FDR brought our parents together to fight a war and they believed “Yes We Can!”
JFK made us believe in Camelot.
But then the Democrats and Republicans got us stuck in a war we really didn’t want to win. And then Bobby also got shot and the young supporters of “Clean Gene” couldn’t get him elected. And we started to despair. In November of 1972 I sat at a fountain at the D.C. Sheraton (McGovern Headquarters) crying and discouraged that a good man would lose in a landslide to Tricky Dick.
“I let down the country. I let down our system of government, and the dreams of all those young people that ought to get into government but now think it too corrupt…” Richard Nixon to David Frost
My days in politics came to an abrupt end. It didn’t seem worth it. My generation was too disillusioned.
“Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today, at home and around the world!” - John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, 1961
Kennedy’s dream for my generation did not survive
Again “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans”, the Millennials, perhaps less tempered, disciplined and proud, but perhaps even more “unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights” and even more committed.
Both Obama and McCain have called for a resurrection of faith in government and belief in government service. While McCain lost, his life has been a shining example to us all. And Obama has captured the hearts and hopes of the new generation.
Bobby Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern had captured the hearts of the young generation, but they lost. Barack Obama won and now the Millennials feel they have won also. They feel their voice can be heard, that their votes count and that a desire to change the world is not a lost cause.
They are hopeful. A recent poll shows:
- - Millennials believe that our nation’s leaders – private sector, public sector, and political – are not doing enough to encourage young people to enter public service.
- - Millennials indicate that they would be more likely to vote for someone if they support public service programs for young people – and they would be more likely to engage in service if it was more of a priority for our government.
- - By a margin of more than 7:1, Millennials overwhelmingly support the creation of a U.S. Public Service Academy (an equivalent school to the military academies dedicated to public service.)
- - A majority of all Millennials indicate that they would consider applying to the U.S. Public Service Academy, and 19% say that they would “very likely” consider applying. Those most likely to consider applying include: men (63%), Southerners (63%), African Americans (64%), Latinos (68%), and Asian Americans (70%).
- - Political affiliation did not affect young people’s perception of the Academy – 58% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans say that they would consider applying to the Academy.
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Don’t be cynical. Encourage young people who feel this way. Volunteer yourself to help out in some way. This opportunity may not come again for some time if we don’t take advantage of it. Young people see themselves as connected, in social communities. Government has an opportunity to be part of that community if we reach out to them the way Barack Obama did.
Here’s to hoping that in 2009 “change that we believe in” becomes the widespread belief that we really can (and must) change. Change is inevitable. Change can be good or bad. Let’s support the hope and belief of the new generation of Millennials.
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