As a journalist, nothing bothers me more than uninformed people.
My irritableness goes to a whole different level when people my age are uninformed about anything that is going on in the world, much less the United States where we happen to live.
I was sitting in one of my classes the other day and for some reason we got on the topic of bathroom ordeal at the airport involving Sen. Larry Craig, which brought up allegations he was a homosexual.
My professor didn’t go into detail about the situation, I guess because she figured everyone heard about it.
I mean, it was on the news for at least three days, if not more.
I suddenly noticed puzzled looks on several students’ faces. I assumed my professor noticed this too, because she asked everyone who had not heard about this to raise their hands.
The class has about 25 people in it, and about 10 people raised their hands.
To some, this may not seem like a big deal, but I was absolutely shocked.
How could you have not heard about the bathroom scandal?
Was it not all over CNN, MSNBC and Fox News?
I know it’s really not that big of a deal.
Politicians have been doing stupid things since the beginning of time, but to me it just made me realize how oblivious people are to the world around them.
Although newspapers are going out of style because of the easy accessibility to the Internet.
It’s still not an excuse to not know what’s going on.
Most people get on the Internet at least twice a day to check e-mail and of course, Facebook and Myspace.
Since Web sites like these attract so many 18 to 24 year olds, why don’t they include a news feed, and I don’t mean the news feed also known as “stalker feed” like Facebook displays.
Instead of being able to read everyone’s business when you open up Facebook, why can’t a news box, with the latest news pop up?
I do have to give Facebook credit, though.
They have recently added Election 2008 applications so you can pick your candidate and receive up-to-date information on your candidate’s whereabouts and recent speeches.
While this is a good thing, most students are uninformed on this as well.
Most of what I hear is “why vote, when it doesn’t affect me?”
Honestly, this is the biggest bunch of crap I have ever heard. I really think it’s an excuse for simply being ignorant or uninformed.
I am a political junkie, and I know some people don’t understand this.
I also know a lot of people just can’t get into politics.
But I think it is every American citizen’s duty to vote, especially women and racial minorities.
People have worked so hard to give us the right to vote, so you should do it!
The upcoming 2008 election could also be one of the biggest and most important in a long time.
There are many important factors at stake including the war in Iraq, as well as the troops we have in Afghanistan and other countries.
Immigration and health care are both hot topics on the 2008 agenda.
If you really don’t think these things won’t affect you, you are mistaken.
It may not affect you now, but it will eventually.
I am graduating in May 2008 and my Dad mentioned I need to find a job with good health care and I need to start a retirement fund.
These are things the government has control over and these will effect all of us in one way or another.
I’m not asking for people to be obsessed with this stuff, but sometimes it pays to get involved every once in awhile.
And with the election now one year away, you won’t get this chance for another three or four years.
