The other day, someone accused me of “indoctrinating children” as I spoke to a young person. Let’s start with a definition of indoctrination.

Indoctrination is the process of inculcating (teaching by repeated instruction) a person or people into an idealogy, often avoiding critical analysis. It can refer to a general process of socialization. The term also implies brainwashing or disagreeable forms of socialization. However, it can refer to both positive and negative forms of cultural transmission , and some academics consider it an integral part of education. (definition from Wikipedia)

Let’s start. I attended a something and the young person who looked like she did not want to be there but was….was eating. So as she ate, we discussed Port Orchard. I told her some of my growing up in Port Orchard, how I sold cookies and I got to spend a day in Olympia with my legislator (Carolyn Powers at the time!) and learn how Olympia works. To this day, I still think the best part of the day was getting to hear from Ralph Munro.

I did not even tell my captive youngster that part. But we talked about growing up (my experience), my cool neighbors, why I got involved with politics and my local party during our time together. I think the one time (besides dropping F bombs and I did not mean to, there’s so many reasons why that happened. I’m gonna name pain, anxiety, nervousness…but whatever) that everyone may have had a fit is when I got to hear five minutes of why Trump is the best human ever. So, I’m honest. My answer was something to the tune of “listen, this person may like our current president and his choices, but I think it’s batshit crazy.” Honestly, I think a well rounded conversation where you know there is someone who is not going to agree with others on an idea is good, and even better if you can illustrate (calmly) comparisons and contrasts.

Kids need to see this more often than not. I speak from experience here, as I have spent years going to classes and chatting with students during civics classes. I always let the republicans go first. I give them that. By the time I show up for my day (because the classes hear from both parties, and electeds from both sides of the aisle) the students have lots of questions and comments, and I am ready to address all of them. Kids need to see that we of multiple persuasions can sit down at a table and NOT be ready to kill one another, but to discuss where we are different politically, where we may be able to find some common ground, and what that child is thinking and feeling about politics these days.

I know, it is so hard sometimes to listen to five minutes of “your favorite Democrat” and not want to scream or throw things. But here is a something else.

Every time I have a child (older one) in my presence, I am trying to speak to them about something that is near and dear to me since birth, and that is voting. I want you voting. I will forever sit and discuss how important it is to vote, how important it is to learn about who represents you, and how to contact and interact with them. I will tell you my history of why, starting with my parents out making sure our older neighbors had rides to the voter place (South Colby Elementary School for my neighbors back in the day) to cast their vote and ensure their voices were heard.

I shared all this with the young person in front of me as well. I wanted my young person to know that back then before motor voter laws, people had to go and vote in person locally. I speak about politics because I want people voting. I want people talking about what moves them and shakes them, and I would really like to see people using their voice and voting.

If you say I’m indoctrinating children for some awful reason, you are absolutely wrong. You may not like what I’m saying or how I am saying it, but I am doing all of that because my end game has and will always be “let’s be registered to vote. let’s make a plan to vote by noting election days (There are two in a year!), finding out which of those candidates on the ballot are going to represent you best, and let’s VOTE.”

When you don’t know me, and you are just guessing at it, I’ll give you that and I won’t be too mad. Many have done just that in the past year. We need to be more invested in not “instead of taking our anger and frustration out in three dollar words,” and instead saying “hey listen, I heard you say this and I’m not sure what you were trying to say and can we get some clarification” When we stop pointing fingers, and we sit down and we start really working our way through the muck, sometimes things get done. Ask me. It happens.