I was talking with some young people the other day, late
teens and up to mid twenties. They are aware of current events and issues but
only because they flash by them on their hand held electronic devices. They have
a lot of info and data screaming past them all day long. What they lack is the
context of the happenings so they can understand the overall impact of them.
That comes with time and experience and curiosity.
Someday they too will be as upset and anxious as I am with
today’s America .
On the internet I found this ‘quote’. I suspect it was from
another blogger who was trying to put into words what a lot of young people are
wondering about today. Here it is:
“I am just learning and getting
involved in politics. Do I have this correct? Republicans are against: children
eating, healthcare for all, marrying who you love, education, science, global
warming, a woman’s right to choose, veteran’s care, equal pay for women,
Headstart, GMO free food, voter’s rights, the separation of church and state,
and teaching evolution in schools? And people still vote for them?” ~Author
Unknown
Yes, whoever you are! I think you summed it up pretty well.
And the young folk I was speaking with the other day pretty much mirrored your
statement.
The republicans have a problem with many voter blocs: women,
youth, Hispanics, African Americans, gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender
Americans, the poor, the elderly and the elder poor. That just about covers 65%
of the population. And they think they can win elections with such demeaning
strategies.
The painful fact is they do win elections. Not just in
special districts of like-minded people, but with people who just don’t get it
and don’t pay attention. They like the republican label of 40 years ago and
stick with the ‘brand’.
If the beleaguered among us forget to vote or simply aren't
interested in voting, they toss the elections to the republicans. That’s the
reality of a democracy. Not all people care enough to vote.
Meanwhile I imagine a world that cares about all of its
people – the young poor kids who deserve a hand up with Headstart programs at
local schools, the teens who need community experiences which lead to self
discovery and career interests – and preparations for those careers – and a
world where we care enough to feed hungry kids because they were born, and try
to keep unwanted births to a manageable level. Pro-life activists need to feed
the kids that were unplanned and unwanted. They need to figure out how to
educate those same kids so they grow up in a world that wants them and values
them.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said a long time ago:
“When will our consciences grow
so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”
I think the ‘when’ will come when average Americans vote
their consciences and realize that dreaming together of better days leads to
programs that work well. But first we have to dream.
Envision!
August 19, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment