To me, I just thought that the process was simple. Older people vote, a person gets elected, end of story. My way of thinking certainly changed as I got older but not to the vote where I actually gave a damn about voting. My first chance to vote was the 2004 elections. I was in college then...before life hit me. President Bush was running against John Kerry that time. I was 19 and I wasn't really interested in politics so I could care less about the presidential election, news coverage and presidential debates. So for me, my learning started back in 2004. What I learned was voting was important. This was the time for Americans to choose the right person for the highest office in our government. I passed up this opportunity because I did not know any better. I would quickly learn the importance of voting on two separate occasions. The first lesson I learned was courtesy of the military. I entered the military shortly after dropping out of college for the first time. Of course, in the middle of 2006, we were still at war. I joined the U.S. Army during wartime and I was scared. News surfaced that there were no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) and we went to war over oil. President Bush was all over the news but, not for the right reasons. I still wasn't into politics then but I knew things were changing for the worse. Times were hard for millions of people nationwide. The unemployment rate was high. I mean, getting a job at McDonalds was hard back then...trust me I know. Soldiers were losing their lives and America as a whole was unhappy. The war cost billions of dollars a day, the economy was in shambles, and our president has the worst approval rating in his presidency. I knew things had to change. I remember the 2008 elections like it was yesterday. Who knew a black man would have a legitimate shot at becoming the 44th president of the United States of America. When Senator Obama beat out Hillary Clinton to become the Democratic nominee, that fantasy quickly grew into a reality. After another four years of Bush, being in the military during wartime and seeing the economy take a complete nose dive, I knew I needed to cast my vote. I did just that.
The more I learned about federal government agencies the more I got into politics. After I got out of the military, I started classes at Kennesaw State University in August of 2014. My major was Economics until I decided to change my major to political science. What caused me to change was the constant back and forth during the Senate race between Michelle Nunn and David Purdue. There was so much mud slinging that the message was being lost and their focus became each other when it should of been the people of Georgia. At that time, I knew that it was time to make a change. What's even more important is that the movie, Selma came out in January of 2015 and I was blown away. I didn't know my ancestors went through so much hell just fighting for their right to vote. It made me mad that as Americans, blacks were unable to have any say in American government but yet, we can fight for this country. There was one scene when the marchers crossed the Edmund Pettis Bridge and they were met with policemen on horses with night sticks. The incident was called "Bloody Sunday" and blacks, young and old were assaulted, beaten and attacked like animals hunting down prey. Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Ralph David Abernathy, Joseph E. Lowery, C.T. Vivian, and most notably Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King participated in the march on Selma. That movie and the history of the Civil Rights movement in the South, motivated me to be active in the political process. I needed to do my part and vote.Now, I'm in this Political Communications class and I'm learning the inner workings of the political process. Performing research methods, doing interviews, going to presidential rallies, and ultimately voting for the right candidate. I knew this class was going to be interesting but, I did not realize the class was going to be this intense. I think what I learned is you have to be active in this process. You learn what really goes on in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I've learned that to really give a person a chance, you really have to listen to their message. How is the candidate planning to change the course of this nation for the better for all Americans? Are they delivering a positive or negative message to the people? I got a first hand glimpse of all the above when I had the chance to attend the Bernie Sanders rally in February at Morehouse College. Such a diverse crowd showed up to hear Senator Sanders speak. We had to do interviews. I learned that everyone is not always going to be open to talking on camera or like being recorded. You have to make a continuous effort to keep finding people to interview. When I became comfortable talking to people, the nervousness left my body. I started interviewing people left and right. I was just blown away by all the activity circulating one person. The media, Secret Service agents, famous rappers and actresses showing up in support of Bernie Sanders. It was crazy. Ordinary people came to see if he was the right candidate to lead our country. For some, it was there first time too so I was not alone. That was my first time attending a rally and it was bananas! Out of all the lessons I've learned throughout my adult life concerning politics is that you just have to get involved. What ever it may be. Just get involved whether it be local, state or national politics. We all have voice. It's up to the American people to choose the right person to lead OUR NATION.
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