I’d thought students on campus would be talking about the election today, but for the most part, they really weren’t. They’d been confident all semester about who would win the presidential race, and naturally, they were right.
“OF COURSE Obama was re-elected,” Green T-shirt said. “I mean, Mitt Romney? Seriously?”
They seemed pleased with the results, but not surprised. “It’s ridiculous that gay marriage was even up for vote,” said Purple Glasses. “That should be an automatic.” The students around her nodded.
What students were still talking about is the damage from the storm Sandy. Some students have family and friends back home who were affected – some without power, some without homes. Last week, there was an initial surge of relief as text messages and facebook updates brought the news that their relatives and friends were safe. This week, the phone calls are more somber as families are beginning to realize just how much damage the storm did and how long it’s going to be before any measure of normalcy returns to some of these towns.
At a meeting this afternoon, students weren’t talking about the election or gloating over victories. They had already moved to what they considered the important issue, brainstorming ways to raise money for the relief effort, ways to help their friends and families back home.
“OF COURSE Obama was re-elected,” Green T-shirt said. “I mean, Mitt Romney? Seriously?”
They seemed pleased with the results, but not surprised. “It’s ridiculous that gay marriage was even up for vote,” said Purple Glasses. “That should be an automatic.” The students around her nodded.
What students were still talking about is the damage from the storm Sandy. Some students have family and friends back home who were affected – some without power, some without homes. Last week, there was an initial surge of relief as text messages and facebook updates brought the news that their relatives and friends were safe. This week, the phone calls are more somber as families are beginning to realize just how much damage the storm did and how long it’s going to be before any measure of normalcy returns to some of these towns.
At a meeting this afternoon, students weren’t talking about the election or gloating over victories. They had already moved to what they considered the important issue, brainstorming ways to raise money for the relief effort, ways to help their friends and families back home.
7 comments:
Oh, your post has done so much to restore my faith in our future. "These kids today" may not know how to make change, but that can be taught. Knowing how to be human and show compassion is much harder to teach.
My 20-something nieces and nephews never had a doubt about the President being re-elected, whereas my contemporaries and I were scared significantly about the outcome. I guess the younger ones haven't lived through enough previous Republican administrations to know the damage they cause.
Joie: My students really do give me so much hope. They're amazing.
Taradharma: Yeah, that's pretty much the difference I saw here.
I don't know who my students expected to win but they really wanted to talk about how it was covered (media majors) and how disappointed they are that more wasn't said/done about Sandy. They felt like hurricane victims were ignored for the night and hated that news channels were trying to call states when votes weren't in.
It is outstanding on the way to be valid inspect and who also determine lessons it he spirit completely achieve quite a few complementary.
What a wonderful reminder to have students around to set us straight on our priorities.
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