GMC News
Kingston Visits Valdosta
Congressman visits GMC
By: Rabyn Ratliff (Valdosta Times)
VALDOSTA — U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston visited Georgia Military College Thursday to motivate students toward greater political awareness and social responsibility.
Stopping at the college amid a day of area visits, Kingston spoke with nearly 50 students of instructor Bonnie Tindall. Speaking candidly, Kingston reminded students that the power to bring change, rests in the vote of a youthful generation.
“Just because you’re not interested in politics, does not mean that politics isn’t interested in you,” said Kingston. “The men and women in this generation — the young, not the old — are the people who fight wars.”
As many of the students prepare for their first national election, Kingston encouraged them to study issues and evaluate a candidate’s solutions before choosing a political party.
“More than Republican or Democrat, I think that today’s younger generation is a lot more independent. Voters at this age are basically kicking tires to see which vehicle they like best, so to speak,” said Kingston. “It’s important that they focus on the issues that affect them, and will affect them for years to come …”
Leaving the class, general studies student Christina Anderson, 19, said, “Before the presentation, I held the opinion that as someone who doesn’t always watch the news or know world issues in depth, I shouldn’t vote. He brought up some very good points today on why Americans should vote, and I’m going to become more politically involved.”
Kingston was invited to speak to the combined class of political science and criminal justice majors by GMC student Alicia Horner. Tindall and faculty administrators hope Kingston’s visit will begin a series of legislative stops to the area, all encouraging discussion and raising political awareness.
“It’s always good to put a face with a textbook lesson and an idea, and even as they prepare for the primary election, we want them to look at the diversity of the candidates,” Tindall said. “We hope that as these legislative visits continue, the classes will discuss the issues and concepts being brought up, and whether they evoke negative or positive feelings, those feelings will make them vote.”
