It's Cool To Vote

by Greg Novak

On an unusually foggy October morning in the Laurel, I sat down in the back of Jerry Mishkin's eighth-grade classroom at the American Indian Charter School. The school, just around the corner from 35th and MacArthur, will be sending a group of students to Washington, D.C., this year. The students have been studying politics and the current presidential race. After attendance was taken and homework checked, I walked to the front and posed a simple question: "Why is it important to vote?" Thirty young faces looked up at this stranger while my question hung in the air. Many quickly, shyly looked away again. But with gentle nudging from their teacher, slowly, candid and poignant thoughts came forth. Mark, a student in the back who appears never to be too shy to voice his opinion was the first to speak up. "To get Bush out," he simply stated with a grin. Several of his classmates chuckled at the boldness of his response. Soon Fawn followed with, "It's cool to vote. If we don't vote, they don't get to hear from us." Many in the class nodded in agreement, with Kevin adding, "To express how you feel, how to change the world." With subtle encouragement from Mr. Mishkin, the students' answers became more personal. Many echoed that voting is the best way to have your thoughts and feelings heard. Rebecca eloquently brought it all home. "As an African American, it's important because we went through a lot to get the right to vote. My sister's husband was sent over to Iraq. She's very unhappy about it, but last time she didn't vote." Before I left, I asked one final question. "Who here is going to register to vote when they turn 18?" As hands and smiles quickly rose, this vote was unanimous.