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November 4, 2008
I'm Drying My Eyes
I talked to my nine year old sister Anna, who I haven't seen in about a year, on Gmail chat this morning. It went like this:
A:Hi dave! how are you today?
D: Good! I'm excited about voting! Even though I already voted.
A Who did you vote for?
D: Guess!
A: McCain?
D: Nope!
A: Who?
D:Obama!
A: What ever for?
How do you answer a question like that to a nine year old? My answer, which I think is the answer: you don't have to. I didn't care about politics when I was nine, or even nineteen. I had other things on my mind. I grew up in a bubble, one which eventually popped out of necessity. But I hope that simply knowing her big brother made a choice that doesn't make sense to her now will plant a tiny little seed in my sister's head, one that'll sprout and grow at its own pace and maybe break that bubble a little bit faster. And I hope too, with that peculiar mix of selfishness and optimism, that she finds herself where I am someday, because the view from here is amazing.
Posted by David Lowery at November 4, 2008 11:42 PM
Comments
I remember when I was 6 crying because Jimmy Carter lost to Reagan. Strange how kids consider politics.
Posted by: James M. Johnston at November 5, 2008 11:56 AM
I remember seeing Amy Carter on TV and thinking how ugly she was!
Posted by: Amy at November 5, 2008 7:58 PM
What did you say to her? And fuck off, yeah I know "that's not the point, Jim! Didn't you see Lost in Translation? If you knew what was said it wouldn't have the same effect" well I don't give a damn about your "storyteller's intention" I just want to know how it went. Especially because I'm commenting 7 weeks too late.
Posted by: Jim McMahon at December 24, 2008 9:17 PM