This I Believe

As I walk through the halls, or usually run through the halls to beat the late bell, I over hear bits and peices of conversations about events circulating in the news. Comments and opinions about the president, oil prices and government practices fly from various open doors and small circles that litter the hallways as I pass by. Now I understand that everyone is entiled to their own opinion and that most, if not every student, views the news at some point. But my problem lies in the assosiation of political views that some of my peers tend to take.

I happen to be the son of two activly involved politically critical parents and I over hear more than enough of economic and government issues through out America. Enough to know infact, that the majority of what I hear others talk about doesnt seem well, genuine. There have been times when I watched bits and pieces of CNBC’s election coverage or Fox News indepth coverage on certian events here and there, and I often notice the similarities between what the reporters say, and what I hear at school.

Many of my classmates hear things at home, or hear things from the news and feel that it is their obligation to express those opinions as their own. Things that O’Riley or Tom Brokah say often end up repeated in High School Hallways. Parents who are liberals or siblings that are Democrats, speak their mind about various issues and pass on those minds to the younger ones, who repeat them with out full knowlage of what they are fully proclaiming. This effect leads the young one to believe that they themselves are a liberal or a democrat, or usually, a liberal democrat.

My point is however, that kids ranging from 6th to 12th grade are being exposed to political and social matters of which they have not the background nor knowlage to form a well based stand on it. I can understand being in favor of one thing or in favor of another, but associating that feeling to lable your own politcal views seems a bit hasty. Indeed, I miss the times where the only political decision I had to make, was which bubble to darken on the Elementary “Fake Ballots”, and when my decision was based on not what that candiate had done in his carrer, but which ones last name sounded cooler.