Winning Politics. What it is all about.
I like stories about youth involvement in politics.
My newest hero is Sean Richards from Conejo County, California.
Most members of the Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley are on the far side of 30 years old; Sean Richards — who graduates Thursday from Oak Park High School and who turns 18 today — has not only been a member for two years, he serves on its executive board.
Jay Kapitz of Oak Park organizes the Democratic Club's precinct walking and community outreach; it was his daughter who suggested to Richards that he check out a meeting.
The teen takes his work seriously. On his own, Kapitz said, Richards came up with plans to register voters on high school and college campuses.
"He also created a program where students registered voters at retirement homes," Kapitz said.
Richards, now the club's youth coordinator, also is in charge of scheduling volunteers to man the voter registration table at the Oaks shopping center.
This is one serious politician! Is it in his genes?
No one in his family is involved in politics. Dad Chris is a commercial real estate agent, Mom Sheila is a physical therapist and brother Adam, 23, is an ambulance driver. The family does discuss current events, but Sean credits his maternal grandfather, Seymour Zimmerman of Camarillo, for sparking his interest in politics. "He was the first to openly discuss his views with me and, although we don't always agree on issues, he's probably the reason I'm fascinated with politics," Sean said.
When he was 10 and the 2000 presidential campaign was in full swing, his fifth-grade class had a debate. Richards, representing Al Gore, won. "I remember that feeling of winning as one of the best feelings I ever had," he said, and he was hooked.
Winning. It is infectious. Be it on the golf course... the baseball diamond... politics.
Winning. That is ... what it is all about. Winning. It it a great feeling isn't it Sean.
Richards plans to attend Sonoma State University and major in political science; he hopes to go on to law school.
"My ultimate goal is to serve in the U.S. Senate," he said.
Law school? Maybe he will change his mind. Let's hope so.
We have enough damn lawyers in the Senate.
Al Arnold
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Trivial Pursuit Question:
Who said, "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game?"
I don't know.
Any thoughts about playing the game vs. just winning the game?
I couldn't find the source in my old book of quotations, but I found this attributed as a German motto:
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost
When health is lost, something is lost
When character is lost, all is lost
I always play to win within the confines of the rules of the game.
I try to win with humility.
I try to lose with dignity.
But...I play to win!