Declare Yourself

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Declare Yourself is a campaign initiated during the 2004 United States presidential elections to encourage young people to register to vote. It started life as the "Declaration of Independence Road Trip", a 50-city cross-country tour of a rare Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence lasting three-and-a-half years.

The DOI Road Trip's stated mission was to engage and energize all Americans, particularly young people, by bringing the Declaration to them. According to a press release, "This non-profit nonpartisan project hopes to inspire Americans to participate in civic activism, to exercise their rights and to vote. The Declaration of Independence Road Trip will travel to cities and towns across the United States, creatively combining elements of education, entertainment, and community outreach."

Founded by TV producer and philanthropist Norman Lear, and led by Honorary Co-Chairs and former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, "Declare Yourself" is described in their literature as a "national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign initiated in 2004 to energize and empower a new movement of young voters to participate in the 2004 presidential election. From January through Election Day 2004, over one million young and first-time voters registered to vote through events at Declare Yourself's spoken word and music tour of college campuses. Declare Yourself will continue into the 2006 midterm elections with voter registration materials and an email campaign targeted at first-time voters."

[edit] Commercials

In 2006, three PSA's were released, each directed by David LaChapelle. They pretend to be clichéd commercials for different products but all end with the same ending: Silence. After the image, there's an eerie silince as the words "Only You Can Silence Yourself" followed by a voice whispering "Register to vote now."

Dog Food

An innocent-looking dog food ad where woman comments how her dog has not a care in the world and choses the brand 'Apathy' and hopes that she'll be like the dog and be taken care of herself. Suddenly we cut to an image of her on all fours with a muffler on.

Phat Ride

A typical ad in the style of 'Pimp My Ride', when it ends as a mechanic has nailed his mouth shut.

Vanity

A commercial which advertisers a lipstick called 'Lip-Sealer' with the cliché of a model posing with a voice over. Suddenly, the model's lips have been glued shut as she tries to speak, but is only able to mumble. Distorted voices is also heard.