DemocraZy

Remember those quiet kids I told you about? Well, they were quite loud on Wednesday. I attempted to quickly tell them about the election happening in the U.S. on that day but how can you "quickly" tell kids who live in a communist country about an election? They didn't even know what that meant! Their parents never voted, their country never elected an official, they had never witnessed a campaign for candidacy. So, we ended up using an entire 40 minutes period to talk about this historical day in the U.S. and what it meant to me and so many others around the world.

We talked about "red" states and "blue" states, we discussed voting patterns, we compared ideals of democrats and republicans, and we watched the results change as time continued to pass. We looked into campaign platforms, we researched past presidents, we examined the number of electoral votes in various states, and we watched as the popular vote shifted from Romney to Obama. Since August, I have never seen my students get more excited about anything else we have covered. I seriously got goosebumps from the discussions we had. It's amazing how nine-year-olds who grew up in a communist country, can still have more insight than some adults who know only democracy.

I call this phenomenon of people completely taking for granted their rights as United Statesians (term from Katie Y N in Guatemala; you can't call yourself an American in Guatemala since that could mean you are from Central, South, or North) and disrespecting their leaders, their neighbors, and their self by not educating themselves, "Democrazy." Maybe it's because I was so far removed from this particular election having no access to North American media in Vietnam, or maybe its because I am able to witness first hand how a communist country runs and operates (and finding its really not too different) but hearing the reactions of my fellow countrymen to this election was incredibly disappointing. Do we really still think that one man is in charge of our whole country? Do we really still think that our personal religious or spiritual views should become laws for all to abide by? Do we really still think that there is only two ways of thinking, liberal or republican? Do we really still think that once who we want to win does not win, that giving up on all hope is beneficial to anyone?

I really dislike a lot of things about facebook (and appreciate many things about it as well) and one of those things is how openly and boldly people complain about the world around them. I read one update that said, "I feel sorry for my childrens' futures," implying that now that Obama is president, this persons children are no longer going to have a good future. As a teacher, I must tell you, parents are the number one determiner of a child's future. It has little to do with who is president, and as much as I hate to admit it, it has little to do with who their teacher is. The secret to a child's success lies in their parents. So in insinuating that the Obama administration is what will hinder your child's success, you are simply adding to the blame and hate that United Statesians are so openly expressing. Even my students were confused by this utter lack of respect on what our country was indeed founded on (no, not Christianity or white, male supremacy) democratic participation. Here is what they had to say about it all:

1. Why would someone not vote?!
2. Why are all the states in the middle red and the ones on the sides are blue?
3. Can I vote if I move to the U.S.?!
4. What if someone doesn't want to vote for either person?

All these questions had me searching for answers and wondering what it will take for my country to be united once more. What will it take for us to give up bipartisan elections, to consider the greater good, to focus our passion on making change in our own community rather than using it to separate ourselves. All I know is, I have become even more thankful that my opinions can even be expressed through my rights, something my students may never have the chance to experience.

I challenge you all today to instead of being reactive to be proactive. The next thing you feel like complaining about? Change it. I tried this idea at school and look where it took us. My quiet, hard-working Vietnamese students had an entire period to be excited about a form of government. Instead of complaining about my students lack of participation, I need to give them reasons to participate. And who knew talking about democracy could do just that :)

I do need to devote a paragraph to my homestate before I leave you. Washington State voted on some heavy stuff this election. Unfortunately, my Kansas driver's license prevented me from getting to vote in Washington (and Kansas' ballot was intensely boring) but my fellow Washingtonians showed up in large numbers to vote in favor of marriage equality and public charter schools. Washington was one of only nine states without charter schools and this was a long time coming. If you're unfamiliar with charter schools, I suggest you find a way to watch the documentary, Waiting for "Superman." It explains these alternative schools and how they are still publicly funded but have a more focused curriculum and more accountability in all areas. I am hoping that with this passed law, I can someday teach in a charter school in my home state and serve the students of Washington just as my teachers did for me. And all I will say about marriage equality is anytime a nation moves in a direction that allows all its citizens the same rights, progress is being made. Regardless of what you believe, this too has been a long time coming and I look forward to the day when the next generation shakes their heads in disbelief that our nation could still possess legal prejudices in the 21st century.

One more point of reflection. I have had a few people question my loyalty to the United States in my life choices in living abroad but I have to say, I believe I have learned more about my country in the three years I've left it than most have in the three years they have lived in it. I don't think there is anything more American than seeing the rest of the world, learning about other cultures, and still choosing to come back home.

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou