Musings with a purpose

Right, so, slight change of pace today... I actually have to write something. As in required. Responsibility. Grown-up stuff. Scary, right? Anyway, I was invited into this program called @15. It's just getting started, so don't expect to find much information on it, but it's a program sponsored by Best Buy (as in the big corporate conglomerate) and it's aim is to give teenagers a voice... in the world, in politics, all that. Anyway, as part of it, I have a chance to go to part of the DNC. I'm not sure how much of it, but at least a reception with some cool "big-shot" type people.

Rob, the guy who I've been talking to, asked me to write a blog. 

I am writing to see if you could lend your hand (and strong writing skills) in writing up a short “blog” type post on why you are excited for the Democratic Convention? The @15 web site will be launching pretty soon in its test stage, and we are looking to populate the blog section with some real teen-created content. Honestly, if you would prefer to write about an issue you are interested instead that is totally fine, but I thought that it might be easier to put down some thoughts on why you’re excited for the convention to come to Denver, and why you’re excited to be a part of it. This can be a few sentences or a few paragraphs (probably close to a paragraph is optimal) – the important thing is that it’s your thoughts.

Yup, that's my assignment. I know! ... not even officially back to school and I'm using the dreaded a-word. I said I'd try to get him something this weekend ... but I thought I'd put my thoughts up here and get a blog post and this done in one. Two birds with one stone, and all that. So, here goes. I'll muse on here for a while and then eventually refine it down to the smaller amount (one paragraph?!) that Rob asked for.

The DNC ... The DNC ... *puts on thinking cap*

If there's one thing we've learned from the Olympic games, it's probably that the weight of the world watching is a heavy yet important burden to bear. The Democratic National Convention must live up to this lesson, though maybe in a smaller scale. After all, much of the country will be watching both Denver and Minneapolis this summer as the presidential candidates are officially nominated. 

Why are these conventions important? After all, we already know who the candidates will be - it's no secret that McCain and Obama will face of this fall. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who didn't know about it. But the convention's importance lies in its history. After all, these conventions have been held every four years since 1832, no small amount of time. Each year, a city in the nation is chosen for political followers and politicians to descend upon. It's rare, however, that we get an election like this one. One that is so close, has so much riding on it, and is so very exciting to many "normal" middle-class citizens. Conventions like this year's stand in a separate category; they aren't mundane rituals that have taken place for over 150 years, they're the kind that are written about in the history textbooks, that are referenced, and that are remembered. 

And so, of all the years, Denver was selected. 100 years after our last turn, we're playing the role of host once again. The election we play a part in, however, is a completely different one than that of 1908, where William Howard Taft beat William Jennings Bryan by an 8% margin. We now face an election that could produce the first African American President in the history of this country, or finally give McCain a chance as the oldest President in the books. 

Going into the convention, I know I don't play a large role. I can't even vote in the election, and it's the same with most of my friends. Why, then, is there a Facebook group from my High School who has declared their choice of President? Why are there multitudes of squealing students who are overjoyed to be spending a few days at the DNC? Because it's historic, and we all know it. We know what we're a part of and we're proud of it. 

Personally, it's the opportunity to play a part - any part. It's having the experience and obeying the call to adventure. It's the chance to say to my grandchildren that I was there - I was at the DNC in 2008. It's the chance to represent and to witness; to learn and to teach. It's an amazing opportunity, quite possibly once-in-a-lifetime, and one I'm overjoyed to have. 

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What do you think? Please leave me comments! I have to refine it down, so I'd love to hear what you think are my strengths and weaknesses, the best parts to keep and the parts to leave out. Let me know! Just hit the comments link below the post and then select "Name/URL" as your identity. Let me know if you have problems or email me your thoughts if you prefer. Thanks!