I'm a news junkie. I love to know what's going on in the world, and learn about interesting people and places.
What I don't like is being surrounded by the college campus bubble, where somehow you become isolated from the outside world, being consumed by your homework and not having the time to be aware of things outside of your student life.
This Thursday night, I couldn't take it anymore. I just needed to listen to some news. I needed to feel aware again. It's election season, and being away working at a summer camp in the woods, then coming straight back to the college bubble made me feel completely ignorant, especially of the 2012 presidential race.
So, I got out my homework, hunkered down, and watched the Democratic National Convention on C-Span.
I cannot describe to you the level of giddiness I felt. I love C-Span so much! It's news ALL THE TIME, and unbiased, because most of the time, no one's there commentating! Just the straight-up live programming. You get to watch sessions in Congress, mass protests, official ceremonies, great interviews, and even the British House of Commons when they have Q & As with the prime minister. And during election season, C-Span is just plain addicting.
My roommates walked in as I was watching, and looked at me. I couldn't contain my excitement. "It's the DNC! It's Joe Biden! It's Bill Clinton! Gaaaaah!" They just shook their heads and laughed. But I don't care! Like Jimi Hendrix said, I'll wave my freak flag high!
What surprised me though is how productive I was while listening in on the convention; perhaps I should do my homework with C-Span in my head phones more often.
After months of being deprived of decent news coverage, I was happier than a hippie in a drum circle. But I realized the actual reason for my excitement is that this is my first year that I can actually vote! It gives me a warm and fuzzy, yet powerful, feeling that my one vote can join with others to bring about change in the world. Of course, it's not as simple as that, and neither is actually solving the problems of the world and sustaining the things that work. I just hope that whatever happens this November that voices will be heard, and that those voices will do amazing things.
In closing, I don't want to sound like a PSA or anything, but it would make me oh-so-happy if you could do these two things for me:
1. Vote, please and thank you.
2. Watch C-Span. You'll feel better about life, I promise.
