My three daughters all joined the military. My two older daughters went into the Navy in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and my youngest joined the Army National Guard in 2010.
Their paternal grandfather was a hardcore Evangelical Christian and I.... am not. We had family discussions about abortion, religion in politics, gun rights and freedom. My girls did attend church with their grandfather. When they were young, I really felt it would do no harm. The church teaches some important lessons. I had no idea, however, how radical my ex-father-in-law had become over the years since my divorce from his son.
My daughters slowly stopped wanting to have discussions with me, ending any conversation I began with "Grandpa says"...
There were a few arguments, even, about whether "Grandpa's" right to believe abortion was wrong outweighed a woman's right to choose.
I continued to attempt to have conversations with them about politicians and the effect that not voting, or voting against your own needs, has on everyone in the country.
2008 came and went without any of my daughters voting... as did 2010 and 2012. I kept asking, "Have you decided who you would like to vote for?"... The answers I got were, "It doesn't matter", "My vote won't count anyways" and "It's all rigged".
I was beginning to be extremely worried that, not just my children, but all young people, had become complacent, stagnant and uncaring of each other.
Then my daughters began having children of their own...
Last week I received a call from my middle daughter. She is soon to be 26 and has a son with special needs. He is also multi-racial. When she left the Navy, she started college part-time and is working full time, as well.
During this call from my amazing daughter, she informed me that she is changing her major to Political Sciences and is considering a future in politics.
I almost fell out of my chair when she said to me, "Momma, I just don't understand why 70 year old men are making decisions for me, my friends, and our children. They have no idea what our lives are like!"
I said, "FINALLY!!! Whoop, whoop, you get it!"
NOW VOTE!!!
#elections #vote
