Monday, November 06, 2006

Election Day

Tuesday is Election Day. I know this not only because the airwaves are filled with fear-mongering political ads, not only because the neutral ground is filling with brightly colored campaign signs, not only because the first Tuesday in November is traditionally an election day…

I know this because my Precious Daughter has marked it on our wall calendar.

Election Day in New Orleans

As I’m sure many schools are doing this month, and as I’m sure many of us did when we were in grade school, my Precious Daughter’s school, the International School of Louisiana, is having its own election on Tuesday.

Representative democracy is a team sport: without full participation, everyone loses. So I’m glad to see that ISL is engaging the kids in this election exercise. I know my girl is feeling very empowered by the ability to vote, to have a voice, to be the power behind government.

She is the luckiest voter I know. She’s does not have to worry about why “Dollar” Bill Jefferson had a freezer full of cash, or whether Stacey Tallitsch is a “stay the course” fool or a “cut and run” coward. She does not have to wonder if promises made will be kept, or if money and favors will take the place of platforms and principles once the voting is done.

She’s earnestly looking for someone who will represent her 5th grade class with care and dignity.

And it’s not an easy choice.

Everyone on the ballot is her friend, and everyone has personally approached her to ask for her vote.

My Precious Daughter has shared some of her deliberations with me. To maintain her privacy and honor her confidence, I will not be naming names--not even under subpoena.

I will only say that I am proud of the serious way she is approaching this election, even though ultimately I think we all know—even she knows—that it is just a game.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those who vote for real had that sort of maturity?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

If most of the candidates had the maturity of fifth graders, we'd all be better off.

mominem said...

I wish our candidates were as civil as the candidates in your daughters election.

Now that the big peoples election is over everyone will be nice for about 48 hours, then it starts again.

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