Because of J, I have become much more immersed in what is going on in American politics than I would have been of my own free will. I have been apolitical for as long as I can remember; have never cast a vote in my life and will most likely never do so. Unfortunately for me, I have a child who is chomping at the bit to go listen to Obama in person and regretting that she is not old enough to cast her vote for him. Wild horses could not stop her from volunteering in his campaign if she was the right age and I am not sure how this all came to be. I was most certainly not to blame.
So we watched the debate in Texas. J feel asleep in the middle and woke up disgruntled the next morning because she had missed more than half of it. She admitted she did not understand the discussion and wanted me to explain what they were talking about. She had me play the recording on the New York Times website and help her make sense of things that I never imagined I would have to discuss with her at this age.
J gives me a keen appreciation of the immensely powerful thing that the Obama juggernaut is and I hope he puts this amazing groundswell of energy to good use. I am probably too cynical to believe in messiahs or miracle workers; too pessimistic to view the war-cries of “Yes, we can” as anything more than slick electioneering. But young people believe in revolutions and sometimes their faith is borne out. It would be a terrible shame if after so much hope being held out, they are let down and disappointed. Should that happen it will bring in its wake disenchantment that may never wear off.
As for me, I can't wait for this to be over so J can go back to being the kid who loved High School Musical and waited all week for Friday to come along so she could have a play date with Alexis. Life would return to normal – maybe in Obama-speak that would be “business as usual” and not the change that he exhorts everyone to be and participate in. Until then I will have to cope with J chanting “Go Obama” the best I can.
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Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
Hard to imagine an article being so creepy and inspiring at the same time, but you managed it.
I think the telling point here is when you mention that J's teacher Ms. L has the only class where this political awareness is blossoming. I suspect that you should look to the teacher as the genesis of it, and maybe ask why it's only the democratic candidates who have fans in the class.
I'm going to switch channels from Hannah Montana to an Obama speech at the next opportunity and see how my 5-year-old likes the idea. I'm guessing not much.
Dave
2 - Lee Richards
Rule of thumb: If kids and animals like you, you must be a pretty nice person.
I'm not sure if that's always true of politicians, though, or images of them on TV.
Teachers in early elementary grades usually have a great deal of influence over their students, so it's very important they keep subjective personal preferences out of their teaching. (They will have opinions and preferences, of course, but shouldn't try to indoctrinate students with them.)
3 - Lee Richards
I meant to add to #2: It's great if a teacher can turn young kids on to current events, and get them interested, enthused and invovlved. One of the main goals of teaching is getting kids to want to learn.
4 - HC
I think Mrs. L did a great job in getting the kids introduced to current affairs. I am quite sure she did not bias them in any way.
A lot of what I hear from J is kids telling each other who their parents are supporting/voting for. Naturally, they suppoort whoever Mommy or Daddy supports. That's how they all know the names of the candidates - atleast some of them.
Back at our home, my child decided Obama was her favorite and its been a love-fest ever since :)
5 - Dr Dreadful
Dave, #1: The author did explain in the article why only Obama and Clinton had name recognition in her daughter's class. Apparently she lives in a strongly Democratic neighborhood.
6 - Dave Nalle
I certainly know how painful that can be, Dr. D. I lived in that toxic environment for a long time. The intolerance and bigotry was hard to take, so I had to choose between continuing to play along and paying lip service and moving. I moved.
dave
7 - Dr Dreadful
Ha ha ha.
[waits till Dave stops looking, then scowls]
8 - Dr Dreadful
Seriously, though, Dave, I assume you're referring to your time in DC. You were a Capitol Hill staffer, weren't you, according to your bio? And it sure as hell wasn't for a Democrat. So why would you have had to pay lip service to anything?
It's a classic political tactic, isn't it? - accuse your opponents of doing what you yourself are doing. The Rovean White House did it all the time. I say that your language simply shows your own intolerance of and bigotry towards Democrats.
9 - Dave Nalle
Actually, Dr. D. I worked for both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Hell, I even did time on the staff of the LP. As you may recall I worked for Al Gore at one point.
But that wasn't wnat I was referring to. I was talking about my time as a VP in our local PTA when my eldest daughter was still in public school. We were in a very trendy, left-leaning neighborhood, so if I wanted to have some influence in the school I had to play along and be as politically correct as I could be.
Ironically, the thing which ultimately caused me the most trouble was my objection to religious indoctrination in the public school.
As for my negative take on democrats, when it's based on their actions and my experience of them it's not bigotry, it's a justified conclusion.
Dave
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10 - Propagandist
So, everything Republicans do that Democrats don't like is somehow 'Rovean'. And saying so, without any proof, in no way shows 'intolerance of and bigotry towards' Republicans?!
At least be subtle about your biases!
Hypocrisy is the name of the game for Democrats - gotta love it!
11 - Michael J. West
But Dave, I'm a Democrat...and I've always been so nice to you!
12 - Dr Dreadful
Propagandist:
1. Where did I claim that everything Republicans did was Rovean?
2. I'm not a Democrat.
13 - Ellen
HC....I hope you'll reconsider voting. It is so important. Be apolitical (most of the year), uninterested, not concerned, but when it comes time to vote, please vote. So many people in the past couldn't vote and so many people around the world can't vote or vote freely. Its one of the best things we can do. And I'm not asking you to vote for my candidate, just vote for anyone or even write someone in but please exercise your right. If you don't do it for you, do it for your daughter.
14 - Dave Nalle
But Dave, I'm a Democrat...and I've always been so nice to you!
Some of my best friends are democrats...
Dave
15 - Alec
An offbeat, but charming little story.
Kudos
16 - wdufkin
Another fine reason to homeschool!
17 - Clavos
"Some of my best friends are democrats..."
But would you want your daughter to marry one?
18 - Propagandist
This article is creepy. This what Kim Jong Il does in N Korea..indoctrinates people - although he might not do it in a subtle playful and loving way as the author here but at the end of the day its brainwashing your child to think like you.
I'm not sure how old the child in this article is but she sounds around 5-7. No kid at that age should even know what politics is.
And if she really organizes her homework and playdates around the debate to watch Obama (which I highly doubt a kid would do without hints and help) then there's something wrong with her!
19 - Dr Dreadful
Propagandist, I'm not sure you'd be quite as disturbed by this story if young 'J' spent her time following Miley Cyrus or some other popular celebrity.
You have to admit that Barack Obama does have a certain 'rock star' quality about him. 'J' probably understands very little about his or any other politician's policies and beliefs.
I wouldn't fret about it too much. I mean, how many of the pop or TV stars you idolized when you were seven do you still follow today?
20 - Propagandist
You're right to an extent..however here the young 'J' is being indoctrinated into following Obama. Do you really want your kids listening to politicians discuss wars and abortions and wounded soldiers and such?
At least Miley Cyrus caters to 6 year olds!
Its not like Obama is in a cartoon suit dancing around that would catch a little girl's attention!
21 - HC
J's interests have varied over time from dolphins, butterflies, bones in the human body, finding number patterns, making pancakes,jazz, Hannah Montana,geography,Abby Hayes to Obama. When she's into something, that's the most important thing in her world for that time.
As a parent, I do the best I can to support any and all of her interests because she may not have accesses to the resources as readily as I do.
Reading up about Miley Cryus on Wikipedia for J's benefit and listening to her sing "Nobody's perfect" twenty times a day is part of participating fully in her Hannah Montana thing.
New interests come to replace the old, some linger on. This one is no different at least to me. What's interesting is that Obama made the list of interesting things I guess mainly on account of a certain cool factor that's not lost even on a first grader.
22 - M Phillips
This post is pretty funny, but looks like your kid is normal.
There are a lot of kids fascinated with Obama, check out this link.
23 - gary lou. ky
not surprising that a 6 year old would fall for obamas "message of hope" because there is absolutely no substance to his message at all. What is surprising is that a lot of so called intelligent adults are falling for this mans empty "promises" please check out this mans beliefs, associates and so called policies