The tragic murder of 17 innocent American students at a high school in Parkland Florida has one major positive upside. Thankfully, it finally ignited America’s apathetic youth to wake up and sweep in the necessary gun legislation long-demanded by a majority of Americans of all political, racial, religious and ethnic groups—a subject I have written at length about, lamenting the youth’s apathy in my Custom Maid book trilogy—the third volume of which was originally titled Custom Maid Apathy before being changed to Custom Maid Revolution. At the time, I wrote:
“When I first sat down to write the Custom Maid trilogy in the 1980s, this volume was
titled Custom Maid Apathy because of the lethargy of citizens worldwide, but especially
in America,where people who have the power to bring about revolutionary change through
the ballot box refuse to exercise their hard-fought basic human and personal rights for
which so many patriotic Americans have sacrificed their lives to preserve.
My book Custom Maid Spin lamented the political apathy of America’s young adults
because it enabled the political establishment to focus its campaign budgets on the
vegged-out seniors whose paid excursions to the ballot boxes ensured the perpetual
residence in Washington of Wall Street’s political puppets.”
I predicted and warned of the demise of political parties as we know them and the rise of political movements in today’s wired world that can and will only be triggered by America’s voting citizens—especially women and youth. Much like the Civil Rights Movement, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and the youth who fought for the right of 18-year olds to vote. Today, we see such movements in the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter and LGBT movements. A youth movement is long overdue.
A walkout in South Florida on Friday and rally in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday helped anchor support, and other protests are planned in coming weeks, including one that would mark the 19th year since the Columbine High School Massacre.
“We are the students, we are the victims, we are change, fight gun violence now!” student organizers wrote for one of the planned events. “High School students across the U.S.A., the way to fight back is here. There has been too much complacency on the part of politicians when it comes to gun violence. The time to act is now!”
The first event is planned for March 14, which would mark one month since the Florida shooting. The event calls for students and teachers to walk out of their schools at 10 a.m. local time for 17 minutes, to honor the 17 lives lost in Florida.
Another walkout is planned for April 20, which will mark the 19th year since the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.
Taking to the streets, state and national capitals peacefully, school walkouts—and even strikes—is the only way to get elected career politicians to listen—and defeat the high paid lobbyists and financial contributors.
Political incumbents and candidates running for office in the upcoming midterm elections should be held accountable to their constituents and not just their financial supporters. Elected representatives at all levels of government must be reminded in no uncertain way that America is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Laws, like self-serving career politicians, can be changed. Always have. Always will. All it takes is going to the ballot boxes. Not just for gun control laws—all laws!
America’s apathetic youth is on the rise and move. Career politicians beware!
One thought on “Apathetic American Youth?”
I think it’s great to see Generation Z taking a stand on this issue. Every year it seems like there are more and more mass school shootings. A gunman walking into a school knows that it’s a vulnerable gun free zone, making it an easy target for them. At the Trump listening session with the students, a few proposals were brought up: 1) Arm some of the school staff members to serve as a deterrent, like how pilots were mandated to carry guns in the cockpit, which actually stopped plane hijackings. 2) Raise the legal right to purchase a firearm to age 21, but like alcohol and tobacco, this can create a taboo and a stronger desire to possess something that is forbidden until reaching legal age, 3) Have more stringent background checks and a longer process to purchase guns, 4) Ban bump stops that change a semi-automatic rifle into an automatic rifle, 5) Ban assult rifles altogether, which seems highly unlikely given the number of guns already in people’s homes, 6) Fund mental health programs for the youth. What do you think is a good solution?
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