CAN THE MILLENNIALS SAVE US?

I have spent a couple of weeks now watching “The Man in The High Castle” on Netflix. The show is based on Philip K. Dick’s Hugo award-winning novel and takes place fifteen years after a different end to World War II in which Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan occupy America. In it, a young woman discovers a mysterious film that may hold the key to toppling the totalitarian regimes. You can’t help but notice while watching this series how gradual and subtle the transformation is from decent human being, to Nazi believer, and then to perpetrator of full-blown atrocities. The similarities to what is happening right now in America are also frightening.

During this same period, I was involved in a “team building” exercise at work. One of the things we did was answer some questions regarding lying and killing. “Would you lie to get out of a traffic ticket?” “Would you kill to get out of a traffic ticket?” “Would you lie to save yourself?” “Would you kill to save yourself?” “Would you lie to save someone you loved?” “Would you kill to save someone you loved?”

I honestly can’t remember what point was being made with these questions. What I do remember is that at least half of my team answered “No” to every question and that I found it shocking because I believe I would kill to save others and myself. Of course, none of us knows how we will truly behave until faced with the actual decision but I want to believe that when the Fourth Reich rises, which seems closer than ever now, I will fight to the death for what I believe in.

In the February 3, 2020 issue of Time Magazine, Charlotte Alter writes about “How Millennial Leaders Will Change America.” Alter interviews Haley Stevens, freshman Democratic Representative from Michigan’s 11th District, who is quoted as saying: “Kids of the ’90s, we grew up thinking that we were going to change the world.” Well here is a news flash for Alter and Stevens: us kids of the ‘60s thought the same thing! I grew up believing our generation would rid the world of racism, sexism, poverty, hatred, and war. For a brief moment, when Obama was elected on November 4, 2008, I thought perhaps we had come a long way toward meeting some of our goals, but I’ve never been so wrong.

Unfortunately, the headline in this morning’s paper reads “Trump Acquitted”. I couldn’t even pick it up and bring it inside. I just left it lying there. I knew it was coming, but just like when you hear of someone’s death who you knew was dying, the fact that it was preordained makes it no easier to bear. Although the verdict in the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history was never in doubt, I still find it sickening. The evidence clearly proved that Donald Trump coerced a foreign government to interfere in our election for his personal political benefit, placing his personal interest above our national interests. I also believe that the president deliberately obstructed Congress by blocking testimony from witnesses and the production of documents during the course of the investigation.

I will fight if the time comes because the stakes are historically high, but I’m old now, and I don’t mind admitting I’m tired. So, Millenials, if you truly want to make a difference, now is your chance to save America. VOTE. Use your votes. Use them to change what is happening in this country and thereby change the world. Democracy is counting on you.