Election Day

My daughter went to school today undecided about which way she should vote in the kindergarten election. She's 5. She had 2 adults and a 14 year-old try to convince her that Bush is a killer who takes our money while Kerry stands for peace and giving us all our money back.

Excuse me? There's something very wrong with that description - nevermind the fact that these people came up to Maddie at the park on Sunday and tried to influence her decision. What decision??? Even SHE understands that she has to be 18 to vote!

I'm really glad Maddie has taken such an active interest in this election, but she has a delicate mind. And even though I have my opinions, I want to be sure my little girl gets the whole story... about all the candidates (even Nader).

Kids are prime targets for influence - just ask all your soda manufacturers and cereal advertisers. Kids haven't formed opinions because, well, they don't care. You tell them one thing and they believe it because they were too busy playing tag to do their research. So the crafty "influencers" are now going into the schools telling kids to protect themselves when kids don't even know how to maintain healthy friendships. They are on TV telling kids to "VOTE OR DIE" when many teens haven't enough interest to form an educated opinion - many care more about pleasing their idols by voting as directed:

"Hey Eddie Vedder! I voted for Kerry because I love you and everything
about you! WOO HOO!!!"

or

"Hey Alec Baldwin (he threatened to leave the USA if the previous elections didn't go his way - stumping for Gore. He's still here.), please don't go! I'll vote for Kerry if it'll make you stay. I loved you in The Cat in the Hat!"

"Influencers" are walking into parks telling little kids that their sitting president is a bad man. These strategies are unethical, but we know they work. So that leads me to ask, "What's more important - winning or integrity?" If not the latter, then what are we really telling our children? How are they really being influenced?

No matter who wins this election, we must all come together as a nation to respect his position. To act otherwise will only weaken our nation.

And, hey... let my kid play tag. She doesn't need your soda, your cereal, or your spin. She needs a family that will raise her to make informed decisions based on the facts.