The vision of the future can be exciting. Fresh energy
builds as we face the future and all of its possibilities. When we are
experienced, mature people, we have known many things, much change, and
evolving perspectives. We have handled emergencies. We have created answers to
problems, and we have secured another day toward the future. Safe and sound we
have protected our family and friends. The world continues to turn on its axis.
Then come public issues of high impact. Voices are heard on
the radio and TV and around the water cooler at work. Until we realize that
many don’t have water coolers at work because they work from home on their
computer, or travel public transportation to client offices. As this realization
unfolds we begin to realize that new voices being heard are much younger than
we. So we begin to wonder what their voices mean and how much truth and fresh
thinking do they represent in the body politic?
In the 1960’s my contemporaries had strong feelings about
civil rights, access to higher education, and especially the travesty of the
War in Viet Nam .
Oh we had plenty of ideas and opinions. At the time we knew we were right; we
felt it in our bones. As time wore on we learned what was doable but what was
correct. The two did not always relate well with each other.
I read a piece by David Exner this morning. He wrote about
the young activists of today and the issues they espouse. The establishment,
Exner contends, tries to calm the young voices by claiming their viewpoints are
impractical. But then we are reminded of the Viet Nam War and how truly stupid
it was: 55,000 of our contemporaries lost their lives in that war; and the
Vietnamese lost what, a million or more? In the end the war came to an end
without a win; it can be argued that America lost that war. The enemy
after all, reclaimed her land and remains in power to this day.
And the young were right about civil rights, as well. And
the fuddy duddy approach to viewing the world as it unfolded. The old, we said,
were out of date and blinded by their routines of life to see what was emerging
before them.
We were right then. Maybe we were impractical but we forged
new ways of managing issues of importance and making them heard. In time they
gained traction and they are the law of the land now; more importantly, they
are the value standard of our culture.
Perhaps the youth of today have the same message of
importance: that times are changing and a recalibration of norms is underway.
If that is true then what are those recalibrations? Maybe
these?
- Education ought to be accessible to everyone; and not end up with a degree and a lifetime of debt to pay for that very same education
- Immigration
is not a birthright of
- Religious beliefs are a powerful force among people; but ought they be part and parcel of our governance structure? Freedom to practice religion in one’s own way, sure; freedom to yield to someone’s religious belief counter to my own? No. That is not the American way
- Respect for the planet and protection of it is a responsibility each generation must adopt for themselves and then live it
- Coming to one’s own understanding of how our governance system works is up to each generation as well
Back in the late 1960’s I became sick of what then was to
become a reality: Republicans were the conservative party and they insisted on
agreement on religious freedom as long as it was evangelical and right
wing; merging both patriotism and
religion was preferred and would underscore the sanctity of the US
Constitution. I said at the time this was wrong headed. I believed it so much
that I withdrew my active support of the party at the time. Later I was to
withdraw even my votes for Republican candidates.
My early conclusions were correct.
The newest generation was telling the establishment that
change was in the air. Republicans didn’t heed the warning. They went on to
elect Nixon and others and to play dirty tricks on each other and their
Democrat opposition. More importantly, however, they adopted conservatism in
all capital letters. They went further to adopt Christian Evangelicalism as the
national religion, in spite of all the constitutional law and lessons to the contrary.
They were unswayed and marched to the rhythm of harsh, one-sided arguments.
They now are wondering why their party is in such disarray.
Hmm. Are they really that dense? Do they really think the nation is mostly
conservative and religious?
I have news for them. It is not. Neither is Trump, so beware
of what you are adopting in 2016, Republicans. You didn’t understand what you
were doing back in the 60’s; I can only conclude you still are at sea with the
world around you.
Meanwhile, youth among Democrats are signaling a change in
how the establishment rules politics. I think the rest of us need to pay
attention. The Millennials are telling us. Best we listen!
February 22, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment