Cape 20 Something

Polarized Reds & Blues

Why not purple?

After canvassing in New Hampshire Saturday, I  listened Senator John Kerry, who by the way, I am still not so sure about even after having met him.

I’m no longer apathetic and I’m no longer floating along in a red stream of my family’s ideology.

Growing up in a family full of conservative republicans, it’s no surprise that when it came time to register to vote when I was 18, I checked off the Republican party. My parents listen to conservative radio shows every night after work and even call into some like Howie Carr and Jay Severin. I never really knew anything more than the conservative ideologies I was immersed in at home, and I never took the time or had the interest to explore any others myself.

Honestly, I’m glad I wasn’t old enough to vote in the 2004 election during high school. I was not educated enough to make any sort of informed decision then. As we all know, politics and religion are two big no-nos for discussion in schools, public ones anyways. I certainly would have voted for George Bush; he was all I knew. Besides, John Kerry was a “leftist flip-flopper” according to my father, so why would I ever consider him?

Fast forward four years and almost a bachelor’s degree later

Despite the colors, this is not a Yankees – Red Sox game. There doesn’t have to be a loser if we’re all in this thing together. Fast forward four years and almost a bachelor’s degree later, and here I am with John Kerry’s arm around me taking a picture to compliment my article about campaigning for Barack Obama for my college newspaper. Talk about flip floppers.

Coming to college was certainly a pivotal transition, in many ways, but specifically in regards to political principles. I am by no means a hardcore campaigner or the most politically informed, but I have done something I am awfully proud of that I think older generations—even my own parents—don’t believe young people are capable of these days. I’ve figured out what I believe in, I’ve decided what I think is important, and with this, I’ve found my place in all this campaign chaos. I’ve gotten engaged with the most critical presidential election my generation has ever lived through.

I am not a democrat nor am I registered as a republican anymore. I am not restricted or obligated to vote either way.

I’m no longer apathetic and I’m no longer floating along in a red stream of my family’s ideology, absorbing and never actually owning my thoughts. My generation is tagged as uninterested and I just don’t believe that. Not after seeing hundreds of students out there today canvassing; involved, inspired, and as interested as ever. We have to care, for this election determines what our next years will bring. Will we be able to afford college tuition next semester? Is health care going to be available to us after we graduate—if we even can afford to? Are jobs going to be created domestically so we can take these skills and knowledge and apply them? When will our friends and siblings return from Iraq, and North Korea, and Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and shall I continue?

My parents love me to death and are prouder of me than anything, but disagree with me more than you can believe. They are scared, everyone’s scared, and fear is certainly not what this country needs right now. Maybe John McCain does know what this country needs, or perhaps it’s Obama who ought to have a run in office. Who knows? We can’t predict the next four years, or eight. We can’t guess either. All we can do is constantly educate ourselves, engage ourselves, and make the best decisions we can with what we have.

Canvassing door-to-door in rural New Hampshire opened my eyes

Above, from left to right is Amy Gelineau, a sophomore; Beatriz Zarur, a junior from Endicott's Mexico City campus; Senator John Kerry; me; and Matt Gelineau, a senior. We are all members of Endicott's Political Awareness Coalition, which Matt created and got rolling last spring.

Despite the colors, this is not a Yankees – Red Sox game. There doesn’t have to be a loser if we’re all in this thing together. Canvassing door-to-door in rural New Hampshire today opened my eyes to the polarized reds and blues of this country. Why must we be “against” the candidate with whom we do not entirely agree? Is it possible to simply not support them? Aren’t our fundamental ideals and goals at least similar? It’s how we plan to reach them that differs, so can’t we agree to disagree on the route and just accept the common destination?

I am not a democrat nor am I registered as a republican anymore. I am not restricted or obligated to vote either way. I just happen to agree more with Obama than McCain right now, today. Maybe in the next few days or even these last few weeks of the campaign McCain will change my mind-- or continue to open it. Though doubtful at this point, the possibility is there because I’m purple. But it’s not the color that counts, it’s that we even care.