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I edit a series of activist blogs called Care2 Causes, and I'm learning a lot. Environmental bloggers, animal rights advocates, gay rights, human rights and, of course, women's rights; each post raises an issue with a new perspective and new ideas. But there's one particular blogger whose posts intrigue me, not only for their quality (most Care2 bloggers are excellent) but also because she demonstrates something very important for "midlife" activists to remember: the world didn't stop with us! Listen to this great young woman:
In my few years of activism, I have experienced ageism and significant intolerance of the voices of youth. We are called frivolous and apathetic - and I think those indictments are sometimes self-fulfilling prophecies. But the voices of tens of thousands of youth, marching with people of all ages, genders, sexualities, races, and religions, spoke loudly, saying that the time for change is now.
How many of us, no matter what we're involved in, have empowered younger activists to take a serious role, beyond data entry and phone banking? Yes, the Obama Campaign did it but they were an exception. Too often, we who ran antiwar marches and political campaigns and food coops when we were in our twenties treat them as if they'll be 40 before they're capable of anything. How did that happen?
These younger folks have real issues, too, that inform their advocacy. Tula Connell wrote in September on the AFL-CIO blog:
Something bad happened in the past 10 years to young workers in this country: Since 1999, more of them now have lower-paying jobs, if they can get a job at all; health care is a rare luxury and retirement security is something for their parents, not them. In fact, many—younger than 35—still live at home with their parents because they can’t afford to be on their own.
Not so cheerful.
Tanene Allison, in a Huffington Post entry a year ago, also described her Millennial generation, but by describing herself:
(Disclosure: I am, in fact, a Millennial! I am writing this blog post from my social justice-focused workplace, where I use two computers simultaneously, have my iPhone stationed nearby, and am listening to music.) (Specifically, I am alternating between the New York Philharmonic and Patti Smith, as a reference point for those who engage in the debate around Millennials and what we make of culture.) In other words, I am writing to you about my peers.
Some random explorations, sure. But they make the case for paying serious attention to these folks, not as a generalized demographic but as thoughtful, committed, full-hearted participants in the struggle to build a better future. We're lucky they're there, and we should listen to them
