COLUMN: High expectations needed for our future leaders
Since the day we were born, we have grown up in a society that relentlessly preaches and encourages a strong foundational belief in the irrational theory, "time is money." No wonder it seems absurd to us to prioritize precious minutes of relaxation to sit down, turn on the news and catch up on current events or devote just a few moments of our daily lives to research political topics to help develop educated opinions.
Young adults, especially between the ages of 18-20, have consistently produced the lowest percentage of votes in our country’s elections. We constantly ignore our obligation to participate in the democracy our founding fathers spilled blood, sweat and quill ink to attain. We refuse to learn about political affairs that don't provide a substantial amount of entertainment value.
Living in a country that has such immense political influence, and a world that experiences frequent and violent terrorist attacks, it is vital for all of our country’s citizens to understand the importance of educated and thoughtful participation in the upcoming presidential election.
To meet the high expectations and tradition of an honest role model, it is our jobs as Americans to ensure that whoever is entrusted with these presidential responsibilities is someone who not only has tenacious patriotism, unbreakable love for and dedication to their country, but also determination to enforce domestic policy to put an end to rapidly increasing debt.
Our president needs to promise that enforcing justice will be their utmost priority, that we will continue our unconditional devotion to the protection of the innocent and defenseless, and that we will forcefully send a powerful message to any terrorist organization seeking to cause chaos.
Without a firm stance against our enemies, high expectations for our leaders and overwhelming voter participation, we will continue to earn reputation of a generation that isn’t brave enough to stand up for our rights, fight our own battles and protect those who aren’t capable of fighting for themselves.
Nobody owes us the privileges we take advantage of every day: a strong military to protect us, clean water to drink, healthy food to eat, advanced healthcare and medicine, social security benefits when we retire, freedom of speech and religion…the list goes on. We have abundant blessings to be humble and thankful for, yet some members of our generation selfishly demand even more and assume every privilege should be handed to them.
The girl who never shows up to school now expects our country’s taxpayers to pay for her college education. The boy who dropped out of high school now expects a higher minimum wage even if that means one of his coworkers, a single mother, will lose her job. What happened to the theory of "work and reward"? How did we become so self-absorbed?
As the youth of our nation cowardly hides from the consequences of self-centeredness and unwillingness to take control of their own problems, they remain oblivious to the real injustices and tragedies occurring every day. On the other side of the world, there’s a girl who risks her life by sneaking her way into school, because she believes in the benefit and privilege of getting an education. There’s a boy who is publicly executed in the street because he stole a loaf of bread to bring home to his starving mother.
Yet we sit here, scrolling through Twitter feeds on our cell phones during class and throwing away cafeteria food because "we aren’t in the mood for pizza." We have the nerve to say we aren’t directly affected by the problems of those who can’t defend themselves against the injustice they face every day. Taking care of humanity is everyone’s problem and is everyone’s responsibility.
With the vast resources available to our privileged generation, there is no excuse for us to shy away from working as hard as we can to make a true and lasting difference in our world. I challenge the youth of our country and the future of the entire world, to grasp these issues with tight fists, and to create coexistence in a global community founded on the principles of love, service and acceptance.
I propose we start live by a new theory, “Work…then work a little harder.” To create a better tomorrow, we have to start with today; let’s plan to leave this world knowing we gave it our best effort, we never gave up, and we always strived to create an abundant, flourishing future. Step aside grandpa, a new greatest generation is in the making.
