Hey, politicians: Listen to the younger voices
The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Fla., have inspired a nationwide movement campaigning for gun control. Wake County students followed suit and supported this movement by walking out of their classrooms during school time. I was especially proud to see the actions of the students at my alma mater, Enloe High School. These protests have captured the attention and the hearts of so many people throughout the nation, but have followed the vicious cycle in which the final result is inaction from politicians.
Audiences around the world have witnessed emotional speeches and cries from young children who crave change so they can feel safe attending their schools. But we still have yet to see sweeping gun reform that would make U.S. schools safer. Imagine what our country would look like if the government actually listened to youth voices and engaged its youth population with political issues.
This summer, I have been learning more about the European Union as an intern in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. During this internship, I participated in the European Youth Event in Strasbourg, France, at the beginning of June. This event brought together 8,000 young people from different countries and political parties; all participants were between the ages of 16 and 30. During this event, members of the European Parliament participated in panels, lead discussions and answered questions from the young audience about issues such as climate change, voter mobilization, and the rise of populism. Even the president of the European Parliament shared his excitement about this youth-focused event in his speech during the opening ceremony.
Some of the programs provided attendees with the opportunity work in teams to craft concrete ideas that would be shared with the members. Our ideas will be presented to members of Parliament to provide them with youth input.
How incredible is it that the European Union institutions seriously consider youth voices on a wide variety of issues? Much like the EU, youth voices are very powerful in the United States. Throughout American history, young people have worked tirelessly to influence government decisions, most often through protest. Four young men from N.C. A&T State University initiated the sit-in movement in our own state. Three women in their late 20s and early 30s brought Black Lives Matter movement to its prominence as a response to police shootings of young black men and women across the country. And today we have young students like Emma González and David Hogg leading walk-outs to advocate for improved gun control laws.
Despite the powerful initiative from youth throughout American history, it does not seem as though the U.S. government has worked to engage young people in policy-making and political discussion. It feels as though politicians limit their youth engagement to delivering speeches on campuses, offering unpaid internships that are only accessible to a specific demographic of students, and sharing their thoughts and prayers after any tragedy that affects the American youth.
It may be worth it for the U.S. government to take a page out of the EU’s book. Youth voices are powerful, and they deserve to be elevated. Better youth engagement from the government can challenge students to reach across the aisle and discuss solution to policy issues. Additionally, engaging young people will help keep politicians better in touch with their constituents and advances in modern technology so they can better communicate with young constituents. Lastly, when young folks feel valued by the institutions made to serve them, they are more likely to vote when it comes time for Election Day.
Through programs like the European Youth Event, the European Union demonstrates how much it values its youth population. It is time for the United States to do the same.