City of Legends / William F. DeVault

My good friend Nordette Adams has broken up my weekend by giving me a writing assignment, to write about my mother’s influnce on me, politically, particularly as it pertains to voting.

I have known my mother all my life as a woman of fierce principles, particularly her more Conservative bent, especially in relation to the abortion issue (I avoid the topic around her anymore, we have a very divergent view on this issue). But I recall her always trying to sort her busy schedule as a working mother to make sure she had opportunity to vote, to make sure her voice was heard and that she could feel good about the process including her.

My father has always been very liberal, working-class Democrat, much the dove on international affairs, my mom the opposite. I always felt they sort of cancelled each other out, so it was my job as a liberal Democrat to make sure the balance was tilted. I note that West Virginia went for Bush only after I had moved.

I think the impact our parents have on us is more than the lectures and the obvious hand-holding, but the examples they set. I never recall my parents trying to dodge civic responsibility, whether it was to vote or serve on jury duty. These things are inconveniences in a free society, they are the paltry pence we pay for such an environment.

There, Nordette, now I can post the link to http://acorn. org/moms and report I am done!