Brown: Politicians not worthy of enthusism
The 2008 candidates need more than empty words to gain cultural influence
By Jesse Brown (Contact)
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
So Super Tuesday came by and flew right over my head unheeded. I know, I hear all the critical cries coming at me now. “It is your right as a citizen to vote and to know your candidates.” “How do you consider yourself American if you don’t even participate in democracy?”
The truth is, I would love to participate, but all I see are empty promises from politicians who promise change and I’m positive that I’m not the only college student who is jaded with American politics. The youth vote is one of the most fruitless pursuits a politician could pursue. So I’m obviously not alone in my principles.
It’s the notion that some Americans will say their favorite holiday is the Super Bowl, and I think that is American.
In this current political climate, I do believe that change is needed, and it is the reason why that if I do vote, I’m voting for Obama (the only reason I’d vote for Hilary Clinton would be to call former president Bill Clinton, the First Lady). However, I will not take any criticisms about how I’m not American because I don’t have the enthusiasm to vote for the next guy who says, “I promise if I’m president, I’ll do blah blah blah, here is some political propaganda so that I’ll win.”
Like any other civilization in history, it is not just politics that makes a culture.
More people tune into and vote for the next American Idol that tune into or vote for whatever political thing that’s happening. I’m not saying that’s what I recommend, I can’t stand American Idol, but this surely says something about America.
It’s not that our political system doesn’t work, it does work, because options are always presented to us, whether to vote for republican or democrat, which republican candidate or which democrat candidate, or to whether tune into a favorite show or Meet the Press.
What one loves about America could come down to simple things like watching baseball, America’s past time, or simply obsessing about the lives of the rich and the famous since America is a capitalist society.
It’s the notion that some Americans will say their favorite holiday is the Super Bowl, and I think that is American. It’s the notion that one could get crazed about the Yankees versus the Red Sox in the World Series, and that’s American.
It’s the notion that someone could publicly criticize a political figure, and he or she could not be touched because it is their right, that’s American.
It’s the notion that one could vote for whoever they wish, and I believe that’s American.
It’s the notion that one could choose, and I think that is what is great about America.
Brown is a Lee’s Summit, Mo., junior in journalism.
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