Politics as Usual

This week I was able to watch the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. It was informative and professional. It was a bit of an anticipated event for the nation because Palin had not done so well in television interviews and Biden was a well-known and experienced politician. I wasn't able to watch it live but I watched it online. It was interesting how I felt the tension between the candidates even though I was watching alone, online.

The debate went well and each candidate was extremely professional. Neither one attacked the other and they made sure to point out the ideas they respect about each other. They talked about issues currently worrying the American public. They talked about the war, economy, housing, and families. There were glimpses into each candidate's background as they spoke lovingly about their families. Over all, everything went smoothly and was well handled.

As I thought more about the debate itself and how it would affect me individually I started to see my opinions forming. As each candidate addressed issues about war, economy, and housing I asked myself what I wanted as a voter. I listened carefully to get more information on topics I was unfamiliar with. This debate wasn't just about seeing where the candidates stand but also figuring out where I stood. I was able to internalize the issues and figure out how I wanted life for my family to be as American citizens.

I think this can be a powerful teaching tool in the classroom. I think kids might get bored with watching a 90 minute debate but they could watch clips and analyze what the points are and how they are brought across. I think a class could engage in discussion about the positives and negatives of a sertain stance on certain issues. They could then go from there and decide which stance has more positive benifits. I think activities and discussions that engage students with political information can help them see the importance of being politically active. Students wouldn't have to make people agree with them or even vocalize their opinion. They just need to know the importance of voting. I think with each election it is more important for younger generations to be politically informed and vote.