How do YOU deal with kids who are strangers, but

[in_cog_ni_to]

when they see you in a Kerry t-shirt or see your car with pro Kerry/ant-Bush bumperstickers they YELL..."Go, BUSH!"????

I am talking about 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who mouth off about Bush being so great. Do you engage them? Do you ask them why they like Bush? Do you ask them what Bush has done for them or their families?

I was at my son's school one day and had 5 6th graders says to me.."I don't like Kerry. I like Bush." I asked them why they didn't like Kerry?...none of them knew why. I asked them why they liked Bush?...none of them knew why so, I figured they were just voicing their parent's opinions and let it go.

THEN, Friday I picked my son up at school (my car is COVERED with Kerry/anti-Bush bumperstickers) and he had on a Kerry shirt. When he opened the car door a bunch of older boys, waiting in a bus line, yelled out..."Go BUSH!" My son just rolled his eyes and got in the car and said..."Can you believe those people?"

What do you do in that situation? Do you just let kids spew their parents thoughts and move along or do you engage them in a political discussion?

Just curious. :hi:

[arwalden]

1. You'd Have More Success Talking To An Electric Toaster

let it drop.

-- Allen

Or... you could dismiss them with a reply letting them know that you only discuss politics with people who are actually old enough to vote.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. I LIKE the old enough to vote remark.

That's good. When you're 18, come talk to me.

My son knows more about politics than most adults....I guess I'm just use to talkin' politics with him. ;)

[TheCentepedeShoes]

31. Yeah, 18

Remind them that's "draft age."

[CrispyQ]

3. Little, mindless sheeople, just like their parents . . .

Good luck opening their minds, especially in a situation like that with no time to talk to them.

Shrug it off with grace -- that will piss them off more than anything.

[seabeyond]

4. on the other hand, what about my children saying i like kerry

we are in this situation too. and i would assk like you. and when they couldnt give me any info would then bring it to my son and tell them, my son can give you the reasons he prefers kerry. i tell him to not let me or anyone else condition him. it is his to do. and part of that responsibility is getting the information, so it is an informed choice.

or i would merely say, edmund tell them why you like kerry and let him express and then tell children, is theirs to figure out

i talk to my 9 year old like that and he understands, those exact words. so i would be comfortable giving to any age. even my 6 year old understands most of that talk

i would never, NEVER challenge them in changing their mind myself. i wouldnt want another adult to do to my kid. though many do. and another exercise my sons and i have in holding our own. being confident and expressive in choice

[calico1]

5. I would try to ignore it.

They aren't speaking their thoughts, just what their parents brainwash them with. They have no clue about the issues. Just try to remember they are kids and what they are spouting is simply parental coaching, and not their own opinions.

[Nordic]

6. my eight year old hates Bush

and it's because she hears it from me. It kind of bothers me that she jumps on the bandwagon so quickly and unquestioningly, but I've tried to go out of my way to explain to her why it's right to hate Bush.

Ignore the children, they're just repeating what they hear at home.

Which is sad.

[theboss]

7. They're kids

When I was that age, I would do anything to be contrarian. I had a Malcolm X poster in my locker - not because I had read his autobiography (I hadn't yet), not because I knew what he stood for (I really didn't know yet), and not because I was a Black Muslim (I'm a White Christian). I just did it to piss people off.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Yeah, I was like that too.

I was such a BRAT! If my parents or any adult said the sky was blue...I would say it was green. Whatever they hated, rock and roll, mini skirts, go-go boots, long hair on boys...you name it, I LOVED it. I was so bad. :7

[Fridays Child]

8. If you say anything at all, tell them that you're happy to see they're...

...interested in politics and to do well in school so they can go to college and learn more about how our country works.

When people get educated, they don't vote for the repukes, so sayeth Karl Rove:

""As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be too much of a good thing."

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Thanks, Mary Pat.

I like that too. Kids should start getting involved in politics at a young age to get that passion flowing. Thanks! :hi:

[truthspeaker]

9. Hand them enlistment papers.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. Funny you should say that!

THAT was the first thing I said to my son when he got in the car. "I'm going home and making copies of the enlistment form I have and the next time they say that, you can give them one."

Then, cooler heads prevailed. I cooled down and slept on it for the weekend and decided I would ask DUers what they would do. :)

[elehhhhna]

12. Be sneaky: Years ago, when my nephew (son of a MAJOR REEP) was 3...

he stayed overnight & we watched E.T., just released on video. Little Dave was terrified when the Armed forces (whoever) surrounded ET's house and invaded them. "Who are those guys?" He asked. Not wanting to say "the police" & scare him about police officers, I said "Those are the Republicans, Dave". He was satisfied.

When his father asked him how he liked the movie, he said "Great except for when the Republicans tried to kill E.T.!"

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Hahahahaha! Did you really say that???

OMG...that is good! :yourock:

[elehhhhna]

26. Yep. Nephews' grown now, (barely), and a DEM!

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. How cool is THAT?!

Good job! :bounce:

[johnnie]

15. 5th 6th graders?

If I remember correctly, at that age you are still under the impression that the President is a decent man. I don't really think that they quite understand the whole thing and they are probably just "supporting their President".

[Bill McBlueState]

27. sad thing is

You're exactly right about 5th and 6th graders. The sad thing is, a lot of people never grow out of that.

[Bridget Burke]

16. Just ask a question or 2.

You've mentioned some good ones. "Ask them why they like bush...ask them what Bush has done for them or their families."

Be sure to include: "Is this your opinion or are you just following your parents' orders?" With any luck at all, you'll catch a couple who are in rebelling-against-parents mode.

Don't expect immediate responses, but the little darlings might actually think about your questions....

[UdoKier]

17. Tell them this:

Let me know your opinion when you've lived enough to be entitled to one.

[Hammie]

18. They're kids

If you had your car plastered with Bush stickers they would be shouting "Go Kerry".

[proud patriot]

19. Well There is one group of children like this in my area

they yell "go Bush" "stupid Hippy" etc...

My Yard is full of Support the Troops signs and
yellow ribbons , 3 Old glorys , and one Minutemen Culpepper.
One Kerry sign and Bushocio in front of my largest
Yellow Ribbon .

I confront them when they are walking by if they Yell
hateful things at me and my house .

I've let them know we send care packages to soldiers ,
That I'm NOT a hippy I listen to TOOL, NOFX and System
of a Down . They still yell . last week one of them mooned
me :eyes: and my husband and waited for them when they
walked back from the store . We said "You'll either talk to
us or Talk to the Cops you decide" Ran like the little
cowards they are .

Today however , A young child maybe 10 stopped by to
tell me he loves my Yard Signs , so they are not all
little brownshirts .

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. If some little critter called me a hippie

I would say "thank you!" :hippie: I'm a PROUD old hippie! :)

Our neighbor, who's 12, told my son one day, when he saw my Kerry stickers, "Oh, Kerry's just going to be another Clinton! I don't want HIM to be president!" When my son told me he said that, I said, "We should be so lucky! What was wrong with Clinton? Did he say?" Nope...he had no reason other than that. :eyes:

Then, 3 other friends of my son said..."I really like Kerry too!" Yay!

There's some hope out there.

[proud patriot]

28. My parents are Hippies , I'm an authentic LUV Child born in 69'

;-)

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Hehehe....

Kewl, man! Peace!


Make Love, Not War....as your parents did, apparently. ;)

[fob]

20. Standard 5th, 6th grade response would be to yell back, "all the way

to Crawford!"

[VOX]

21. They're kids--give them a positive memory. Wave, flash a big smile....

And give them the "Vee" peace (or victory) sign with your hand.

If they're in closer contact, maybe ask, "I respect your opinion, but tell me why you support him?" Draw them out a bit.

But always leave them with a positive impression, as much as you'd like to turn a garden hose on the little shits! :)

[Stephanie]

22. I was walking around NYC last weekend with a BUSH LIES/WHO DIES sticker

on my back pocket. Some kids walking behind me on the sidewalk started laughing about it. Maybe 12-13 years old. One says "Who dies?" I said, maybe you, if you get drafted. Then I started to tell them about the draft, and the legislation in the works. They got quiet for a minute and then they got tough and started to boast about what they could do with an AK47. But they will remember our little talk.

[Yupster]

24. Id say

"elections are fun aren't they kids?"

I don't think you want to get into political arguments with 7th graders.

[skygazer]

25. That depends

Do you want the other kids' parents trying to sway YOUR kids' opinions? I think this is a situation where you have to let it slide. I'd be uncomfortable if my neighbor tried to convert my child's opinion on politics or religion, at least until he/she was of voting age.