The following are excerpts from conversations with a student, I asked for her consent prior to posting…
I love this girl, She feels like family, I voted for her future, I worry about her future…
Me: “So this is the first year you can legally vote, are you going to?”
She: “No, I don’t like either candidate and what if I vote for one and they make a huge mistake and I backed them?”
Me: “A lot of women fought hard so that we could have the vote…”
She: “Yes, I know…”
It’s times like these that I silently pray for the strength to keep my mouth shut, teachers have a responsibility to educate, to inspire, to set an example.
Me: “If you need someone to drive you to the election polls, I’m available.”
She: “No, that’s okay.”
I dropped the subject, she’s a young adult, she’s smart, and she’ll find her own way, which doesn’t mean that my way is hers.
I wanted to show her each candidate’s platform, to suggest she align herself with the one that best fits her beliefs and her dreams of a brighter future. I started, but I stopped, politics is very private, much like religion.
Most recent conversation:
Me: “So, did you vote?”
She: “No…”
Me: “I’ll go with you…”
She…”No, that’s okay…”
She: ”So do you think you’re losing any students due to your Biden yard signs?”
Me: “Well, it’s just my view on the upcoming election, I feel very strongly about what’s happening, so I’m willing to take that chance.
She: “Okay…”
Me: “To me it’s no different that having a religious cross on the wall, no different than having a Buddha statue in my home, if someone doesn’t like me for my beliefs, then it’s okay, not everyone is someone’s cup of tea.
It’s Friday night, Oct. 30th2020 ~ this Tuesday is November 3rd, please vote for a better tomorrow, for a President with a health plan, one who will protect social security, who will tell trust us with the truth, who will set a good example, who has empathy and a plan to heal our counties wounds.
On a personal note: I miss the friends that I had prior to this election, their choice of distance is palpable. #girlwithguitar #VoteHimOut
