Children can’t vote, but that doesn’t mean they have no interest in the political process. You’re never too young to become politically informed.
That’s the message Roosevelt Middle School students 12-year-old Natalie and 10-year-old Brendan wanted to send to their peers at the Chicago Kids for Obama Kick-Off Event this past Saturday at the Rosseau’s home in River Forest.
The two cooked up the idea while discussing politics over the dinner table with their parents a couple of weeks ago, and presented it to the Barack Obama campaign, which enthusiastically embraced it.
“My sister and I said we should do something that involves kids,” Brendan said. “Kids are the future of America, and they will be the future voters. They also have opinions, and they’re not being publicized and showed to the world.”
Children from all over Oak Park and River Forest, ages 6 to 16, were invited to the Rosseau home to paint political or social-themed pictures, play games and eat pizza and ice cream.
About 75 children showed up, and Natalie said it’s possible some of the pictures will be used to create Obama buttons, posters or campaign stickers. All of the pictures will be used to create a mural “expression of democracy” at the Obama for America campaign office on Michigan Avenue in Downtown Chicago.
At the party, children were also given the chance to set up “MyBO” pages, similar to Myspace pages, where they can network with others their age about politics.
Though Natalie and Brendan are enthusiastic about Obama’s candidacy-Natalie even went so far as to write a letter that was published in the Chicago Tribune last January-their parents, Drs. Rick and Gail Rosseau, emphasized that Saturday’s event was basically nonpartisan. The important thing, both said, is getting children involved in the political process, not forcing them to lean left or right because mommy and daddy believe a certain way.
“We supported them, but we didn’t tell them what to do,” said Gail.
“The concept that you can express your concerns and make a statement, whichever side of the fence you lie on, is important,” Rick Rosseau said. “It’s just that you’re out there talking and communicating.”
Dinner table political discussions are nothing new to Gail Rosseau. She recalled being a girl at family dinners that featured spirited discussions between her parents and two sets of grandparents, one staunch Republicans, the other staunch Democrats.
“They all read the same newspapers, yet came up with different opinions,” she said. “I grew up talking about [politics] respectfully but passionately.”
Those dinners instilled a sense of political tolerance in Rosseau that she and her husband share with her kids.
“If my kids were supporting someone else, I’d support their efforts,” she said.
“We’d support them even if they backed Rudolph Giuliani, though I’d still reserve my right to explain to them why I favor Obama.”
Natalie, now a political veteran of sorts, said she was pleased with the turnout and show of interest from the community.
One bonifide political veteran, state Senator Don Harmon, who stopped by with his own kids, Maggie, 3, and Don III, 7, was duly impressed.
“I’m thrilled that folks at 12 or 14 or 16 years old are engaged enough to come together on a Saturday afternoon to show their support for Senator Obama,” said Harmon, who admits he didn’t awaken to politics until law school.
Natalie said the process is what’s important.
“[Kids] are becoming involved in the political process early on, and I think they can make a difference later, so that we choose better leaders for the world and that means the world will be a better place.”