2008 Woodie Awards
Fighting for a 'revolution'
Murfreesboro college students give the presidential hopeful an unlikely voice
Christopher Barkley
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Features
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Utterly bored, and expecting the usual political blithering and double-talk akin to over-produced political debates, the 19-year-old student heard one of the men portray something he says he found delightfully provocative, without agenda, that seemed pure to his ears. The man spoke of small government, legalizing the U.S. Constitution and unabashedly denouncing the IRS.
That man was Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, and from that moment, Dexter has been one of the hundreds of foot soldiers in Murfreesboro who help spread the ideas of the Ron Paul "revolution."
"As soon as the debate ended, I spoke with my cousin and asked him if he had heard of Ron Paul," Dexter says. "He knew more than I did, and since then we have gone to rallies, written articles and begun having political conversations with friends."
However, Dexter has had trouble spreading the word to others who haven't previously heard of Paul.
"When I make comments in class [about Paul] people just laugh," he says. "People don't see his message, they just see him as another Ralph Nader."
Yet, some who have been exposed to Paul's message of personal liberty and freedom take the 10-term congressman very seriously.
Murfreesboro Ron Paul meet-up coordinator John Freeman wrote on his profile page: "I've never been so excited about a political candidate, and I want to be actively involved in what is truly a modern revolution. I am hoping to meet a vast and diverse group of people who share the same interests in personal liberty and [want] to support Ron Paul."
So what is creating the disconnect between those who hear Paul's ideas and those who don't feel as if Paul deserves to have his ideas considered and heard on a legitimate, visible platform?
Walking around campus, you see "Ron Paul 2008, Hope For America" bumper stickers on trashcans, walls, doors and message boards about every 100 feet. But if you watch the news on major media outlets like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, you might not even know Paul was running for office.
This fervent support for Paul, some think, is consistent off campus, as well, where it sometimes seems that you can drive down any street in Murfreesboro and see the signs of Ron Paul supporters. Yet it could be argued that the grassroots attention Paul has garnered has not translated into mainstream media attention.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 23
MTSU Parent
posted 3/10/08 @ 7:09 AM CST
RON PAUL AND HIS REVOLUTIONARIES
Ron Paul is the perfect person to lead us into the Century, unfortunately it is the 19th Century. Unless you are white, upper-class, conservative, anti-choice, male, and never plan to need any services from the government, Congressman Paul is a dangerous man. (Continued…)
concerned american
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:42 AM CST
Ron Paul is about freedom which is something most americans are afraid of. Wake UP!! Your federal government isn't SUPPOSED to take care of you or the rest of the world! unfortunatly, responsibility has been thrown out the window by your government!! are you awake yet?? vote for peace! Ron Paul for president isn't dangerous, it is necessary!!
VOTE FOR PAUL
posted 3/10/08 @ 10:18 AM CST
I don't entirely agree with the above comment... VOTE FOR PAUL!
Jason
posted 3/10/08 @ 11:06 AM CST
Paul is a joke. It's the refuge of the idealistic to embrace widespread, simplistic chnages when they can't be bothered to deal with the realities of life and the hard, slow solutions to them. (Continued…)
gravel kucinich paul nader
posted 3/10/08 @ 4:48 PM CST
Gravel Kucinich Paul Nader;
dare speak truth,
demand peace.
Honesty compassion intelligence guts -
news across the neocon empire
posted 3/10/08 @ 5:03 PM CST
Congressman Paul certainly has some interesting ideas, but its unlikely that we will see the minimal government approach the Liberatarians espouse anytime soon -- and rightly so. (Continued…)
JG
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:47 PM CST
Many changes are being forced upon us and our country. NAFTA and other managed trade deals are making the corporations obscenely rich, while they, the feds and the inflation sucks us dry. (Continued…)
JG
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:55 PM CST
We need real change!
***Global Research reports that Human rights organizations are condemning a new form of exploitation in the US--the 2 million mostly Black and Hispanic prisoners working for Fortune 500 companies for a pittance. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 3/10/08 @ 8:30 PM CST
And Neocon's true agenda comes out.
Way to try and divert the discussion into something completely irrelevant. Luckily this forum is totally irrelevant, because I'd hate for something to actually believe you :-o. (Continued…)
ART DEKKO
posted 3/10/08 @ 11:13 PM CST
ITEM 1. RON PAUL IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WORTH A DAMN. HIS IDEAS ARE TRUE AND BASED ON FACT AND LOGIC. MY FAMILY WILL VOTE, AND ONLY FOR HIM, PERIOD. (Continued…)
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