Some of us will be voting soon and, quite honestly, that's scary. As a senior, I will turn 18 before Nov. 3; thus, I am eligible to vote in the 2008 Presidential Election -- and many of you will be, too.
All of this nonsense about our generation being the future of the world is finally beginning to take shape. We actually are the ones deciding the course of the future of America. Our fates really are in our hands. Perhaps this "nonsense" that been being bored into our heads for years is not "nonsense," after all.
Though the general election is not until fall, the West Virginia primaries are this month - May 13 to be exact. However, I've been alarmed about this election for a while now. Why is that, you ask?
In short, it's because of the Iowa Caucuses. Months ago, they were the first wake-up call that I received, and since then, various other primaries and caucuses have been snowballing into an increasingly interesting presidential race.
I know that I need not make up my mind about the next President now because -- who knows? -- the candidate that I may decide to support currently might not make it to November.
However, the caucuses made me realize that I really do not know very much about any of the candidates, let alone which one I want to support. With the primary upon us and only three candidates left, this is definitely a clue to me that I may need to pick one before it's too late!
"I don't know anything about the election," you say. I write this column to urge you to educate yourself, then.
Sure, sometimes digging up information can be tedious, but more often than not, essentials may be found right under your nose if you only look for them. There is still time to learn and form opinions.
Besides, following the elections these past few months has been, for me, actually slightly enjoyable. I was not expecting this.
I don't know if it's because I'm opinionated or because I'm taking a civics class this year, but I actually am fascinated by some of the proceedings. And who doesn't love a good, clean debate -- between candidates or between peers?
I am not an electoral authority, but I do know that we only have a direct democracy because the founding fathers had enough faith in us to permit us to elect officials and leaders ourselves.
They were giving us the benefit of the doubt, believing that we would inform ourselves about candidates and make a decision based upon what we think is good for us and society rather than upon who is more attractive or has more supporters or has a funnier-sounding name.
In today's world, it is easier than ever to access the opinions and plans of not only presidential candidates but those vying for local and state offices, too. There are newspapers, television and the Internet, not to mention the age-old tradition of candidates visiting towns or even going door-to-door to meet people.
We have no excuse to not be informed voters, and we must keep in mind that voting itself is both a right and a privilege. That means that everybody who's eligible should vote, not only because our ancestors fought for our rights to suffrage but also because the goal of a democracy is to get an accurate representation of a people as a whole, and that cannot truly happen if everyone does not vote.
Registering to vote is not hard. In fact, it is quick and fairly painless. Simply go to the courthouse or DMV with a valid form of identification and follow instructions. You may even be able to get signed up at a voter registration booth set up at your school or at a function you attend.
For you who have stayed with me for this entire column despite the fact that you are underage, first of all, thank you, and second, your time will come. For those of you who are of age to vote, do it -- I dare you!