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GET 'EM REGISTERED TO VOTE
Published On 10-19-2008 , 8:26 AM
DID our high school teachers and administrators remember to get students who are or will be 18 on or before Nov. 4, registered so they can vote?
Maybe the civic teachers, government teachers and all the other entities on high school campuses who are there to help teach our youth civic responsibility, are getting this done. If not, they ought to wake up because they only have one more day.
I'll admit it's pretty much the family who should see to it that their kids know about the voting process. But what about the kids who live with parents, uncles, aunts and a whole bunch of others who just don't bother?
I recently listened to someone pose a pretty nasty rhetorical question referring to people who don't vote. "Who should be concerned?" the man muttered, and then looked at the rest of us who were part of the small group of people he was with. He kept going with another slammer by concluding with the following: "Don't you know people create their own destiny?"
But where's a kid supposed to find out about placing their mark on the ballot if their parents, relatives or other adults around them don't bother to participate in the process?
Youths have an ongoing opportunity to learn civic responsibility in school because they've got student government. How does the student body president get that position if votes aren't cast?
Does every kid on campus take part in student elections? Of course not. Does every kid on campus care who's serving on the school council? I'm sorry to say, but the answer is heck, no!
Who should be concerned?
Since it was a rhetorical question, I was never expected to provide an answer. Others in the small group left the matter alone as well.
My grandmother, a staunch Republican, never missed marking her ballot in every election she was allowed to vote in. Was her dedication because of involvement in high school elections?
Granny Picket never went to high school, but she knew women fought for the right to vote and she knew African Americans had to fight, also.
But far too many of today's young people haven't got a clue when it comes to anything beyond texting, MySpace and iPods.
"The right to vote?" would most probably be their rhetorical question they wouldn't want an answer to.
Parents aren't expected to teach their children history, algebra or foreign languages, so maybe it shouldn't be left to them to teach civic responsibility.
Come on folks, it's not too late to register in California for the Nov. 4 election, but the deadline is Monday at midnight.
Pick up a registration post card at any library or post office. If you live in Northwest Pasadena you'll find them at barbershops, beauty shops, Hopkins Village, self-service laundries, Berry & Sweeney Pharmacy, Arco service station snack shops and the Fair Oaks Car Wash.
For those in charge of our high school campuses, if you haven't been getting the students registered, do it on Monday.
Parents, if you thought it was someone else's responsibility, think again.
No register, no vote.
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Comment
| | 1. | We must make sure that our young folk are urged to, and given opportunity to be a part of this extremely historical event. How well I remember the great pride and joy that my mother had back in 1973, when her son, Henry T. Wilfong Jr. became the first Black to be elected to office in Pasadena.
I went on to be a three-time Presidential appointee. But, my Mama never felt so proud as that one.
Now, we have a chance to see the first Black man to be elected to the Presidency of the United States of America. Little Black boys and girls will now have the urge to "Be like Barack."
We need EVERY vote we can get. But, particularly we need Black folk to get out and vote for this extremely qualified Black man, with that gorgeous Black Woman and those darling little Black girls. What a joy it will be to see them romping around the White House.
REGISTER, REGISTER, then VOTE, VOTE, VOTE...
Hank
- by Hank Wilfong, 10-21-2008, 3:10 PM
| | 2. | Hmmmm, yes, I did my part in registering folks at my worksite. Some expressed gratitude that I brought it direct to them and took the responsibility of mailing their postcards in within the alloted timeframe.
I think it is everyone's duty to share the knowledge of the process of voting and how to examine and read through the issues and actually determine what one feels will be beneficial. If family isn't participating, find someone whom is. There are too many resources available to continue being uninvolved.
Phoenix
- by phxsays, 10-19-2008, 5:13 PM
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