Site Network: Debate This, Ole Miss. | the j-department | debate.olemiss.edu | mblog | mcast | the university of mississippi

Justine-Not Just Another Teen

Posted by Anonymous at 9/09/2008 06:57:00 PM


Cosmo...Seventeen...Vogue...all have one thing in common: page after glossy page is filled with glitzy celebs and how-to flirting tips. The cotton candy glow of these "hot" teen magazines often forget that girls actually have a little more than just empty space up there.



However, Justine is seeking to fill that ever widening gap between bubble gum lip gloss and real girl talk. Jana Kerr Pettey, publisher/editorial director of Justine , made a very impressive leap by deciding to hold a student panel discussing the upcoming Presidential election.

Not only was the panel highly interesting, but the panelists offered a teenage twist to the issues surrounding the Presidential election. Panelist, Amanda Coward, struck a heart string when she passionately discussed how she was "ready to see exactly what change Obama is promising," and tired of "all his [fluffy] talk."

The panelists, mainly high school juniors and seniors, were all selected by the Justine team. Some were Republicans; however, most were Democrats, and one lone independent stood among the panel. They lobbied with each other, and kept conversation entertaining. Even as I scribbled down side notes of their arguments, I was tempted to shout out a comment here and there. Surprisingly, the number one problem they were concerned with was not the economy, but the Iraq war.

Honestly, they impressed me. It wasn't a little, soft, grade-school debate. Their points were well-informed. Their information was ligit, and arguments sound.

The panel today just proves how much teenagers are aware of the government. They are a demographic that is often written off as unimportant, when in all actuality teenagers are a powerful resource.


 

2 comments:

At September 11, 2008 at 3:07 PM Lee Taylor said...

I was impressed by the students candor on different political issues. However, I was rather embarassed by the lone Ole Miss girl panelist. She did not contribute anything that had not already been previously established. Also, her political involvement was limited to being in the Rebels for McCain facebook group.

If joining a facebook group is the extent of any of our political activism than I suggest we change that. Have a conversation about political issues, put a sign in your front yard, hold a rally on campus....just do something.

 
At September 13, 2008 at 9:30 PM Anonymous said...

You make a very good point. I thought she was also the least informative, but then again it may have just been stage fright. I can imagine that being in front of that many people made her hesitant to blurt out her opinions.

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)