Not only is the NBA Season opener around the corner but the 2012 presidential election is as well and Kobe Bryant decided to voice his opinion on the importance of voting. In a personal blog on iVillage, Kobe expressed what made him change his ways:
“That’s a powerful feeling, one that I’ve taken for granted in the past. In the past I believed that not exercising my right to vote would not make a difference in who became the next president so why should I take the time to learn the issues? I’d rather be shooting hoops! The change occurred when Vanessa and I had our babies. Neither of us grew up in politically charged households so the issues weren’t things we were necessarily excited to read about and discuss to say the least. It was ESPN for me and “Carrie Fever” (Sex and the City) for her. (Yes, I watched the show and loved it… It was quite “informative.”)
As parents, the importance of the world we live in became a priority. Nothing is more important than the future of our little munchkins. They are now nine and six and are learning about the civil rights movement and the fight for women’s rights so they naturally have questions. Why were African Americans forced to sit in the back of the bus? Why couldn’t women vote?
The most important answer we can give them outside of the ones found in our history pages is that our world has CHANGED for the better because individuals fought for their rights while inspiring others to do the same”
Shouldn’t have taken Kobe this long to participate in voting, he should have learned in grade school as well the importance of voting, even more so his parents experienced the civil rights he is referring to. I guess thats a different article for a different day, moral of this story is GO VOTE!!! Regardless of who its for, exercise your right for your voice to be heard.