There’s that old phrase that youth is wasted on the young.
Someone should have that to the mass of youth that have descended upon D.C.
to “Stand Up for Freedom.” The young people attending this conference would pass a civil liberties test with flying colors, and aren’t wasting their youth. They are making the most of it by
equipping themselves to fight the civil liberties battles that they
will fight now and into the future.
They ask brilliant questions showing that they are informed about the
world in which they live. How did these folks become so
aware? I blame rap music.
These are the kind of young people that listen to music that inspires
them to action. These are the young people who don’t judge
peers because of their sexual orientation. More importantly,
these are the kind of young people who know not only should they not be
ashamed of their orientation, they should be proud.
They know that asking questions is the best way to learn.
They also know that the most patriotic act is protecting the liberties
of their peers in the face of popular opinon and government
oppression. Youth isn’t wasted on them and they certainly are
not wasting their youth.
I figure I have about a good 35 years of civil liberties work left in
me. (Of course, I fully expect the death penalty to be
abolished way before 35 years.) These students have an entire lifetime
of freedom fighting ahead of them. They are the type of young
people I like to believe that I was once. I wasn’t. I
was never as cool as they are. They are fun to talk to and
fun to learn from.
Now that I think about it, since we will end capital
punishment within the 35 working years I have left, I’m going to need a
job. These students will be my future employers.
Pardon me, I have to go network with my future bosses.
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