Volume aaa, Number 7 November 1, 2002 f

Don't be a WART on society -- get out and vote
JIM McDONALD
CONTRIBUTOR

My friend Rory doesn't like Bowdoin College. His reasons are very simple. He thinks that Bowdoin is nothing more than a group of WARTS. W-hite A-mbivalent R-ich T-anked S-tudents. He says that WARTS lack motivation. Maybe it comes from the alcohol or maybe it comes from the suburban upbringing? Anyway, he says that Bowdoin students actively pursue "lacking motivation" by separating themselves from the world.

This can't be true. After all, Bowdoin students must be in touch with the world. Why, we have one of the best vegan cafeterias in the country. Our student body is perfectly in touch with the cast from Leave it to Beaver. And the political discourse rivals Cody, Wyoming in intensity. Not that I don't think someone should fight "the man" about the never-ending supply of black bean tacos, but I would rather address politics.

It is that time of they year, or should I say every two years, where the balance of power in Congress is up for grabs. Not that we haven't fought a war, seen the economy go to hell, alienated every other country (save Israel) in the world, or put up with two years of rule by the Governor of Texas, but maybe now its time for change. Maybe one of these things could break the Bowdoin bubble? But my research tells me otherwise.

Talking to my friends recently has been disheartening. I can't believe it. I have to agree with Rory. This is a low point of my life. You don't care. What do you mean you don't care? That's not an answer. Shame on you, really, SHAME. The general ambivalence is frightening. I know the art of being a good Bowdoin student is copping out an answer, so I implore you not to. "My vote doesn't matter." Okay, wrong. If that armed (which at one point many republicans in Miami were) robbery of Florida two years ago didn't make you believe, then I am surprised you have made it this far in the article. What else, what else? "Oh, I don't have time." Okay, wrong. I have seen how many of you read The Patriot.

So no more excuses. I can't tell you who to vote for, but I can tell you that it matters. There are some of us here, but more importantly millions around the country, who depend on change in this election. Move yourselves into the twenty-first century. Everyday the number of persons living in poverty increases. Everyday, thousands of people around the country are being evicted from their homes because of the past two years. Vote because you have some understanding that there are people outside of our bubble who are suffering. These are people you will never meet, but you can connect with if you vote. There are people around this campus who care, so why don't you prove it to me, prove it to yourselves maybe. Say it, "We will not be WARTS!"

But if you ran away to Maine to go to college, to get away from the "city" and "life in general," your WARTness doesn't allow you to understand this-so just vote Democrat for the hell of it.