My daughter's 18th birthday today.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

I'm taking a few minutes before we go out and celebrate this remarkable young lady's coming of age.

She went with me to Crawford in August. She is politically astute and passionate. She knows about Roe v. Wade and ANWR, she admires Madeline Albright and adores Howard Dean (whom she affectionately calls HoDo). We talk about the military (her dad and I are Army vets), gay marriage and nationalism vs. patriotism.

She was born shortly after Reagan and Gorbachev met in DC, ushering in Glasnost. Right before she turned two, the Berlin Wall came down.

She had her first time on skis during the end to Gulf War I. She was four years old and watched the Democratic Convention in 1992, with her father and me. She was immediately captivated by Bill Clinton. When he gave his acceptance speech at the convention she said to us, "He cares about children."

Her childhood years, during the Clinton administration, were free of worry, except about spelling tests and the occasional best friend tiff.

It was her second year in middle school when 9/11 happened. She was devastated. Crying, frightened and not understanding why and how this could happen.

Now, sadly, she is fully aware of the impact this administration's actions are having, and will have, on her generation. She is seeing other kids her age joining the military. She is also seeing peers of hers who parrot the latest RNC talking points without taking the time to understand the lack of logic to their arguments.

And, she hangs out with great kids. All of them are great students, hard working, looking to the future and not easily persuaded by jingoistic slogans or Madison Ave. catch phrases.

Ultimately, my daughter is optimistic. She is smart, funny and very well informed. She doesn't hesitate to make a stand, especially for the underdog or disenfranchised. She can't wait to register to vote.

She is our best hope for the future. And I love her with all my heart. I will bookmark this tribute and show it to her sometime in the (hopefully) near future.

Any of you who worry that her generation is not up for the challenge, please know that there are many good kids, just like her, that are ready to fight the good fight.

Now, time to dry my eyes and have some fun with this wonderful person!

MKJ

[WI_DEM]

1. it sounds like you have every right to be very proud

Happy Birthday!

[GatoLover]

2. Mazel tov!

My daughter is 23; I know exactly how you feel.

[babylonsister]

3. Excuse me while I now go dry my eyes, too. Very lovely-thanks. nt

[newyawker99]

4. Happy birthday to your daughter!

:toast: :party:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. Ah, now I'm getting teary eyed again. We're headed out to dinner

with family and friends.

I'll give her an extra DU hug! MKJ

:pals:

[Booster]

6. Tell your daughter Happy Birthday from DU, and it sounds like

she had the best of teachers (you). I have always said it's the young that will change things just like we changed things in the 60's when we were young. Power to youth!

[I Have A Dream]

7. Your daughter sounds like an absolutely wonderful person!

It makes me so happy to hear the pride that you have for her, and hearing about her makes me think that we may have a chance in the future to take our country back. It's very clear that she's willing to fight the good fight alongside us!

Kudos to you, Bleedingheartpatriot, for cultivating such a beautiful soul.

:loveya:

[I Have A Dream]

25. .

[stevedeshazer]

8. Can she meet my 18 year old son?

They have a lot in common.

Seriously, have a great time and always remember that there are some wonderful kids out there who get it, mostly because they have wonderful parents like you.

Your story sounds very familiar.

Optimistic, smart, well-informed...she didn't get all that on her own.

I'm confident that democracy will live on, thanks to kids like ours.

Peace

[indepat]

9. Your daughter would hit it off with my eighteen-year-old granddaughter, 11

days her senior.

[RazzleDazzle]

10. Of COURSE this generation is up for the challenge, and no doubt

your daughter will shine brightly at saving this world. She sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing a little about her with us -- a ray of hope that extends out into the future.

Blessings on her head and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :party:

[ClayZ]

11. Happy Birthday to your wonderful Daughter!

And kudos for you, MOM, you did a good job!

Peace!:party:

[hwmnbn]

12. First off, sounds like her parents did a great job......

second she sounds like a spirited, decent, loving, and fair-minded young lady.

I'm hoping she enjoys her journey thru life and maintains the attitudes you describe. Y'all go out and enjoy yourselves and know that everyone here is grateful for everyone there.

:toast: :toast:

[applegrove]

13. Keep her strong! Happy birthday to you too! n/t

[UrbScotty]

14. Here's to BHP Jr. and HoDo!

:-)

[Nicole]

15. Happy Birthday to your daughter

Congratulations to her parents for a job well done!

[bigwillq]

16. Birthday wishes to your daughter!!

She seems like a lovely young woman!! :hug:

Your hubby and you have done a wonderful job! :hi:

[blue neen]

17. Congratulations to your daughter.

My son is 22. He proudly cast his vote for the first time last Nov. 2 for John Kerry and John Edwards.
These young people are our best hope for the future. :)

[nicknameless]

18. What a wonderful tribute

A politically astute four-year-old? Sounds like she has great parents!
Glad to hear that she'll be registering to vote soon. Another smart one for our team. ;)
Happy 18th!

:toast: :party:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

23. LOL. She actually made this remark because his acceptance speech

focused so much on programs and education to help children. After he had outlined his vision about something very child focused (Head Start, perhaps?) she made the comment. Very cute at the time. :) MKJ

[nicknameless]

26. I think it's Very cute -- and Very amazing.

I remember how Looooonngg Bill's speeches were.
It seems *extremely* attentive of her to have sat through and followed what he was saying -- at four!

:)

[NewJeffCT]

19. Happy Birthday to your daughter

she sounds like a terrific young lady... and you just made me feel very old by saying she was 4 years old during the Democratic Convention in 1992!!

[NMMNG]

20. It sounds like you raised a fine young woman

Congratulations! :thumbsup:

[NMMNG]

21. It sounds like you raised a fine young woman

Congratulations! :thumbsup:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

22. Thanks, all of you for the warm and wonderful posts.

I couldn't sleep. We had a terrific time tonight and I guess I'm still fired up by the enjoyment of the night, as well as the emotions.

What a nice surprise logging onto DU and finding this thread on the Greatest page with the kind sentiments expressed by all of you.

I plan to print this out and give it to her at her HS graduation this spring. I have a collection of mementos that I hope she'll take with her to college. This will definitely be one!

My husband and I can take a fraction of the credit, however, it seemed like from the moment she arrived in our lives, she had this wonderful spirit that just continued to evolve.

I'm sure all parents can relate to that.

Thanks again, DU'ers. :loveya: MKJ

[Citrene]

24. You've much to be proud of and to love. Congrats on 18 and

having such a wonderful young lady to call you "Mom/Dad". You've much to be proud of.

My daughter will be 18 in May and she is way behind, hopefully college will wake her up.

Have lots of fun and treasure every moment.

Peace.

[Oldtimeralso]

27. Your Daughter shows...

that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree