But the transition to the grown-ups table is more than a right of passage. It represents opportunities for access to resources, in this case the good food, the control of when the meal begins, and the privilege of setting the schedule for the rest of the evening. For now, however, I still sit at the kids’ table, along with my college-aged sisters and even an older cousin and her spouse. I probably won’t get to the grown-ups table until one of my family members dies, which I don’t wish for any of them.

Wanting to spend a holiday meal at the grown-ups table is one thing. When it comes to our government and society, however, the lack of youth at the grown-ups table is more problematic. For it’s at the grown-ups table where real discussions happen and decisions are made that affect people’s lives. Throughout U.S. history, many different groups and interests have asked for a seat at that table: the table of access, of privilege and of power. For a long time the table was completely dominated by white, aristocratic, elderly men.

The passage of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution gave African Americans the opportunity to sit at the table. But it took more than one hundred years for the nation to overcome its hatred and brutality, and actually allow African-Americans to take a seat.

With the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which allowed women the right to vote, gender was ruled out as a basis for excluding someone from the table. And here again, although we were legally allowed to be apart of the conversation, women were discouraged from taking an active part in the political process. Many years passed before women were allowed to take a seat at the table.

More people today are sitting at the table than ever before. America recently elected its first black president, a position that puts him at the head of the table. Other underrepresented groups, such as Gays and Lesbians, are making their voices heard, demanding a place at the grown-ups table. They may not make up a majority of the table, but many interest groups have at least one seat, which affords them a voice in the national dialogue and decision-making process.

On the other hand, today’s youth are continually left out of the discussions and, more importantly, the process of choosing what actions to take that determine our country’s future. Yes, any U.S. citizen who is eighteen and older can legally vote, but how can one expect Generation Y to participate in a process that largely disregards their interests and capitalizes on their perceived unawareness and indifference.

Yet, getting youth to the table is so vital to the present and future success of this great nation. Younger generations are the ones who will fill the full effects of policies implemented today. If Generation Y takes an active role in influencing those policies, we will probably be in a better position to deal with the consequences.

Perhaps the Social Security mess we’re in today could have been avoided if baby-boomers were brought into the conversation when these policies were being formulated, instead of them having to deal with its repercussions and surmounting limitations.  Imagine a nation where its leaders consulted and worked with the youth on the country’s education policies.

Fortunately, there have been triumphs in engaging and involving the youth of this generation. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign was a remarkable example of this.  His success and ability to excite the members of Generation Y stemmed from the fact that he made engaging and mobilizing youth a big priority. 

And although this remains a priority for President Obama, how do we ensure that future leaders and institutions continue doing the same thing? It is clear that we must find some way to institutionalize youth involvement on a local, state, national, and international level. I’m not arguing for drastic, Constitution-altering measures. I’m merely asking for youth to be made a priority in this nation.  

The invitation is only half the battle, however. Generation Y also needs to feel like we were invited because our opinions and insights are valuable. We don’t want to feel that we are just desired for show or to fulfill some top-down requirement. Older generations need to communicate that they believe in the value of engaging today’s youth and demonstrate that they take us seriously. If that happens, we will show up to voice our opinions and fight for them.

One must also consider who controls the access to the table. Whites gave citizenship to African Americans. Men gave women the right to vote. The older generations invite the young. Why can’t it be the other way around? Why can’t the youth engage the older generations? Why can’t America have both?

No related posts.

You did not win my vote, but you’ve won my respect. And even though you are not from my party, you are without a doubt the president of my generation; just as Reagan was for my parents’ generation, like Kennedy was for my grandparents, and Franklin D. Roosevelt for my great-grandparents. These great men were able to accomplish revolutionary feats and there’s a lot to be learned from their examples.

Keep Citizens Engaged:
Your campaign engaged and mobilized voters in a way never seen before. You’ve brought many people to the table for the first time; you’ve excited my generation, and we are awake and ready to participate in the political process. And this is truly impressive.

You’ve turned the spotlight on the presidency in a way not seen since John F. Kennedy’s time. Kennedy, together with his wife and young children, was able to revitalize the White House, bringing long missing energy and beauty.

This spotlight is not always welcome. But it will allow you to keep Americans informed and in tune with what you’re doing, which will prove crucial in trying to move your complex legislative agenda through Congress.

Also, like Kennedy, you have engaged and inspired today’s youth. Learn from Kennedy’s example and continue to make my generation feel important. FDR used Fireside Chats and Ron Paul used YouTube to reach across the generation gap. During the transition, you have used YouTube and your Web site to communicate with us on a fairly regular basis. I hope you will continue to talk to us once you assume the presidency.

Keeping us engaged will be a real challenge, but we are hopeful.

Keep America Hopeful:
It will be easy for Americans to turn increasingly fearful with the continued failure of the economy and multiple wars abroad. Unfortunately, we no longer trust the words of present leaders and desperately need a president who can inspire us — tell us to keep going and not be fearful.

FDR was able to rally the nation in the midst of an economic depression. And however ineffectual his New Deal was, he was not only able to get Americans behind these initiatives, but also able to get them to believe that these efforts were working. With the same leadership, he was also able to bravely lead a united nation into a foreign war.

Similarly Reagan, in the midst of the Cold War, was able to garner support for increasing the U.S.’s defenses against the Soviet Union, a move that led not only to a gradual improvement in U.S.-Soviet relations, but the eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the end of Communism.

Those leaders that have come before have shown that even in the most bleak of circumstances, Americans can remain hopeful and united. And, as evident from campaign 2008, your words are powerful. We listen to them and, even more importantly, we believe them. You have an opportunity to bring us together.

Your strong rhetoric, which I rolled my eyes at during the general election, will now prove useful.

Avoid Partisanship and Make Real Change:
Partisan bickering can be a distraction. If you can’t separate yourself from the partisan mess, you will lose support from a huge population of the electorate, including me. Real change won’t happen unless you reach across party lines like the great presidents before you, like Abraham Lincoln.

Avoid blaming your current challenges on past administrations. True, you have had little impact on what is happening in the nation and the world today. But voters have chosen you to change these things, not to cast blame if you can’t. America is your responsibility now. Own it.

Americans have asked for change and given you a mandate, although your 365 electoral votes pale in comparison to Reagan’s 525 in 1984. We have high expectations.

As Reagan remarked to the nation on the evening of the loss of the space shuttle Challenger in January 1986, “The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.” This generation is ready. It only remains to be seen if you’ll be the one to step up and lead us.

Related posts:

1. A lesson in failed leadership