Youth: Tired of being unheard and misrepresented

Ever wondered what the world would be like if we could somehow bring an end to politics? Would things be achieved at a much more efficient rate if, instead of spending time arguing, we (as a society) could lay down arms and focus on how to help the people around us, while helping ourselves? Well, you see, that’s only an idea, and won’t change the fact that society promotes a highly judgmental, highly unwelcoming world, where teenagers and 20-somethings have their opinions invalidated and crushed within seconds if it disagrees with that of an elder’s.

In 2016, Time Magazine released an article discussing very clearly the reasons why “old people shouldn’t vote.” The magazine stated “people over 65 — compared with people under 30 — were nearly twice as likely to be against gay marriage; twice as likely to be pro-Brexit; half as likely to support legalization of marijuana; nearly five times less likely to want to spend money on education; 60% more likely to vote for Donald Trump…” The dismantling continued, in a neoliberal fashion, which makes the entire argument seem to have no credibility. While the article made a very clear point that most older generations are quite non-progressive, it also took one stance very clearly: old folks are the enemy of progressive young people.

This marks a further attempt to divide the American people, but does it in an incredibly obviously pro-left way. Forbes released an article, seemingly as a response to the Times Mag., which gives a little more insight into the maturity levels of voting at a young age, the responsibilities that come with voting, and the fact that teenagers who don’t work, don’t pay taxes, and therefore don’t have to deal with the government… which is all true.

When I spoke with a couple of friends, they told me arguing with their parents or grandparents about politics is like a low-budget Hollywood horror movie. No plot...no real story... no fun. One friend told me about an argument they had with an uncle about the racial prejudice and misrepresentation that the African American community faces every single day, to which the uncle said “you’re too young to know anything about politics.” While fundamentally false, it brings up my main point: stop telling people they are too young to know anything about anything.

While us teenagers have a whole life left to create, learn, and live, most of us know a thing or two about immorality and injustice, which should be respected by people of all ages. The time has passed to “respect your elders” with little to no justification. As citizens, we all have the freedom to believe, the freedom to speak, and the freedom to learn, and it’s time to stop treating a younger voice as nimble-minded, uneducated, and lazy.