The Up-and-Coming Generation Needs Help Taking Down the Roadblocks

The most difficult part about paying attention to the political-sphere is the feeling of hopelessness that can sometimes accompany knowing just how inexorable the system can be. Goodness knows with the "big six" in charge of nearly all forms of popular and "credible" media, it seems like even the voices of people who wish to make a difference have little opportunity to make the mainstream unless the procurer of said voice is some kind of well-connected prodigy of thought.

I personally don't know how people like Michael Moore, Bill O'Reilly, Tom Vilsack, or John Edwards got into the positions they did where their voice is respected, listened to, and even welcomed, but as a product of the Millenial generation, I'd like to figure out their methods and publish them to my peers since our voices are the ones that need to be heard in this dialogue.

As we sit in the classrooms and read our textbooks, we know that we're their for one reason, to get a better job. Certainly our dreams are forever whispering in our ears, but they frequently pale in the shadow of larger realities like the concept that, though we aspire to it, we individually may not be the ones to revolutionize medicine, journalism, or even our local communities for that matter. While in high school, our fears were of things like social ostracism, I think that the prevailing fear of college students across the nation is the fear of obscurity.

You see, we get degrees, we hit the polls, and we attend protests because the feeling we get of making that personal contribution to a cause that's important to us gives us hope that we too may someday be heard on national television, published in a national newspaper, or elected to national office. In light of ranting, ego-centric pundits and personal Washington agendas on both sides of the political aisle, it becomes increasingly difficult for my generation to see the silver lining in the clouds.

Yet when you consider that the national docket has all but written us out due to low voter turnout, "prevailing apathy", and a supposed disregard by my peers and I toward the important things in life, perhaps the real issue is that the voices of the potentially obscure, are the ones that journalists, talking heads, and especially politicians should be digging for but aren't. This is because, despite a growing feeling of cynicism and reality among those my age, we still believe in the altruistic ideals preached from the highest pulpits of science and philosophy that our opinions can be frequently uplifting, inspiring, and needed in a country that so badly needs a pick-me-up these days. Our aims are often high and our dreams are often lofty, but to borrow a page from Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, the only way to achieve high goals is to aim idealistically and, by such means, achieve highly.

Fortunately, politicians like Barack Obama have begun to tap into the youth culture and conduct that survey of America's future movers and shakers that is so badly needed through My Barack Obama.com. Similarly, John Edwards has begun a similar system of social networking, clearly designed to connect with the nations 18-28 year olds on the networking portion of his website as well as John McCain, something that neither Rudy Giuliani nor Hillary Clinton have done.

So our opinions may be considered under-developed. Then inform us! Give us news through our channels that we can relate to and tap into. Otherwise, believe me, we'll make it ourselves, whether by blog or by social networking website, we're ready to make a difference if you'll just give us the chance.