Remenants of Comp 110 - Discussion Questions - Day 0

8:00 – 9:15 AM.

I sat in my comp class today completely appalled as my classmates were giving up their rights, their individual freedoms, their mandatory obligation simply because they, “Are to busy to care”. Heck it’s only the country’s future right? It’s only another four years to listen to them complain and whine about how terrible of a job the President is doing. (If you haven’t caught my drift, I’m talking about voting.)

Every class the professor opens the class with an “ice breaker question”. Today’s was this, ” Are you Republican or Democrat or what are your views on the brewing topics of this coming election?” At this point one thing is running through my head, “Greattttt you had to pick the one topic that is going to completely divide the classroom.”  I’ve heard it said that the worst possible thing that you can talk about with anyone is politics and today just seemed to prove that point even more.  He normally starts on one side of the room and works his way to the other. ( I sit mid right). Today he chose to start on the left. He pointed at the girl in the first seat. She sat up and said, ” I don’t follow politics, It’s a waste of time and its just consistent drama. I’d rather be shopping.” …..Yeah my jaw was pretty much on my desk. Everything in me just wanted to scream, ” What about all the men who died so you could have that right?” “What about all the complaints you’ve made about Bush in the past classes?” ” There are so many people in third world countries who would love to have the freedom to choose who they want to run the country.”  My professor simply nodded his head and moved onto the girl behind her ( the first girls twin sister.) She basically said the same thing. I would say 1/3 of the class gave the excuse “I’m to busy to care”. Those words are the most heart wrenching words anyone could ever say. They demoralize everything our flag stands for, everything that we have fought to become. Take the people of Iraq, they were under Saddam Hussein in an opressive dictatorship. The people had absolutely NO say. They were told you are going to the polls and you have to vote for Saddam, if you don’t you will be killed. It’s that simple, disagree and you die. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, the people of Iraq WANT us there. They would absolutely LOVE to have the freedom to choose and that is exactly what we are giving them. The hope to continue everyday life, no longer living under a dictator, being able to express their opinion without torture and killing.

Too many of today’s Americans listen to what they are told, they don’t research things for themselves. They listen to what Model A American says and follow that. Barack obama says its “Time for a change”. I’m still clueless to what this supposed “change” is. Yet 3 or 4 people in class today said they are voting democratic for the simple reason that ” It’s time for a change” or ” I like the idea of an African American President.” Now I know I have my opinion and you have yours but please please have the facts to back up your opinion, and base it off of values not race, gender, or what others say.

The other thing that kills me are all these men dying for these people’s right to vote. When you choose not to vote, you are full out SPITTING in their faces. How dare you! The very foundation this country was built upon was the idea of a democracy. These men stand to defend our morals and principals whether we agree with the current actions or not.  If there is one thing I can not stand is the people who sit back and complain after an election. They chose not to vote and yet they complain and moan..blah blah blah. Listen to me if you choose not to vote that is your choice but, if you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem. Get over it.

Simply put, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE