The off hand comment that got my twelve year old daughter passionate about politics...

[renie408]

My 17 year old son has been interested in politics for a couple of years now. He follows the issues, is a member (mostly lurking) here, and is a very passionate Democrat. My daughter tends to say she is a Democrat, too, but she's twelve. She isn't really sure WHAT a Democrat is, but since we say that's what we are, it's good enough for her. Until tonight.

We were watching a nature show on TV when she said, "I hope they don't start talking about polar bears. It really makes me want to cry when I think about the polar bears who drown because they can't find ice to hunt on." (Like a lot of girls, she is an animal freak and wants to be a zoologist or a horse trainer when she grows up.) I was sitting here playing solitaire on the computer and made the offhand comment that Sarah Palin was suing the federal government to have polar bears removed from the endangered species list. She freaked out. She spun around and looked at me in shock and said, "WHAT?" I said it again and she went nuts. She is now off in her brother's room on his computer finding out everything she can about Sarah Palin and polar bears. She has found her issue. She can't really relate or get into the things that make me and my husband pull our hair out, but the polar bear thing has got her full attention.

Parenting is interesting.

[DangerousRhythm]

1. That is so great!

Kudos to her! I think what interested me as a kid was political cartoons... that's what dragged me in. :D

[redirish28]

2. She is showing interest which proves you and your husband did something right

I was talking to a 12 year old cousin this weekend and her response was... President Bush will tell who the right candidate is because if we can't trust our President to give us the right successor than our founding fathers died for nothing.


My wife and I just stared at her with mouths open. Her parents aren't political either and don't vote.


I don't even know whee to begin.

[elleng]

4. The 'something right'

was probably discussing news etc with kids; we did that from the beginning, as did my folks.

You might help by somehow chatting with her about things you think might interest her, and relate to some 'public policy' matters.

Good luck.

[redirish28]

5. thanks. We will do our best.

[verges]

27. wow....

that is amazing.

[FLyellowdog]

3. Keep up the good parenting. Awesome!

[holiday]

6. my daughter is worried about the same thing

Palin is on her shit list lol

[BlooInBloo]

7. :))))

[Lancer]

8. Good for her!

And good for you. Sometimes a lifelong interest in or commitment to something can start with a moment like that.

[Booster]

9. If someone isn't sympathetic to the plight of the polar bear, then

that person can't be reasoned with on anything. Seeing them brought down this way should make even the most callous among us sad. Everyone I emailed the Palin/polar bears video to responded with a new hatred for Palin and she is on all their shitlists. Add to that her authorizing the killing of SEVENTY PERCENT of the bear population in Alaska, and I think most people would say she's not somebody they would want to have a beer with. Disgusting woman - brilliant and compassionate daughter you have.

[Chulanowa]

13. I've been spreading her "hunting" record among conservatives I know

Most do try to bluff it off, because hey, they don't want to agree with my liberal ass. But they quiet down and get that look that lets you know they're thinking unhappy thoughts regarding the person you just informed them about.

[Booster]

16. Yep. I've got more people to swing over to Obama just because

of Palin and her record on wildlife. Most people love animals, and most feel guilty about what we've done to their habitat, but especially the polar bears. And you're right about them getting that look on their faces as if to say "ya got me there; I can't defend her on wildlife", even ardent hunters I know. Everybody should keep spreading this to everyone they know.

[ellie]

10. I, too cry

about the polar bears. I am 43.

[grantcart]

11. get out the credit card mom you have to buy this for her

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7135270

[Booster]

32. That picture of the baby polar bear just makes me want to hug

him. I love baby polar bears and baby panda bears - nothing cuter.

[Froward69]

12. When I was 9 my Mom asked

"if you could have a magazine subscription, what magazine would you read?" I said "Time" that was it. The next year mom and I started going to Dem meetings... she put me in a tie (I hated it) thought I would run for senate someday.

[Triana]

14. That's a great issue - and it's good that she's onto it! The poor polar bears NEED her

and everyone else too, to protect them from the Sarah Palins of the world.

I'm not 12 years old - can't even hardly remember when I was, but you know, the fact that those polar bears are losing their lives and might disappear because of us damned humans UNLESS we do something to save them - breaks MY heart too.

She's a good kid. Definitely encourage her to stay involved. We NEED her.

[renie408]

15. Unfortunately, I forgot about the wolf hunting stuff. We had a pretty bad

few minutes when she found that. SHIT! She was really upset. I mean, nearly throwing up crying. I could kill myself for not remembering those damn ads.

She went to bed early. She is really soft hearted when it comes to animals. We have horses, cats, dogs, a parrot and a 55 gallon fish tank. We breed GSD's and have a litter of puppies right now. She read the thing about Alaska Fish and Game killing wolf pups.

I may not get that parenting award. I should have been paying more attention. I think I probably would have told her about it and let her decide if she wanted to see the videos, but it was a shock to her to come across that stuff on Youtube.

[stuntcat]

20. it's what happened

I mean it's impossible to hide all the bad stuff.

The real bad thing about all this would be if Palin actually got into the white house.. what would that say to the good kids who are paying attention? :puke:"Drill baby, Drill" ??

[renie408]

22. I would have liked to give her a head's up, though. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

17. Innocence knows cruelty when they see it.

[Kalyke]

18. For my son, it is the environment.

He's 9 years old and, like your daughter, can't really tell you what a Democrat is, but he says he is because we are.

However, when he learned about climate change in school and came home to ask me if sea water levels really could raise to the point that it floods the entire coastline (could be - some models say so), then he became very concerned... like your daughter, for the animals that live on the coast.

Kids get it better than so many adults, don't they?

[renie408]

21. Yes, they do. For my daughter it is so simple. Killing stuff is wrong. Period.

She told me earnestly after I talked her down over the wolf ads that she wished she could have five minutes to go on TV and explain all this stuff to people. She isn't any more naive than the next kid, but she thinks people just don't UNDERSTAND. It is DAMN hard to explain to a kid that no, they understand...they just don't give a shit. She thinks if kids could explain it, people would pay attention.

And you know, I am not sure it wouldn't make a damn good ad for Obama.

[stuntcat]

19. right on chicklet!

The endangered animals and the environment are the biggest problems. They're way down low on everyone's list, but the younger someone is then the more their future depends on us saving someone besides the humans.
It's my only issue from now on.. if the repukelicans all of a sudden decide to save the planet I'm changing sides. I don't see that ever happening though.

[femrap]

23. Painting Palin as an ANIMAL HATER

is the way to go. Millions of people love animals. How about a whisper campaign....??? Lots of ways to go with this.

It's too bad that her demanding that a teenager carry her father's baby to term isn't enough to repulse the willfully ignorant americans. But if she beat her hunting dog, now that would piss off a few of the NRA members, wouldn't it?

I hate what our country has become.

[asdjrocky]

24. Now that's a great story.

You must be very proud. I know I'm proud of my college freshman liberal.

[backscatter712]

25. Now tell her about Palin's aerial hunting of wolves...

:evilgrin:

[renie408]

26. Like I said upthread, she ran into it on her own on the net.

It was pretty traumatic for all of us. She was devastated and nearly cried herself sick. I wouldn't keep that information from her, but I wish I had prepped her for the video she came across. This is a big kid and I can't remember the last time she sat in my lap for comfort. Like I said, traumatic all the way around.

[AZBlue]

28. You'll always remember this, it's the real start of her interest in politics.

Didn't we all have one pet issue that got us motivated at first? That's awesome - good job! Thanks for sharing your story.

[eshfemme]

29. I blame Lisa Frank stickers and Coca-Cola for my love of bears.

Also, my ever faithful teddy bear.

Seriously, Palin is just... inhuman. I didn't expect McCain to turn out to be the soulless guy he is but he really outdid himself in selecting a "soul mate" of a VP nominee in Palin who is just as soulless as he is.

[Dem_4_Life]

30. Good for her.

I didn't get involved/interested in politics till I was 17. Maybe she will get her friends involved and they can convince any family members that are Palin supporters to think a little more. Never underestimate the power of kids.

[populistdriven]

31. what could possibly be of more interest than this to a tween?

[jules1962]

33. For me, personally

I just don't trust people that are not compassionate for animals. I think they have a serious character flaw. Please support Defenders of Wildlife on this issue.

Julie

[Usrename]

34. .

Yep. That one gets me too.