I've seen quite a few articles from so-called millennial Democrats and millennial Republicans about their identities, explaining themselves, and writing open letters to one another. I've seen them particularly here on the Odyssey's social media platform for article-sharing. I've been fascinated by the views and opinions expressed, even to the point that I wanted to write an article of my own to those on the opposite side of the aisle from me, explaining my views and why I disagreed with theirs.
I like to get fired up, to write about politics and be angry at the other side. And I'll admit that I'm generally a fired up liberal and the views on the others side, especially those pertaining to women and children, fire me up. I wanted to write this angry piece that would get a lot of excitement because of how one of these articles I saw made me feel.
But then I realized something, in brainstorming about this article and seeing the headlines from the White House and around the country this week. There is so much opposition, anger, questioning of beliefs, and unrest in Washington that I fear every day our government is on the brink of collapse, with each new piece of news. We're certainly not there yet, thank goodness, but I see so much divisiveness. It worries me for the future as we face issues and perils like human rights violations and climate change that we can't all get along and find common ground.
So, from a lover of America, a blogger, a (okay I'll admit it) millennial Democrat, and a college student, I want to say one thing to millennial Republicans and Democrats alike- I respect your views, I probably agree with some of them or many of them, and I think it's in your greatest interest to speak up and defend your side and identity. You deserve that. But I think that instead of making proclamations about who we are and pointing fingers at the other side in our discernment over labels and stereotypes, we ought to be making compromises, making time to be involved in our communities, and making good choices in order to make a difference together.
As millennials, we're faced with a multitude of issues that no other generation has faced. The great acceleration of climate change, the state of race relations around the world and within our borders, how gender is viewed and respected, how our economy is changing, among others. The time we are moving quickly toward will be one of uncertainty, global changes, and unrest as we are already seeing develop in the United States.
I get it- we're all passionate about issues in different ways. And I'm not asking for those writers and activists who boast about their views to stop- believe me, we need you to keep going. But I think that in a time like this, millennials shouldn't write about why they don't feel like the other side sees them in the right light, why their political affiliation causes them to be labelled or stereotyped, or why all of this makes them feel like the bad guy. Because there are far bigger bad guys.
Bad guys like ISIS, fossil fuels, child hunger, worldwide literacy rates, and the problems facing our veterans. It's time for us all to move on from the pity parties we're throwing for one another about how we feel labelled- instead stand up for your beliefs, don't worry about what other people say or bemoan, and then find it in you to make healthy compromises. That is what it will take for us to move forward, take care of each other, and find progress that suits every American and every citizen of the world in these ever-changing times.
Speak up. Say what you want. Defend your issues. But don't waste any more time being sorry for yourself about your political identity and how people see you for it- use it for good, live it, love it, breathe it, help it mold compromise, and be the millennial that bridges the divides we see in our government today before the divisiveness is irreversible and the downfall and uncertainty of worldwide troubles is inevitable.