I recently stopped being a lurker here at Daily Kos because I wanted to become more active in online politics. This was an easy decision to make after volunteering for Organizing for America in South Florida this November. Given all that has happened and all that is happening, I felt like I needed to contribute my two cents here.
First of all, I was inspired to write this diary because of a comment that I posted after Kos thanked the lurkers for getting more involved. Recently, I found this:
Former lurker here: Thank you, Kos. NT (39+ / 0-)
You all have no idea how heartwarming something like that is for somebody like me. I received more recs from that comment than I did from my first diary, which was well appreciated. You can read my first diary on this link.
I'd like share more about who I am and why I am motivated to post here.
My grandfather once took me into the voting booth and showed me how it was done on the punch card ballots. I don't remember how he voted, but it left a lasting impression on me. I registered to vote during high school as an independent with no real political beliefs.
I went to Florida International University to get a BA in political science. Interestingly, I was more quantitatively proficient than I was linguistically. Logic was a clearly understandable language for me. I developed a strong libertarian leaning at the time and I voted for Harry Brown over Al Gore or George W. Bush. I felt like neither candidate earned my vote at the time. I argued in favor of the electoral college and for the war in Iraq at the time in class. Towards the end of college, I became more and more progressive.
In 2004, I registered as a Democrat. What prompted me to do that was the insane notion that we had tax cuts and two wars. I knew that it would cause a fiscal debt crisis that was completely unnecessary and avoidable. During that summer, I worked as a canvasser raising funds for the Kerry Edwards campaign. I remember that everyone in the Miami Beach office was captivated by Barack Obama's keynote speech. That campaign work helped me face my problem with shyness and I will always be grateful for that. However, I could not fight against the misinformation that the Bush campaign and Fox News was pushing on the public. I also realized that I wasn't good at sales, perhaps because I was too shy and that I lacked self confidence then. After I quit the campaign, I started working in the family business, which was doing fine at the time.
In 2006, I really needed to look into where I wanted to go career-wise. I ended up going into FIU's international relations MA program part-time while working part-time as well from 2007 to 2009. I studied many things from the philosophy of war to nuclear arms negotiations. I had the good fortune to meet and work with brilliant people from all over the world. I sat and watched Barack Obama's very impressive presidential campaign while I was busy at school. I would have been surprised if he had lost the election.
By 2010, I needed to look for a career and after consulting my father, I decided to apply for Navy OCS. My father went into the Marine Corps as an officer back in the 1970's, but we both knew that I wasn't the Marine type. I also didn't want to get involved with politics, especially since posting anything online could get noticed. The application process was long and I should have completed it sooner. Earlier this year, I learned that I was rejected because of budget cutbacks. Even my recruiter was surprised about it.
I had to start all over. I needed to do some serious soul searching.
Not long after, I took notice of the Occupy Wall Street protests. I realized that these people of all ages and of all types gathered together to speak out against injustice. It was truly inspiring to see this. However, I was never really the protesting type. I concluded that I would most suited for election work. I can understand if other Kossacks will criticize me for volunteering for OFA. However, you all must understand that it all goes back to my grandfather. I didn't mention before that he was a Cuban revolutionary and that he and his family were instrumental in fighting the corrupt Batista government.
I learned about all of that years after my grandfather's death. He fought against injustice only to be betrayed by Fidel Castro. It wasn't until the early 1960's that Castro revealed himself as a communist. In turn, my grandfather defected with his family and came to America penniless. This is what motivates me to work for a campaign. My grandfather knew what tyranny looked like up close. He came here believing in the American system of democracy. It truly disgusts me to hear of politically inactive people who only complain about the system and don't vote or even protest. They have no idea what true tyranny is. Only now, do I have to take my place and defend democracy against America's most dangerous enemy and it isn't foreign.
Let me finish with this: I plan to post more about the coming elections and progressive strategies. Also, I have nothing against OWS, but I believe working in elections is better for me. For anyone here who is with OWS, please keep the conversation going.
So say we all!
Wed Dec 21, 2011 at 4:00 AM PT: Thank you Daily Kos community for putting this on the Community Spotlight. I a grateful to be welcomed here in this vibrant space full of ideas. I look forward to writing a diary that gets rec listed at some point. Given that I'm on vacation, I'll have some more time to write. Also, if you rec this diary after reading this, then please find one other lurker and get him/her to read this one. Happy Holidays to you all!