I'm Not Very Political

I was one of the youngest kids in my school class. I have a summer birthday, so I made the deadline in time. I remember age meaning a lot to me in high school. Everyone was getting older—they were able to do more things, take on more responsibilities—and I felt just out of reach. Everyone was dating, driving, staying out later, before I was. Turning eighteen seemed to feel like a pretty big milestone. I was no longer a minor. There seemed to be so many restrictions taken away. One of my new responsibilities didn't really hit me at first. Registering to vote. It just didn't seem that big of a deal to me. Politics seemed like the world for the grown ups, and I still had a lot of growing up to do. I do remember the day that I registered though.

It was a bright sunny day at my college. I had just met up with a girl in between classes when I noticed that something was going on outside in the courtyard area. They were giving away free hot dogs if we registered to vote. (What could be more American than a hot dog?) I took five minutes and quickly filled out my sheet. I remember coming to the box that asked my political party. I thought about it for a second and checked Republican. My parents, grandparents, are Republicans, so I thought I was too.

I now consider myself to be unaffiliated. Not that I don't respect the beliefs of the Republican party, but I just didn't feel like I wanted to label myself with either party. To me, it seemed that there were just the two parties there to make it easier for voters. I found it weird that they grabbed certain issues and split them right down the middle. I feel like they are there just so people can have something to argue about. I print shirts, so I thought I would make a shirt design that illustrates how I feel about the system.

Conservative Democrat Nation. or Con.Dem.Nation for short. I feel like the war between parties really hinders the progress of this nation. Like Rodney King once said, "Can't we all just get along?"

P.S. I went to Baskin Robbins with my brother before the 2008 elections and they had Republican and Democrat ice cream. We said that we would decide who to vote for depending on which ice cream was better. The Republican/McCain ice cream tasted all old and nutty, but the Democrat/Obama ice cream was chocolaty and smooth with peanut butter pieces. I'm pretty sure Baskin Robbins did that on purpose. The ice cream business is so very biased.

P.P.S. That Rodney King quote is a misquote. He actually said,"People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"

P.P.P.S Don't assume by my ice cream story that I voted for Obama. Assumptions are wrong. They only get you into trouble.