The year 2020 has been without a doubt a very trying year for not only America but the entire world. With COVID-19, climate change, and other issues, it's only logical that American citizens are experiencing stress and low morale. On top of that, the presidential elections are taking place this year which makes the decision of who is going to be the leader of our nation even more crucial. The University of California surveyed people from the ages of 18-24 about their plans for the election and pleasantly, 60% of youth surveyed claimed that because of all the crises in America, they were motivated to vote early by mail-in ballots. The combination of the vicious reports of police brutality throughout the year and COVID-19 response are among the main concerns of American youth. The killing of George Floyd raised national demand for the government to combat the horrific acts of violence committed by police towards African-Americans and other people of color. Additionally, the outbreak of the coronavirus has put many families in poverty as well as ended businesses, so seeing the youth of the country recognize and demand change for these problems is a reassurance. Although there are many problems that still need to be addressed, the first step is to make sure that the nation deals with the current issues at hand and voting is the first step. As an American youth yourself - how do you feel the current state of American politics in addition to the pandemic has influenced your political view? How do you think the trend of American youth participating in politics will look like in future?
I don't know if my view of our government has worsened or if my eyes have just been opened wider to what's really going on in our country. You hear about America and it's all "we live in the greatest country in the world." You watch some sci-fi futuristic movie where Earth is under attack by aliens and the US is this giant powerhouse of a country that saves the world. Maybe I want that to be true. Maybe we all want that to be true. But with everything that's happened this year, it gets harder and harder to do that. You hear the word "police" and you think of a guardian-- someone who will keep you safe, someone you can trust-- but that just doesn't seem like a reality anymore. I mean, who thought people would be PROTESTING the POLICE? Then there's COVID-19. Maybe it's not the government that's the problem, maybe it's the people. Though, shouldn't the government be protecting the people? But it can't even get people to stay inside and wear masks! We are in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC and some people adamantly believe it's a "Democratic hoax." Maybe I thought the government could do more or was more powerful than it is. Or, maybe this is just an unfortunate example of how terribly inefficient it can be.
ReplyDeleteVoting seems like one positive, though. Hopefully, with more young people voting this year, that trend continues to increase. It seems likely that once more people have gotten themselves involved that they’ll stay involved or even get others to be involved too.
I totally agree with your statement on having your eyes opened up to what's really happening, I think that the more mature and exposed you are to what's actually happening the more disappointed you get when faced with reality. I also feel like a lot of the younger population is beginning to get involved in voting which will hopefully cause an increase in overall voters.
DeleteAs an American youth, I think that today's current issues and events have influenced my political view by enforcing the importance of voting. These are issues that have directly affected me and many other young people in our country, the fact that, in just a couple of years, we can influence what's happening to our country and what's happening to us, should be cause the form political opinions and get excited to vote. I think that the trend of youth American politics will continue to grow in the coming years, people are starting to see how important it is for everyone, who is eligible, to cast their vote and have a voice on what's happening in our society. The youth use of media is also going to help spread awareness for voting, and will probably encourage more people to submit register and use their voice in democracy.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a really young kid living in America, I remember being in awe by what we had accomplished and what we were able to for the betterment of our nation and its inhabitance. how easily my childish view was shattered showed me how much how eyes had been closed to what has been happening for years and years. The people we were told to trust and were told would protect us, kill many for some racial discriminations. As we step closer and closer into the grave, we just start to realize that we need to get away from it. Even in the midst of a global pandemic which has killed over a million people now, we still deny that it is a problem and decide that there are bigger problems. We choose to keep our eyes closed and we chose our death, We as Americans need to ensure that no other's must suffer from the pandemic, from racism and from the countless problems we face.
ReplyDeleteThe current state of American politics and the pandemic have influenced my political views and my interest in the current election. The past four years have also opened my eyes to the current problems that plague our country, for example, racial discrimination, immigration, healthcare, environmental destruction, and many other serious issues. I believe that the trend of American youth participating in politics will continue to increase in the future, as more people realize that they have the power to help shape the country they want to live in, by being the voice for change. One common inaccurate belief is that a single vote does not matter, however that is false as the youth in this country makeup half the voting population, which means that every vote can have a powerful influence. All youth currently eligible to vote, should take advantage and use it to express their opinions and concerns surrounding the country’s current and future affairs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauryn and Sakshi that the amount of youth participating in voting will continue to increase. Especially with social media, people are becoming more aware of the issues our nation is facing at an earlier age. Also, there seems to be a lot more youth activism in our generation. I've seen many people in our generation set up or participate in protests, speak against injustice, and try to spread information about political issues online. The younger generations seem to be very invested in creating a better future and I think that will significantly affect the amount of voters in the years to come as politically active parents tend to instill those same beliefs in their children. As our generation grows up, I believe we will teach our children the value of using their voices and the importance of participating in democracy.
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