My sons and me at my alma materHelp me understand why educating our youth is a political issue. Sure, education per se does not fit within a the literal realm of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but I think it warrants an assumed position therein. When we live and work and grow in an educated society, we all stand to gain. Are we not all lifted up by an educated populace? You don’t need me to point to research and studies that support this notion.

See this picture to the right? I took it. I somehow got a press pass to see Obama when he came to Raleigh, North Carolina during the last presidential election. It was a highlight of my life and I was really thankful for the Nikon SLR my dad gave me for my birthday that year. I was up close and personal and didn’t even need a zoom lens to capture that shot. I have hundreds of photos from that day. I was up close with a press badge on a lanyard around my neck but I never got to ask Obama a question. Had I the chance, it is entirely likely I would have blathered and made a buffoon of myself. I’ve been a fan of Obama since before he was on the nation’s radar. I read Dreams From My Father before he made millions from book sales.

Americans respond to star power, for better or for worse. The use of celebrities to sell products has permeated our culture, and from what I have seen, it is even more haywire abroad. Fashion. Hair care. Makeup. Charities. Cars. Furniture. Pretty much any time you see Brooke Shields these days, she’s pimping some product. She’s endorsing everything from lash extension serum to La-Z-Boy. It’s no surprise that celebrities jump on the campaign trail too.