I DESPISE THAT TEENS MY AGE CAN'T THINK FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AlFrankenFan]

<RANT>

I'm 14. I know my stuff because I chose to get interested in politics at an early age. I'm not saying all kids should. But I would at least expect that FRESHMAN in high school would be able to venture away from the safe keeping of their parent's arms and open their minds up and THINK.

Paul (LiberalManiacfromOC) a few months ago dealt with a gay-bashing sixth grade student who said that if there are gays the population decreases and because her mother said it was true it was right.

A girl I know said, "I don't know what I am. My parents are Republicans. I guess that means I am too."

I often hear kids my age say "Why are you interested in politics, aren't you too young? You can't even vote!" Yes, I can't vote, but that isn't an excuse to be ignorant on things that are going to affect you the rest of your life!

My English teacher even made it a point to say (maybe it was my "definition of a liberal" shirt...:P) that now that we're in high school we should really be able to form our own opinions. THANK YOU.

Let me make this clear: THINKING DIFFERENTLY THAN YOUR PARENTS IS OK. I, of all people, should know. Three of my four "parents" (steps and biological) are active Republicans. Everyone else in my family are left-leaning independent Jews and righty-right Christians. I am so liberal it astonishes me sometimes. Am I this way because of my family. NO. IT'S BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO FORM MY OWN OPINION AND THINK FOR MYSELF. I CAN JUDGE WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG. WHY CAN'T YOU!?

</RANT>

[benddem]

1. be patient with your peers

It is sometimes hard to accept that you think more deeply, are more engaged, curious etc. But some of them will come around...and some will never reach your level of intelligence.

[AlFrankenFan]

4. thanks i needed that

i didn't mean to come off sounding elitist towards kids that aren't as well...intelligent as I am. it just surprises me that kids...even kids in advanced classes...still refuse to think for themselves.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Great rant and good for you.

At age 11, my girlfriend and I went out campaigning for Kennedy. We made our own signs to carry and walked up and down the street yelling "Kennedy's the one for me!" in a thoroughly Democratic neighborhood.

But, like you, it piqued our interest in politics. Here I am 45 years later....

[kikiek]

3. Geez you are great!

I try to get my nieces and nephews interested, but to no avail. They don't understand it is their future being decided. I was interested in politics when I was in elementary school. I wonder if you're born with it.

[AlFrankenFan]

5. born with it?

pardon my ignorance ;-)

[kikiek]

13. With the interest in politics. It seems not too many are as interested

as those of us are.

[AlFrankenFan]

16. thanks for the clarification

my brain is going into a relapse because of my trig homework lol

[kikiek]

20. You actually do your homework..you are smart. I would wish you good

luck, but you don't need it.

[bkcc]

6. News flash:

People MY age can't think for themselves and I'm much older than you.
Dumb kids grow up to be dumb adults.

It's sad but true.

[AlFrankenFan]

7. oy....

I know. It just gets on my nerves sometimes. Especially when a kid I sit next to in band bashes Kerry left and right and can't defend it...ugh high school :eyes:

Edit: is it just me or are my sig pictures...disappearing?

[miss_kitty]

26. "People MY age can't think for themselves..." amen to that!

i saw the post and that is immediately what i thought...it's good you think for yourself, AFF. i was surprised to see you are all of 14...i had seen you mention school and i thought maybe 17-18, but sheesh! you have an excellent head start on the rest of them...you'll do OK.

[bkcc]

30. I agree completely.

You're way ahead of the game, my friend.
Just understand that it doesn't really get easier for those of us who are open-minded and like to think for ourselves.

[burythehatchet]

8. You have a very special gift that you have been fortunate enough

to recognize at an early age.

It would be foolish to expect others to have the same gift, or for them to appreciate yours. Count your blessings. Some people will go to their death not having recognized their gift.

[AlFrankenFan]

9. thanks

:hug:

[Eternal_Vigilance]

10. Unforunately, It doesn't get better

I'm 18 and I went through high school with a deep interest in international relations and national politics. Fortunately, a few of my peers also shared the same interest and were able to discuss the current campaign. But for the vast majority of the people i know, they just don't care. They feel that it doesn't affect them. Others are turned off by the shouting and mud-slinging of both sides. Even my old girlfriend used to get tired of me talking politics.

Hang in there, my friend. At age 14, you already have a vast head start on understanding the world we live in. America, and the whole world needs more free-thinking individuals like you!

[AlFrankenFan]

11. thanks...and welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[richmwill]

12. Amen, brother!

I remember being the only kid in my 5th grade class who voted for Mondale in our mock-Presidential-election back in '84. Most of the other kids said they voted for Reagan because "my daddy likes him". And my parents are NOT liberal, so I wasn't just following them- my father is Republican, my mother is very moderate/center Democrat. So I can understand your point. But also, in their defense, I believe most right-wing fathers (luckily not mine) are very intimidating to their children. I can very easily see them yelling and screaming at their children "Ya'll are gonna support Bush because he's a good, patriotic 'Merican, and Kerry's a commie scum, RIGHT?". So, maybe the reason they think like their parents is due to their fear of their raging radical parents. It's actually sad, if you think about it.

[AlFrankenFan]

14. I fear my radical right father

and he's pretty bad. But I don't let it get to me and fight back. And least of all show I'm afraid. He is very intimidating.

Good for you for wanting Mondale! He's one of my heroes :-).

Hehe...and by the way, I'm a female. Don't worry, it happens! :P

[JohnKleeb]

22. you know Paul got mistaken for a girl once

it was a riot I thought and I teased him for it.

[AlFrankenFan]

23. LOL

hhehehehehhe gawd that's hilarious.

[JohnKleeb]

24. Yeah

Apparently more people get mistaken for girls than I thought, I had a poll after that, I must say proudly though I havent got mistaken for a girl since the bus driver incident in middle school.

[richmwill]

33. Oops- sorry about that!

Amen, sister! :)

[seventhson]

15. My Daughter is 14. and she thinks for herself...She runs an ezine and

she marched against the war in NYC AND Washington with her Mom and me AND she went to the RNC in NYC with her mom.

On her ezine she polls her peers and finds that lots of kids your age are still in the mindset of their parents BUT many are not. MANY are just like you.

I have tried to teach her that one of the best ways to bring people around is to try ONLY to convince them that YOU believe what you believe and don't worry about trying to convince them to believe what you believe. In other words arguing doesn't work. Explaining what you believe and why youi believe it makes people think about theri own ideas.

ANYWAY - there are many many kids who are politically aware. I started at your age and am still active a bunch of decades later.

Just keep doing what you are doing and speak your mind and don't worry too much about the idiots and the ignorant.
But don't let your knowledge be seen as superiority. Let them see how smart you are and admire you rather than criticizing them.

Some people are born sheep to the slaughter.

[AlFrankenFan]

thanks for the advice!

Believe me, I definitely don't try to seem superior to my peers. Just blowing off what I don't scream at school here. It just gets on your nerves when you try to explain and they don't listen.
:hug:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. A lot of them form their opinions from hearing adults

who can't think for themselves. Sorry, but like someone said. It doesn't get better usually. Ignorance breeds ignorance, so you have wave after wave of ignorant people generation after generation.

[Jade Fox]

18. Sadly some of those kids will never think for themselves....

Many people learn at a very early age just to accept things. Sometimes
its easier.

You are probably like those of us who have a life long interest in politics
and public affairs. It started for me at about 13, and it ain't quit yet!
I was close to 30 befor I figured out that not everyone's idea of a good
time is arguing politics all night!

Good luck. :pals:

[Philostopher]

19. Hey, you know what, FrankenFan?

I'm every bit as annoyed with people my age -- I'm between 35 and 40 -- taking everything they get off the TV as gospel. They don't know how to think for themselves, either.

It's folks like you and Kleeb and LiberalManiac who keep me from being entirely depressed about the whole thing. Most of the people I know who are around my age, if they vote at all, will vote for Bush* like punching the clock at work on a Friday. It won't mean a thing to them, at lesat until their jobs disappear, or they get arrested with that joint they like to smoke on Saturday evening with their buddies, or one of their daughters gets pregnant and they have no option but to suck it up and support the kid, since there aren't any other options anymore for their daughters.

Which is to say, you're unusual -- but not just for your age. You're unusual for a 21st Century American. So are all of us here at DU. We think about this stuff more than most people, and we have a fairly clear view of what the 'big picture' is for politics and politicians, their ways of thinking and behaving, and how it will affect our lives. Most people don't have enough imagination to write a grocery list, and they'll vote for the last person whose ad they heard on hate radio the morning they went to vote, if they can be bothered to vote at all.

[JohnKleeb]

21. You think its bad for you freshmen but its just as bad for us seniors

Some people dont know shit and dont care, now granted there are some smart people, I am not one of them, I just knwo what I outta know. I think simliar to my parents though honestly.

[The Blue Knight]

25. I'm 17; and brother, I feel your pain.

[JohnKleeb]

28. its just annoying

I dont even consider myself smart, then I go ace a model citizenship test and just before I had debated pro immigration and pro accepting of multi languages, of course there are many people who can school me in math and science :).

[NEOBuckeye]

27. You took the RED pill. Welcome to The Matrix.

It's a very brave choice that not everyone can and will make.

[NightTrain]

29. Alas, most of them will become adults who don't think for themselves.

Just trying to prepare you for the inevitable.

[PittPoliSci]

31. what makes you think that anyone can really think for themselves?

Take a look at the media, take a look at this: most people rarely stray from their parents political and religious views.

I know it's hard to swallow, especially from me who was about as "non-conformist" with both ideas and style in my mid-teens. But things really don't change much with age, sad to say...

[deadparrot]

32. I'm 17 and freakishly political...

I'm exactly three months short for voting. Luckily, both of my parents are liberals (both teachers, my dad has to work three jobs).

If you live in a fair sized town, find a Kerry or Democratic HQ and volunteer (I do, its the only way I can get involved)! You'll be among like-minded people and can blow off some steam.

[CiCi the Psychobunny]

34. Oh dear, AFF

What'll be hard is when you get to college/university and realise that most of those people still haven't got it. When people who are apparently intelligent and able to think STILL parrot exactly what someone has told them, without any thought being put into it, is bloody annoying. :evilfrown:

[seaglass]

35. Maybe when you get older you'll be a little more tolerant.

I know lots of kids around your age 13-15 and they have varying levels of knowledge and interest in politics. So, they are still growing up,learning about themselves and testing their independence from their parents, give them some time.

I don't know why you would expect that everyone should be interested in the same things you are, and why, if they are not, that means they don't think for themselves.