Recently there are a ton of stories about how millennials have too many feelings and need safe spaces to express those feelings. Many of them come from a place of anger or condescension, aiming to make fun of and shame young people for wanting to feel safe and accepted.
Here is what I imagine an older generational's inner dialogue to be when thinking about our safe campuses.
"I mean, honestly, how dare they have emotions? And how dare they express those feelings in front of other people. Honestly. If you really NEED to have feelings, keep them in your own house like the rest of us baby boomers who are full of unexpressed anger.
"And millennials, why in the world do you need a place to feel safe in the world?
"What do you mean the blatant racism and undertone of rape culture in society makes you uncomfortable? We baby boomers are used to it, we have learned to live with it and we never needed a 'safe space' to cry about it. GROW UP, YOU STUPID GENERATION."
For some reason, being aware of the issues in society and demanding a place to talk about and hopefully resolve them makes millennials whiny little bitches. I don't know why and I don't know why the older generations care so much about us and our opinions. It's not like they're going to listen to us anyway. And if you're not going to listen or help, or even be constructive with your counter argument, then don't get involved. What's the point in making fun of our safe spaces where we can finally feel comfortable if you're not going to provide another solution? (Other than "get over it," of course.)
We recognize the problems in society. We understand that they need to change. We want to talk about them in a place where we won't get attacked for doing so. We demand safety, respect, and eventually, change. Why does that make us weak?
The other misconception that the older generations have is that we are ungrateful for our world and for the freedoms that America has to offer. But aren't those freedoms there to exact change? Isn't one of the most hotly debated ones freedom of speech? And isn't there something in there about the right to peacefully assemble? We need those freedoms to be able to do what we're doing. YOU, older generations, are telling us not to use those freedoms by telling us to stop finding safe spaces and stop protesting. Absolutely not.
Millennials that are brave enough to actually express these feelings and opinions are immediately smacked down by someone that says they're just whining and not working hard enough. Why does stating an opinion and wanting change make us whiny? Why does saying "Hey, we think that the state of the country right now is pretty bad and we want to fix it" make us ungrateful?
I will not apologize for wanting to feel safe. I will not back down simply because you don't like what I have to say. And I will certainly not give up my right to feel safe on my campus and in my country just because you think it's weak.
