I'm not saying I was politically oblivious during the last few presidential races, but being an actual participant rather than a mere observer makes a big change in the overall experience. It's similar to the difference between watching a horserace and betting on one - somehow, it means more when you're clutching that little slip of paper with your horse's name on it. Of course, presidential candidates don't typically have names like "Ain't She Something" or "Tallahassee Tex." Though now that I think of it, "Maverick" would be a great horse name. But the point is, having some part in this highly hyped national event - a voice, a right, even an obligation - makes it that much more exciting to watch America's sacred democratic institution unfold into a ridiculous mess around us.
It's particularly interesting to be a young voter in this election where so much emphasis has been placed on age and experience, with "experience" being just a word old people prefer to use instead of "age." The generational conflict has well-established stereotypes: Young people know nothing of the world, make rash decisions, drive fast cars and listen to loud music; old people are senile, out of touch, eat dinner at 4:30 p.m. and watch reruns of "Matlock." And each side has its preferred candidate, of course. Obama is as easily identified with cheery, inspirational abstract nouns like "change" and "hope" as McCain is with the stubborn crankiness of fast-approaching senility.
I can't help but wonder if, half a century ago, the senior citizens who staunchly support McCain today were rallying to cheer the youthful, inexperienced John Kennedy. I also wonder if I'll be watching the debates 60 years from now, saying, "By golly, good ol' George Bush IV sure gave that young whippersnapper a talking to!" It seems that in the minds of many Americans, this race really is a choice between youthful idealism and old-fashioned experience. This is, I think, a very stupid way of judging the candidates. But that's probably because I'm a rash, inexperienced young person.
Thankfully, in America, you don't need experience to vote, except for the experience of being alive for 18 years. There's no test like there is for earning a driver's license or getting a job at TGI Friday's. That doesn't mean voting is simple. Sure, it's easy to fill out a form or pull a lever, it may even be simple choose a candidate, but it's quite a feat to weather the barrage of information, commentary and nonsense pumped through all channels like media vomit from the campaign's start. Over the last few months, Americans have had to wade through reports that Obama sold acorns to William Ayers in exchange for Kenyan citizenship and suffer through Joe the Plumber's 15 minutes of incomprehensible celebrity. On the plus side, we also got to see Tina Fey be funny for a change.
So why do we put up with the constant deluge of election media? Furthermore, why do we wait in line for hours or follow complex procedures just to cast our ballot? I may be new to this voting thing, but I think I have the answer. It's not just because we feel a sense of patriotism or responsibility. We vote because, even after the novelty wears off, it's actually very exciting to have a say in our government. And Americans love to have their say - hell, that's the reason for the whole media election hype in the first place. So on this, America's wackiest holiday, I hope you'll join in the cacophonous choir of arguing voices. Because after all, isn't that the sound of freedom ringing?
Brandon Lowden is an electrical engineering major from McKees Rocks, Pa. He can be reached at blowden@princeton.edu.
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