Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Boy and Barack Obama

I mentioned, below, that The Boy is gaga over Obama. Let me expand on that.

I guess it was about last February that he saw a speech of Obama. He was entranced. Here, he was watching someone who talked about things that he believed in. Someone who acted as if people can do great things together.

He began reading everything he could get his hands on about Obama, watching the political shows, and asking every adult their opinions.

He has so been lit on fire that he has decided that when he grows up, he wants to be president. Perhaps that's not that unusual. Except that at 12, he has decided that he is going to go to a good college, get a degree in Accounting, go to law school, be a lawyer for several years, then go into politics. He has seriously discussed with me whether having a UU minister for a mother will make his run for the presidency difficult.

After watching some of the things both candidates have had to deal with, he's decided that the easiest thing is for him to just live a life on the straight and narrow. No drugs, no sex shenanigans.

This is the effect Sen. Barack Obama has had on my son.

Will this last? Heck if I know. At 12, I wanted to be a country singer. But it's fun to watch. And what a concept -- a politician as hero to a 12 year old boy!

And he's already started on his plan. He competes in his first debate tournament next month.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is so cool!

I'm proud of your son and believe he has chosen a wonderful role model. It was over a year ago last June that I was touring the Dallas School Depository and watching the JFK information. I had this intuitive moment that Obama, like Kennedy, could inspire our young people and restore their faith in our country. My adult daughters and a friends' 20 year old son have also been inspired to register and encourage their friends to get out and vote. I hope that in a few days we will find him our new president, ushering in a new era of hope for this country. And. . . .I hope your son holds to those wonderful dreams.

Nancy said...

How cool is that?!

Sadly, any chance at a political career I had went down the drain during my college years. I would like to claim I did not inhale, but there were too many witnesses. And the other stuff that might come out (shudder)...maybe I should wait until my parents have passed on? Just a thought.

I have great hope for the future when I see the young people around me. I am seriously impressed.

Lunasea said...

That's fantastic. And quite an example of planning ahead.

Kaleigh said...

Is it bad that my first reaction was that I want to introduce my daughter to him? (She's 11 and also wants to pursue accounting...). They could be a good match...

Lizard Eater said...

You know, Kaleigh, now that I'm the mom, arranged marriages make so much sense! ;)

Masasa said...

Oh yes, arranged marriages sound sensible now.

Either way, I remember wanting to be president when I was around 10. I took it quite seriously but then screwed up in my teen years. Nonetheless, I would love to have the opportunity to some day vote for your son.

Good for him.

My kids are 2.5 and 3 and also are enamored with Obama. But at their age, I think they mostly just like the way his name sounds ;-).