WOOT!!

OHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAHHHH!!!

It's finally come--the big day. 18 years ago, a few minutes after 12, my mom gave birth to yours truly. Man, I'm pumped. I'm finally an adult! I'm finally an adult!! From now on, in the eyes of the goverment I'm responsible for myself. No more parents' signatures for permission!

I realize that, for now, there's not going to be such a huge impact in my life. I will continue living with my parents; when I go to college, they will be the ones to pay. I still do not drive. And I still have the same independence they usually give me. Many of the rights I now have--for example, the right to buy porn or a weapon--I will not exercise. And I still cannot drink legally (not that I like alchohol anyway). But I will be able to vote. I will be able to do things without my parents permission. Simply knowing that I am now legally an adult is enough for me.

And yet, this coming-of-age still isn't complete. Like I said, I can vote, but even this vote does not count for much. Why? Because I live in DC, America's last colony. And we do not have a voting representative in Congress. We only have a delegate who can proprose legislation. Eleanor Norton Holmes, bless her, does a wonderful job--but she is unable to fully represent the people of Washington DC, thanks to the laws of this country. How ironic that the capital of a country that prides itself on its legacy of freedom does not even have that most basic right--self-representation.

Moreover, DC's status in the country allows other congressmen who have nothing to do with DC use this city for their own agenda. For example, a few years ago, a few Congressmen tried to loosen gun-control laws in DC to satisfy the gun lobby. Did they live in DC? No. Did they care at all about DC? No. They only wanted to curry favor from the powerful lobbyists on Capitol Hill. As for the Washingtonians, they didn't want any of such nonsense. We were satsified with the way things were. Ironically, this took place during the same year when there were a record number of juvenile murders--19 of which were committed with a gun. Fortunately, the legislation did not get passed, but DC remains at the mercy of Congress.

So, dear readers, do this favor for a girl on her birthday--write to your Congressman and ask them what THEY are doing about DC rights. This isn't a matter of Republican or Democrat--this is matter of the basic rights of citizenship. This is about fulfilling the promises made to ALL Americans with the creation of this country. It is past time we get our proper representation in Congress.

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!