The Youth Rock!!!

[seito]

I dedicate this thread to the amazing youth. :yourock:

You showed up in record numbers and you moved a nation. Do not listen to anyone that claims that you let us down. You are a bright shimmer of hope, faith and perseverance. Do not lose faith. When the system fails us, it is our duty to change it. Stand firm to your ideals and never give up. You know what is at stake. Surrender is not an option.

Please post your stories of the young American heroes that stood up for Democracy during this past election.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. I'm 20

and I persuaded five of my previously apolitical friend to vote for Kerry this year. One of my friends voted for Bush, but there was no way to stop him.

[seito]

6. jaradh you rock!!!

Imagine if every American persuaded five people to get out and vote for Kerry...

It would have been a lot harder to hide the theft.

[flamin blue state]

10. What do you mean?

They would have stolen it no matter!

[seito]

23. They would have tried...no doubt

They will try again. But that is for another thread.

Here we honor those such as yourself. You endured hardships for Democracy. That makes you a hero. So do not fall into despair. As long as there are Americans that are willing to stand firm, our Democracy WILL NOT FALL.

Of all the things that give me hope, the courage and strength of our youth is the most powerful. Get psyched up because America's best days are ahead.

So, blue state, you rock and welcome to DU!!! :yourock:

[flamin blue state]

9. Did he vote because you encouraged him?

Was he apolitical as well?

[Celeborn Skywalker]

27. I think he was already going to vote

I tried to talk him into voting for Kerry, but it fell on deaf ears.

[Avalux]

2. My daughter and her boyfriend -

plus their circle of friends were highly motivated for this election and voted for Kerry. Thinking back, I was not interested in politics at that age and I am very proud of them. They understood the importance of this election. Too bad it was stolen and many of them feel discouraged.

[flamin blue state]

11. The discouragement is overwhelming.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

3. My friends and I

ages 17-20 went door to door for Kerry in Conservative Orange County. One memorable experience was our night at the Kerry/Edwards booth at a city fair here...

We registered a good number of voters and stood strong against the freeps that threw drinks at us and attempted to steal our supplies. I wish there were even more young people that really cared.

We'll be fighting just as hard in 06 and 08.

[roseBudd]

4. Sunday before the election 4 youg teen African American boys

ran out in the street to flag me down and asked me to take them to volunteer. I drove them to Young Voter Alliance.

[flamin blue state]

19. Where is that?

[roseBudd]

28. YVA was part of 21st Century democrats, they were in swing states only

I took them to the YVA office right behind the Kerry campaign headquarters in Cincinnati. I was driving around African American neighborhoods blasting Mosh with Kerry yard signs on my station wagon and vote messages in white shoe polish on my windows when they falgged me down.

[seito]

30. Rosebud57

Thank you for your service.

You are a real American Patriot.

[seito]

5. Thank you Blue_State_Elitist

No Retreat No surrender

You are the hope of a free nation and don't you ever lose faith. You stand and lead and you WILL find more young people that join your ranks.

[flamin blue state]

13. I will stand!

[flamin blue state]

12. I had a bottle thrown at me for holding a sign.

[texpatriot2004]

7. Here, Here they are for JKerry hands down.

If there were an honest election and the youth were the only voters Kerry Edwards would win hands down. The youth vote rocks.

Rock the Vote
Vote or Die
Punk Voters
...you are all terrific! Thanks for voting sorry it wasn't honest.

:headbang:

[flamin blue state]

15. Those bastards stole this thing

I wish I could move to Italy or Spain, or even France.

[flamin blue state]

8. I voted

It was worth the time! Thanks for the "dedication".

[texpatriot2004]

14. No, thank you for being part of the massive youth vote!

Sorry they (the MSM)dissed you guys initially. I knew they were wrong. You guys were warriors.

[flamin blue state]

17. I was called names, and had a bottle thrown at me

I did not deserve that. Makes me wonder why should anyone keep trying if they are frauded out every time.

[Eloriel]

39. We're going to EXPOSE that fraud and then FIX it

I promise. A lot of people are working very hard to get that done. We haven't really known about it until 2000, and a good numer of people have been working on it since not too long after that election.

We WILL fix it, or die trying (and I hope I mean that purely figuratively :-( ).

Thanks for everything you and your generation did.

[Chili]

16. *standing ovation*

The last 3 weeks have been overwhelming and frenzied and very depressing... but the one bright shining light is that the young people out there are dedicated and determined, much more motivated than my apathetic generation was at the same age (child of the 70's). I'm so impressed with them (with YOU!) that I feel better about the future. One way or another, we'll turn this around, with the help of our young co-patriots. I trust my old age to them!

[flamin blue state]

18. I think I will vote early next time

no more lines and computer votes.

[texpatriot2004]

21. Early voting is the way to go.

Still, on the last day here one of our polling places had lines where people waited 21/2 to 3 hours. Actually, the early voting lines were longer than usual due to high turnout. Still, early voting is great because you can vote at any location. You aren't restricted to your precinct.

[seito]

20. Here Here

A standing ovation it is!!!

I was a teen of the 80's and we can not hold a candle to you. I trust my future to you, and the generations that follow will follow.

There is change in the air...can you feel it. :bounce:

[flamin blue state]

22. There is fraud in the air.

Can you feel it? I felt it.

[seito]

24. Fraud in the air

and heroes everywhere

EXPOSING IT!!!!!

But, this thread is to honor the youth. Keep your eye on the ball.

[proudbluestater]

25. 18-29 year olds had the highest turnout since 1972!

You guys rocked! Sorry the media couldn't find it in themselves to tell the truth about THIS either. As they so often do, the media let us down again.

Congrats for getting out the vote!! Don't give up hope on the system. We're not through fighting this election!

[texpatriot2004]

26. kick

[flamin blue state]

29. What does "kick" mean?

[sabra]

31. Kick or Bump

the message to the top of the "que"

[AnIndependentTexan]

32. and the youth still believe in Kerry. I'm 23 and I believe in Kerry

[seito]

36. Thank you

Don't let anyone tell you that you are naive. Sometimes you have to open your eyes and trust your feelings. Hopes, dreams and actions are what made this country what it is.

[sabra]

33. My two year old son voted...

I took my two year old son with me to vote. They had a sample punch card for him to play with. And guess what, with out that much intervention, he voted Kerry :-).

I applaud the youth, as the numbers were inspiring.

[TexasLawyer]

34. My Baby-Sitter's Conversion

My college aged babysitter, Diedra, went from being completely a-political to being a dedicated, hard-working Dem volunteer.

(Making her sit down and watch "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "B*'s Brain," getting her addicted to the Daily Show, and forcing her to listen to my constant anti-B* and anti-war ravings may have had something to do with her conversion).

Diedra helped me register over 600 Texas voters, mostly at rock concerts and 24-hour Wal-Marts here in Harris County. She got several of her friends politically motivated, got them registered, and convinced them to come and help us register other voters, distribute early voting information and GOTV.

Also, Diedra lives in the heart of Tom DeLay country with super-right-wing parents. She very bravely confronted them about why they were going to vote for B* and why they were Repubs. She was able to convince her mother to vote for Kerry. Her father still voted for B*, but at least she chipped away at some of the Repub. armor.

[seito]

35. Wow!!!

That is a great story, 600 registrations and two conversions in Texas!!!!

You and Diedra are American Heroes and Patriots. You are living proof that "we the people" can make a difference. This fight is far from over.

[texpatriot2004]

37. I bet there are more young voters who can share.

[Eloriel]

38. Thank you!! I add my thanks and appreciation too.

Every now and then I see people bash the youth of today, and it makes me SO angry. They have so much to offer us, and got themselves out in record numbers.

Young people, I salute you! YOU are the hope of our future, and we should never forget that and NEVER bash you.

Now, those GenXers, that's another story....

(kidding. sorta.)

:evilgrin:

[texpatriot2004]

40. I am an active GenXer

I voted and I voted KE! Sorry about the rest of us, if only we were younger.:hippie:

[rockedthevoteinMA]

41. Thank you all!!

November 3, my mother (a diehard progressive) looked at me and said, "Well it's your generation that didn't show up," as she watched CNN bash the h*ll out of us.

I looked at her with steam coming out of my ears and told her that was complete B.S.

I worked up here in the blue state of MA to register students at my community college with some friends of mine - over six months we got about 500 students registered. I wrote articles for the school paper trying to draw attention to the policies of * administration and how they were ruining our lives...etc. We had the "first in the nation Peace College" last spring up here - Veteran's for Peace, and tons of other groups were involved. I devoted months of my life to this campaign, I wasn't politically active prior to this.

The best part of my story is my little sis. She's developmentally disabled and currently attends a college for D.D. young adults in PA. When she was home for summer break, she told me of how she had read Kerry's book, and how she wanted to get involved. I sat her down with the laptop and told her to write him a letter. She did, and sent it off. Two weeks later she called me from school to let me know she had received a handwritten letter from the Kerry campaign, thanking her for her passion, and interest in the campaign. She was contacted almost immediately thereafter, and became part of the steering committee with the Kerry campaign/disabilities for PA. She went to a rally for people with developmental disabilities in NJ in September, where she was asked to speak.

She was home for the holiday, and she told me that there were people there from the Kerry campaign, but no one from the * campaign showed up. I know it crushed her to realize they couldn't care less.

Having her home though, after reading on DU since the election, I was able to give her some hope. Her and I were able to agree that no matter what happens we must never give up.

Thank you everyone here, and I'm sorry for the blabbing. (Just got back from a fourteen hour car ride) :)

[bobbieinok]

42. congratulations to you and your sister...let her know we appreciate

what she did and is doing

[texpatriot2004]

43. kick