Young people can change the world

Fri, 29 May 2009 19:51:39 GMT

By Maite Gonzalez/Section Editor/column

More than fifty years ago, my grandparents’ generation was facing one of the most widespread wars in all history. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States came together as one. But who played a large role in fighting our nation’s enemies? Young people. Men around my age were being drafted to serve in the military, while young women were entering the labor force at home. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, it was young people who participated in the sit-ins at local stores, and it was also the young people who were involved in Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent protests. It was also the younger generation that experienced the heaviest costs during the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq wars. As we experience the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, rather than simply complain about the lack of paid jobs, we should unite to fight against it. On a larger level, even though college-aged students played a huge role in the election of President Barack Obama, we still face a country divided. Despite progress from the Civil Rights Movement, there are still many instances of prejudice against various groups in society, in everything from education to health care to housing. But in order to fight everything from the economy to civil rights to politics, we must all take on the challenges individually to lead to progress. Change first starts with me, and then it can hopefully spread to someone else, who can then keep spreading it on. So with all these issues we face, as in past generations, it is up to young adolescents to do something about it. We are the most educated generation ever, as many of us will go on to schooling beyond high school and we also have access to information that is unimaginable. Simply with two clicks we can find information on anything. We should take advantage of technology to help problems that our generation and world are facing. I believe our generation has the power to be known as “The Other Greatest Generation.” We have the smarts and the resources and we are making progress to unite. Although we did have a sense of unity after September 11, it should not always take catastrophic events to keep us bonded - we can unite through big issues, like the economy and education, and we should stay connected for our own and our nation’s benefits. As Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

The Viper Vibe

Young people can change the world