If there’s one thing that Super Tuesday will prove is just how active the new generation of young voters are. Even though Iowa was one example of the active participation of young voters – today will be the true test of whether the next generation of qualified voters will be able to make an impact on politics – or at least – for the next four years.

The past two elections in 2000 and 2004 were seemingly run of mill. Two white guys – one Republican, the other Democrat racing for the White House. Unlike the media’s portray of a rumble of the races and sexes – young people seem to be more interested in what the candidates have to offer.

Now that there’s a reason for young people to get interested in the political-game, the question is how long will the youth’s love affair with politics last? Sure, Clinton and Obama have managed to get a wider range of people interested in the election, which would possibly set record turn out in numbers by the end of the day. But will the future young voters who aren’t hold enough to vote and their predecessors still be voter friendly four years from now after the Obama and Clinton verbal fistfight?

Or is the gender and race concept just a piece of a popular culture phase, like the newest Apple product. It can be really popular for a little while, but at some point people start getting bored and expect something new to come along.

The optimistic inside of me hopes that 2008 isn’t the year of the ‘Race-O-Rama’ or the ‘Gender-Bender’, but the reality of the world is far more convincing than my optimism. Because even at the end of Super Tuesday, if there is a clear view of a winning candidate I guarantee the election will still becoming a gender and race issue: white man vs. black man; white woman vs. white man. No matter how progressive we claim to be, we are still obsessed with gender and race when it comes to social status in this country. But hey, maybe young voters will surprised everyone in this election and in the ones to follow –but unfortunately, I really can’t imagine America having it any other way.
—Eming Piansay