Let's get political, political/Let's get political/Let's get political/Let me hear your voting talk/your voting talk

Okay, no more bad lyrics to already bad Olivia Newton John songs.

The FMLA sponsored a huge event yesterday called "Poll-a-palooza" where all of the different political groups on campus came out to "the campus green" area to register people to vote and to listen to some local bands and live debate.

The event was a resounding sucess. Altogether, the FMLA registered approx. 150 people yesterday (to go on top of the already nearly 500 people that we already have registered), while the rest of the groups registered about the same amount. Between our actions, and actions of other student groups, I'd say that we have registered thousands of people on the UNT campus. That's pretty outstanding if you ask me.

The event itself was really interesting if for nothing else than the fact that this will probably be the only time that a group like "The Young Conservatives of North Texas" would have a booth stuck right in-between the "Social Work Student Association" and the "Gay and Lesbian Association of Denton." The only place where a "Students for Bush" booth would be set up directly across from the "College Democrats." I liked the integration just fine, and was glad that it didn't turn into a Red State/Blue State event where all like minded groups would be on one side, and all opposing on the other.

There was a free speech wall set up where students could write down whatever they wanted to write. Most of what was written was pretty interesting and clever. But there were obviously knuckleheads who chose to write things equating Pro-Choice to Genocide or Bush to Hitler. It WAS a free speech wall, but I wish some people would just grow up. I don't mind political extremism, but I think stuff like comparing Bush to Hitler or Abortion to murder brings political discourse to a fevered standstill, and ultimately does more harm for your cause than good. In private, now that's a different matter. Have at it. ;-)

The FMLA and MAV booth both got a lot of traffic. I worked at the MAV table for a while, and at the FMLA table the rest of the time. Oh, I also put in some time at the Voter Reg. table. Each one kept me particularly busy.

It was somewhat odd watching the dynamics of the different groups. I don't know how it is on other campuses, but at UNT the conservative groups are the more "flashy" while the liberal groups are more informational based and subdued. All of the progressive groups had our tables with all of our information spread out over the tables. We had some gimmicky items like a George W. Bush board game where you start out at the White House but every card you pull takes you backwards to Crawford. "You propose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage! Take 2 steps back." And people in the FMLA wore suffragette sashes.

But the conservative groups dressed up like "hippies" with tye dye shirts and fake wigs on. I don't know, I guess they thought the idea of an outdoor voter registration festival was a hippy concept so they responded in turn. They were out there throwing their frisbees around, playing guitar (badly I might add), and just lounging around. They also had information, but if you were to just glance at their table, "information" wouldn't have been the first thing to pop in your head.

There are few things I've ever done in my life that have totally just made me feel trully great to be an American. Yesterday was an event that really just made me smile from beginning to end. It's one thing to read about the constitution and Bill of Rights in school, it's a whole other ballgame to actually put those words into action and to get people interested in political and social causes.

But like any good activist, our work isn't finished. Now we have to get people to the polls. THAT'S the hard part. Getting them registered is one thing. Getting them out there to the polls is a whole different ballgame. Let the good times roll.