Stowsentry.com - Out of the Gray: Confessions of a political junkie

Out of the Gray by Lauren Krupar, Hudson Hub-Times Associate Editor

Hello. My name is Lauren and I am a political junkie.

I was watching "West Wing" episodes when my friends were watching "Survivor." Long before I learned about Watergate and President Nixon in school, I read about it in Doonesbury cartoons.

It all escalated when I was just 18, my birthday had been less than a month before, and I was standing in line waiting to vote. All the debates my friends and I had about who was better suited to be president came down to that second in which the board of elections volunteer gave me my primary ballot.

The moment I had that ballot in my hands, a shot of excitement coursed through my veins.

That ballot wasn't just a simple piece of paper to punch out votes. I had a voice -- a voice that mattered. Forget about how "in loco parentis" comes into play during high school, forget about the little I knew of the world -- I had a vote, which meant I had a voice in the future of my country's government.

I got a taste of that again this year when I attended two very different events at Hudson High School. The events -- one in a crowded classroom with an atmosphere more akin to a Super Bowl party and the other, while in the school's auditorium, felt more conversational. Listening to first-time student voters discuss the issues as election results were tabulated reminded me of who I was. They were on fire with ideas and ideals.

Listening to a genocide survivor talk about her life challenged who I can become.

Political involvement tends to do that.

Political aspirations continued in college, where I was a representative on the university's student council. We'd attend meetings, make decisions and debate about I can't remember what. It was all very parliamentary.

In the tradition of the first Republic and the gladiator games, the biggest thing my group of student council members did was throw a massive block party for our residents. There was a DJ, balloons, popcorn stand, Icees and one of those inflatable bouncy things.

It wasn't very political.

A wave of "Get Out The Vote" swept the campus the next year. Almost all the New York natives signed up for absentee ballots as one of this year's presidential front-runners was on the ballot for state senator.

Political rhetoric, already high on campus, kicked into a higher gear as protests, marches and petitions littered the grounds. Polling places were overwhelmed by student voters.

Even though I had an absentee ballot and had voted months before the election, the same thrill of being involved was there. The punch tool I used to cast my vote that year hung from my keychain until I graduated -- a symbol of civic duty.

A few elections and years later, I was back in the voting booth on primary day this year. I had moved to another county, failed to vote in previous elections and was slightly disenchanted with the process, but I was there. I voted, and I smiled because of it.

In an ironic twist of fate, the next day I was called to jury duty where I sat and read book on justice for more than three hours. I was there because I was a registered voter. I was there because of a civic duty not all places have -- the right to vote.

Yes, I am a political junkie, and I'm proud of it.

E-mail: lkrupar@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3146