Politics.

I use to hate politics. In some countries, politics is integrated in one’s life very early on in their childhood. But not in mine.

I don’t think it’s so much that my parents never discussed politics with me early on but because I never felt the effects of change and therefore could never really understand why we needed to vote; nothing seemed to be changing, everything seemed fine, my parents weren’t upset with the government and I went about my happy young life.

When I hit my last year of high school, though, I began to feel the effects that I used to think so subtle  they weren’t real effects, much more strongly now. In fact, I began to understand that although my parents may never have been dissapointed with the government and what they’ve done, my parents weren’t me; they weren’t my voice, they don’t share my ideas, and they certainly don’t know how I feel.

I don’t like talking about it because it always seems to lead to an argument; considering my parents are very involved in the political aspects of Canada as well as the rest of the world and they get quite defensive together with the fact that they were my first source, it’s was not good. The rest of my friends also know as much as I do, but lack the drive to further learn or understand, my parents were my only option. But to a young girl who’s trying to play catch-up on all things political, and finding that she has to learn things about bills, laws, federal, provincial, and international, it’s uber overwelming and although I swore I wouldn’t go to them for help, I still needed their guidance. Another dilemma was that I didn’t want to get influenced. It’s not that I think they would deliberately persuade me to vote in their favour but when someone truly believes in a certain someone and what they represent, it’s hard to not express that in your emotions and speech.

So how I learned about politics was through radio, websites, political blogs, newspapers and it wasn’t hard. I realized that before, what I used to do was whenever something political occurred around me, I would unconciously ignore it because as I felt before, it never affected me. But now, everything to do with the country, the economy, education, world peace, the war, everything I listen, read, and realized that I was so wrong; Politics is so integrated in our society, in every day life, we just have to read and listen.

My reason to vote this year is that although I may be content with my life now, I want my life to stay content. But more importantly, I also want the less priviledge to have a life just like mine.

This year was the first year I voted. I didn’t get a certificate or some sort of recognition but I was so proud of myself. My chin raised a little higher. =)