my fortunes about being gay in this profession, I remember a conversation I had with the principal that the junior high school. I have worked with Claudia for two years and we have become good friends. She offered some insight on the topic of being a gay teacher in this district. “Ryan”, she said, “I am continuously amazed at how accepted you are by students, parents and employees of this school and district. I think it is a testament to what a fantastic teacher and a great person you are. It doesn’t matter that you are gay, it’s just a part of who you are.”
And that’s what matters.

NCLB or ECLB?

"Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource." John F. Kennedy

Education is a topic that most people can agree is an important one. However, it time and time again clouded up with politicians promising more money and standards and values to be put into the system, without really knowing what they are talking about. The further one is away from the actual classroom, the more power one can assert over it, it seems. I would hope that NCLB, "No Child Left Behind" aka, "no teacher left standing" , "no child left un-tested" or as I like to say, "Every Child Left Behind" (ECLB) has a serious revamping under a new Congress and/or President. The federal governments role needs to be more clearly defined to allow the funding to come (as it should, from Federal Taxes, Article I of the Constitution) but allow each state to develop there own measures of accountability. More and more states are fighting NCLB, in fact, more pro-Bush states are challenging the law that states that voted for Gore. And I realize that Dems and Republicans alike drafted the damn thing, but Bush is chanting is praises like he fixed American schools, and over 40 Democrats have since withdrawn their support when the funding didn't follow. If you think about it, it would be like saying, "Hey, Mr. President, you are charged with the responsibility of protecting this country and fighting terrorism. It will cost $10 billion to it. We'll give you $5 billion. Go to it." Likelihood of success? Nil. Many states were putting out high test scores and re-working assessments to align with curriculum before NCLB came along, and now they are forced, in many cases, to scrap their plans and force Square-peg into Circle-hole. Just not gonna happen! And, an entire nation's schools will suffer because of it. Mr. Bush's Education Secretary, Rod Paige, doesn't seem to get it either. But then, he has been out of a classroom for a long time.

John Kerry for Nader?

Like most Americans and the world, I have read a lot of talk about people wanting Nader to drop out of the race and/or do a last minute endorsement of Kerry. But what if John Kerry, on Nov. 1, says to the American people, I have decided to pull out of the election, we would be better served by a Nader Presidency, and boom, the 47% (that Kerry is getting in some polls) plus 2+% (Nader voters) gets him to the winning percentage and boom, President Nader. Then the real Democratic Party would be in office. I think that is a better strategy for getting in the Democratic views than a Kerry presidency. I recently took a political survey that demonstrated just how VERY far I am from Bush but how, still quite far I am from Kerry, and, I would consider myself a pretty well read and educated (2 degrees) adult that is, fundamentally, a Democrat, but I see more of those values in Nader's platform than in Kerrys. I already voted by absentee ballot, and yes, it was for Kerry, but I hope I don't regret it when he looks like a Republican on issues of civil rights (considering he helped draft parts of the Patriot Act) and war (considering his position_s_ on the war) and I don't need to beat a dead horse. Just a thought.

On a second stream of consciousness, the John Stewart on Crossfire episode came to my attention from friend, as sadly, I have no access to American televison these days, and his thumping of Begala and Carlson was marvelous. The best point he made, which is sad, is that those who have no chance of winning can speak the most freely. There is no way in hell I'll ever be President.

The Guardian

On my travels south to England, I was able to spend a good deal of time just reading the newspaper, which is so delightful compared to reading blogs and emails and online news all day! The old fashion media venue will always be a favourite Sunday morning breakfast and newspaper routine. Well, living in Scotland these days opens my eyes to many different papers, and I must say that the Guardian is a fantastic read. Ultimately you know, as most intelligent people do, that every news outlet is going to have a bias, so, don't be surprised to find the Guardian a bit liberal. It is refreshing when you consider how many "fair and balanced" reports I read and watched in the Rupert Murdoch owned US, oops, I mean media outlets. A fantastic read, a poll that 10 newspapers (including the Guardian of course) conducted about the up coming election. It reflects a lot of the setitment that I have been expressing about how the out come of this election will have HUGE repercussions on the world, and they are overwhelming in support of a Kerry victory. Let's hope the world's dreams come true on Nov. 2.

I guess I have some things to say, but will people hear?

I promise (for my own sake and to those few who actually read this), I won't spend every waking moment on politics and how much Bush needs to go, but it is terribly important people open their eyes. Not just to Bush, but to fundamental religious fanatics. They need to go (hmmm, was there a another set of fundamentalist religious fanatics that caused us some problems in September 2001??) maybe all fundamentalists fanatics are bad?

Why of course we have the right to practice any type of religion or none at all, we also have the freedom NOT to be dominated by them in our government. Leaders can be religious, they just cannot preach or lead with ONLY their religious beliefs.

I have been reading some different articles and speeches (and I do try to read from several sources to avoid too much bias) and have a few things to say on a couple issues that are important to me, and, will be several of many reasons why I will not be voting Republican.

Take education. I am a teacher, and granted, I do not know all there is to know about education issues, but working in classroom and teaching about politics has taught me a thing or two.

Bush, and both Republicans and Democrats passed No Child Left Behind (well, with a goddamn title like that, who is going to vote AGAINST it???). It promises to raise standards and test students.
HOWEVER: Money to schools is drastically short of what is needed, even IF one agrees with excessive testing that is often not connected with the content and is not measuring the whole child's growth and development, usually are not culturally sensitive or sensitive to students with special needs. NCLB increased school funding, but shy by $5.4B. (Jan 2004) Bush said: Teaching to the Test is good, if testing basics. (Feb 2001) I don't even know where to begin here. Hmmm, if the test is 2 + 2 = _? and all we teach them is, "hey kids, 4. Now there's a good number. It takes 2+2 or 1+1+1+1 to get 4. Just remember 4 kids... " I realize that might be a bit dramatic, but hey, its math and its the basics. Get a friggen clue.
Bush has also said that he has a commitment to local control. (Jan 2001) Now how in the hell can states or local districts have local control when the President institutes a federal law that calls for the most massive intrusion into state/local curriculum and pedagogy in history? I don't get it... somebody teach me.
Poor kids can’t read; now is the time to teach them. (Aug 2000)
I can't even begin to touch this one...
Teach values and moral responsibility in schools. (Apr 1998)
I wonder what values these are? Gays are bad, women should stay home and raise babies, abstinence is the ONLY way, a little violation of our privacy is okay, we need to flush out the terrorists!
I agree that respect and responsibility are important for young people to have, but that word "moral" is too often clouded by some extreme religious fanatic... morals and religion are different. Ten Commandments OK in schools for “inherent values”. (Jan 2000)
Again, these values belong to whom? Christians… Never mind the muslims, jews, atheists, Buddhists or ANY OTHER religion that doesn’t hold the 10 Commandments as “inherent values”. I don’t need a fricken piece of paper telling me not to kill… ugh.
Bush calls for constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. (Feb 2004)
Because the sanctity of marriage is being honoured so much by “Who wants to marry my dad” reality shows and world’s highest divorce rates…hmmm, lets STOP two people from entering into a committed loving relationship and hope they live promiscuous sexual lives and maybe increase the number of one person households (also the highest in the US)

Protect marriage against activist judges. (Sep 2004)
Well, lets see here, the judges are activists if they value the word EQUALITY in the Constitution, but they are not activists when they intervene in an election by the people, they are activist when they honor a women’s life and privacy, but not activists when they take away the civil rights a person accused of crime? The only time a judge is “legislating” from the bench is when the decisions don’t sit well with one’s own views. They all use the same damn document—left up to interpretation. It’s like that thing, what’s it called? The Bible? How come those Protestants and Catholics couldn’t agree on that? Hmm, what happened in the 1500’s, a bit of a schism? 2 groups who both think they are right. There’s a problem there… and just go back further, Abraham… hmm, Jews, Christians and Muslims all derived from the same story, and yet each one thinks they are right!


Education, housing, and hiring must be equal for all. (May 2004)
Here here, lets see it! There’s that equal word, hmmm, I wonder when it will be applied universally?

• Tolerance & equal rights, not gay marriage & special rights. (Oct 2000)
• No gay adoptions; but listens to gay GOP group. (Apr 2000)
• Against gay marriage, but leave it to the states. (Feb 2000)
• No gays in Boy Scouts. (Aug 1999)
• Hate-crime rules don’t apply to gays. (Jul 1999)

Are you seeing a common theme here? I think these types of policies and rhetoric FAILED, the first time, when it was called the Civil Rights Movement.
Remember some of these:

Intermarriage The marriage of a person of Caucasian blood with a Negro, Mongolian, Malay, or Hindu shall be null and void. Arizona
Intermarriage All marriages between a white person and a negro, or between a white person and a person of negro descent to the fourth generation inclusive, are hereby forever prohibited. Florida
Cohabitation Any negro man and white woman, or any white man and negro woman, who are not married to each other, who shall habitually live in and occupy in the nighttime the same room shall each be punished by imprisonment not exceeding twelve (12) months, or by fine not exceeding five hundred ($500.00) dollars. Florida
Education The schools for white children and the schools for negro children shall be conducted separately. Florida
Juvenile Delinquents There shall be separate buildings, not nearer than one fourth mile to each other, one for white boys and one for negro boys. White boys and negro boys shall not, in any manner, be associated together or worked together. Florida
Mental Hospitals The Board of Control shall see that proper and distinct apartments are arranged for said patients, so that in no case shall Negroes and white persons be together. Georgia
Intermarriage It shall be unlawful for a white person to marry anyone except a white person. Any marriage in violation of this section shall be void. Georgia
Barbers No colored barber shall serve as a barber [to] white women or girls. Georgia
Burial The officer in charge shall not bury, or allow to be buried, any colored persons upon ground set apart or used for the burial of white persons. Georgia
Restaurants All persons licensed to conduct a restaurant, shall serve either white people exclusively or colored people exclusively and shall not sell to the two races within the same room or serve the two races anywhere under the same license. Georgia

I will be curious to see how this people's "values and morals" will be viewed in history books.

A Good Day To Read the Paper

I am frequently wondering what the the average US citizen is reading for their news. Do they realize how political Bush (and all politicians, I'm sure Clinton, Bush Sr. and Reagan did it too) will make of the events around the world? Take the elections in Afghanistan for example. Of course Karzai is going to win!!! With the heavy handed American troops there, American body guards and American money, hmmm, is won't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. We here reports and are solicited daily for money because we know how important it is to win elections... and if Karzai wins, Bush can go, "Hurrah, Look what I've done! They are a true democracy!" Nevermind that most of the women in the Pashtun south won't even make it out the door. Sure, that's democracy.

Okay bitter bonnie, move on. On to lighter subjects... I'm hoping to get to London this week, and, on the way, see York, which is one of the most fascinating cities in England, or so I have heard. Apparently the museums, architecture and history is just a collage of Vikings/Romans/Medieval/British influences. I'll try to get a few pics pasted on this site and the web page.

More lighter side of material: the Letterman Top Ten sums up pretty well my opinion on how the debates were not really debates. Check them out.

One of my new heros: Wangari Maathai It's a shame that it took until 2004 for her to be a first in this category.

Democracy for Granted

Watching a bit of news this morning, with the Queen opening the official and new parliament at Hollyrood, a commentator quipped about people taking democracy for granted. It really struck a chord with me, and I thought about it for a bit, and, I think many people do. The rhetoric that surrounds debates, policies, polls and the like is in surplus, and it is just that, rhetoric. I just wonder what a luxury it would be in The Republic of Congo or Sudan or in Guatalmala or in Palestine if all they had to worry about is how bad is Kerry or Bush going to spin the other guys rhetoric. Of course, inversely, the reason we do wonder so much about the debates and the presidential election is because of what the leader of the most power nation in the world will do to help or guide these nations where political and economic instability are resulting in the deaths of millions. Americans take democracy for granted in a pragmatic way. They are willing to take polls and ultimately vote for very narrow minded and practical means: one's own self--security (financial and personal), religious/moral values, etc. It is quite selfish, and, in my opinion, the antithesis of how democracy should be instituted. Democracy means people choose. It is just such a shame that most people are so uneducated they cannot begin to comprehend the ills of what a poor choice (say, in a presidential vote) could mean to United States and to the world. Yes, Americans take democracy for granted. We desperately want that ever important right to vote ~ We just do it so recklessly that we may as well not have the right to.

A Work in Progress

It is probably not surprising that my first post is #1, a question and #2, political. I have to say that living in Scotland and outside of the US has granted me quite a different perspective on politics and life. The massive levels of apathy abound in many places, and I fear that the answer to my question is hate. I may be speaking directly to my own feelings when I say that, because I have never wanted to donate money, time and energy more to defeating a candidate, namely George Bush. It is with tremulous nerves that await the outcome of November 2.

What motivates?

In light of the incessant barrage of media, politicians and blogs and considering the complexity of of America's demographics, what would motivate someone to vote? Whether one has never voted or stopped voting because they are "tired of politicians lying" to them, what event/person/action/sentiment would make someone vote today?