A LTTE from a 16 year old. Are we doomed?

I was looking in yesterday's paper and found this letter from a 16 (1/2) year old. I know this isn't typical, I HOPE this isn't typical.

" I am 16½ years old with most of my life ahead of me. But every day I become more and more disheartened about becoming active in government.

Politicians have discouraged my generation from being actively involved in government. They have droned on far too long about family values, religious topics, drugs, gay rights and abortion. Overall, my generation doesn't care about these "issues." We're more concerned about the environment (which no one seems to be doing anything about, except for making documentaries), Iraq and catching Osama bin Laden!

And the simple fact remains that, if the Republicans and Democrats would stop arguing about meaningless "issues," my generation would be more interested in the government. Instead, they distract and bore us. And, as long as they don't represent our true feelings and concerns, we simply are not going to care. Perhaps if lawmakers weren't such busybodies, people would not care about homosexuality and religious issues.

I admit it's not only the politicians' fault, but the voters' fault, too. They bring up the "issues" and vote these people into office. Then everyone complains that young people are disengaged. Well, stop arguing, come together and discuss something that we care about."

http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/118500689085591.xml&coll=2


Man, at that age, I was aware of those "issues" and more. What the hell are kids like this looking for? What is an issue to them? Oh yeah, catching Osama bin Laden :crazy:

I am hoping the new generation will help put a stop to the crap going on when they become of age. I was young during the 60s and yes your country can be corrected if we can stop King George like we did in the 1700's

As a member of the 60s generation I know the culture can be told "clean up the mess you made".

Of course they are not our issues.

They were selected because they appeal to Repiglickins.

is producing the dumbest kids yet. If you're pinning your hopes on the kids, get ready for President Lohan.

:spray:

That's funny.... sadly.

to have an opinion about things. People that young are not usually engaged enough to feel compelled to write a ltter to the editor. He/she will improve with time.

Well, enough to write a letter saying he isn't interested in politics.

I guess I was just thinking about myself at 16. And now I have nephews who are teens and they care about some of the issues that this kid doesn't want to hear about.

not always like this. She is assuming that this family values thing has always been the way of both pugs and Dems. I am old enough to remember that time and it was often led by the Dems who stood for the worker, the poor, the environment and other issues. pugs have almost always stood for big business and the rich.

I have grandchildren who are not involved in politics but they have enough sense to listen to those of us who are. To just set this out is to do exactly what the pugs want the youth to do.

They care about the environment and Iraq, that I can see. I wish they could understand and care about human rights (not just catching Osama). At 16 I was aware and extremely frustrated at the older generation that just wanted to have a decent job and mow their lawns on the weekend. I was extremely frustrated with politicians playing politics rather than actually helping do good things.

It's not an issue for most of them because they don't get all the anger/hatred that is evoked in others.

I'm not saying that's what this kid means, but that's how mostly it is with the ones I know.

Until after they had been selected by politicians as issues.

I know plenty of Adults who also say, "They have droned on far too long about family values, religious topics, drugs, gay rights and abortion."

Politicians don't attempt to represent the majority of Americans. They only attempt to catch the attention of those they think they can influence to the polls to vote for them. Can you imagine how hard that would be if most of America were actually voting? Then politicians would have to change how they run elections.

... it seems like a typically good first pass at starting an op ed conversation between the generations. I wonder what the Plaindealer will run in follow-up. Lots of times, these letters are chosen to engage such discussion.

Depending upon where you are in SW Pennsylvania, you'll find lots of young adulsts like that 16+ y.o. WANT a little guidance and discussion, regardless of how their letter comes off. How many of us even wrote letters to the editor at that age?

I'll admit when I was 16, I didn't have a friggen clue, but that was 1970. :hippie:

In hindsite, I would have loved the challenge and engaged conversation. When you expect a lot from these kids, you usuallly get it.

I think it is good that the kid wrote in and maybe he will keep trying to get involved. As someone else posted, there are adults like this too, so I shouldn't be alarmed.

... this kid, but they either stay in their limited little worlds, and are not even curious enough when entering the electronic age to find any discussion or diversity of opinion (that's why I like DU in particular).

I hope you see something in response to this letter, or maybe write into that paper in response, if that's your home paper.

:hippie: - Peace!