Campaigning has many lessons

So you're probably wondering how you should be spending your Fall Break — lying on the beach in Florida? Wait, that's for Spring Break. Fall Break, say school officials, should be for fully "discovering" our democracy, whatever that means. How boring. I, too, am tempted to say I'd rather be in Florida, spring-break-style vacation until I remember that I went to New Hampshire last intersession break to campaign. So, what did I discover?

You can get a free ride anywhere as long as you are with a campaign. I got a free bus ride, complete with comfy seats and built in TV's, simply because I showed up and said that I was for Dean. Hey, maybe political beliefs — not money — makes the world go around!

How tough you are. The true measure of strength is standing more than eight hours outside a school parking lot in the dead of winter, in subzero weather. Well, if not the true measure of strength...at least the true measure of how tough your feet are—a test mine failed. But as the saying goes, no pain, no gain, and I'm sure that my feet are ready now to go on a Mt. Everest expedition. Well, maybe.

Americans in general — and not just the "Americans for Dean" — are really friendly. Despite the good-natured rubbing among the different groups — for Kerry, for Edwards, for Clark — that went on while we were standing on the street corner, I was able to discuss easily with everyone there — different political affiliation or not, why they were voting the way the were and why their candidate of choice had their support. And who could forget the cars that would drive by and honk in appreciation of our efforts? Some would even stop their cars and talk to us. Those cars and those people kept us going and yelling even until our voices were hoarse.

Americans are really hospitable. The meal I was served that night by a friendly couple was the best I have ever tasted. Maybe it was just because I was so amazed that a family would serve a group of strangers whom they have never seen before, on their best table with a meal they spent hours and hours making.

Why — why — people care about Dubya and government and politics. From the discussions that night, I finally discovered the practical meaning of policies and laws passed by distant lawmakers in Washington, D.C. People were afraid that the Patriot Act threatens to take away our basic rights to free speech, were concerned that the invasion of Iraq was threatening their grandchildren's futures by breeding more terrorists and were concerned that they wouldn't have enough money in their Social Security fund for a happy, secure retirement. I saw how actions taken in Washington have far-reaching implications, touching all classes of Americans. That is why we have to work to vote for the best qualified candidate, so that the right actions will be taken. Politics is no abstract mishmash; it has an impact on our daily lives, from the gas prices we pay to whether or not we will see high school friends risking their lives fighting in foreign countries.

So I confess, I was nothing close to bored. Pushing my boundaries a little, meeting complete strangers and yes, even freezing my feet, through it all, I really enjoyed myself. These are all memories I will take with me — waving signs, getting to hear Dean speak and shaking his hand, but most of all, talking to other people who care about the lives of all Americans.

Even if I didn't discover some big, grand truth about democracy, I did come away with a few very precious grains of it. My hope is that this Fall Break, you will get to do the same. Carol Wang is a sophomore from Peoria, Ill. She can be reached at cswang@princeton.edu.