I see an importance in being knowledgeable and sophisticated when it comes to all aspects of U.S. politics, economics, domestic policy, foreign policy, international relations, etc. It is imperative that young people like myself have a grasp of all of these aspects because they affect our lives in ways we should be fighting to prevent. All of us should be waging war against the constructs that corporations and government try to place on us without our approval or consent. The reason they get away with it is because not enough people participate in organized dissent in America. Thankfully so, the Bush administration has impressed upon many in my generation the importance of dissenting patriotism.
I spend a lot of time on OpEdNews.com speaking with adults who are well-educated and professional journalists who make it their career to be informed people. I rarely (except for a few young people in the Kucinich campaign) go out of my way to have a meaningful conversation with young people to see what they think of politics in America.
I recently had an interesting exchange with a couple fellow Americans who are around my age and are the leaders of the campaign chapter for Barack Obama at Columbia College. I am one of the campaign leaders for the Kucinich campaign here at Columbia College. You might be interested to know how our back and forth exchanges went. Or, you might be interested to know just what do people around the age of 19 talk about when discussing politics and policies in America?
I have decided to give you the privilege of reading our little exchange. If anything, it will make you feel better about this generation of college students in that you will see while we may be disinformed and misinformed, we care and just need direction to get on the right path. (*Note: Our college was one of about five to actually hold walkouts to protest the Bush regime.)
KEVIN: I've kept my mouth shut so far but now I can't resist.
2013? Is that really what you and the supporters of this campaign are going to settle for in regards to Iraq? If we wait that long, we will never get single-payer health care. We will leave our troops there to possibly go into Iran next, a vote Barack "missed".
Please explain this to me or do me a favor...stand up for America and put pressure on Barack to change. We're talking about the future of America here. This isn't some campaign for homecoming queen.
ALEX: This just shows the immaturity of people who think like you. You need to do your research before you start making claims.
KEVIN: I reject the premise of your answer. All I can say is I tried. Good luck with Barack.
I thought our conversation was over as he had suggested I had a level of immaturity. But he continued thankfully.
ALEX: I find arguing things like politics and religion only damage friendships.
I find this an interesting out. If you throw friendship out as a reason for not being able to discuss differences, than how do you come to an understanding with each other?
KEVIN: I don't. If we can't talk about these things, what's the point of human life? I mean after all, the political structures are what we Americans are subject to daily. These leaders do things that damage and affect our lives. I am not going to be friends with people who wish to ignore reality. That's naive and ignorant. And that may be a sleight of hand against Barack but he's seriously misleading Americans.
I don't want a She-Bush and I don't want a man who prides himself on being able to decipher between Smart Wars and Dumb Wars.
I'm set free man. I feel great and never felt better. Everything I am fighting for is moral and ethical and what America should be doing. I make no judgments on you as a person, but I make judgments on Barack because he may become our next President and that will seriously affect us all.
KEVIN: By the way, I find it interesting how easy it is to put Obama supporters on the defensive but nobody dares put a Kucinich supporter on the defensive. Touche? Maybe. This serious stuff man. We're talking death and destruction.
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