Oh hey, snowflake.
I’m sorry, was that too combative? I don’t mean to come off combative, I just wanted to get your attention.
I’m not exactly sure if I count as a millennial. I was born in 1984, and I’ve heard that everywhere from as early as 1978 to as late as 1990 being the official start for the “millennial generation.” I personally would argue it starts roughly somewhere around 1986-1988. Anyone born from 1980-1985 like me is kind of in this vague gray area. That also puts this “gray area” in the 17-21 age range when 9/11 happened, and I think that collectively, people in that college-age range (at the time) processed that differently than others. So I’m sort of a millennial, I don’t know if I consider myself one, but for argument’s sake let’s say I am.
“I'm sure some will read this and try and find the best combination of 140 characters to express their outrage.”
I’m sure some will read this and try and find the best combination of 140 characters to express their outrage. Or self-proclaimed social justice warriors will take issue with certain points I’m here to make. So let me get this out of the way. Remember in 8 Mile when B-Rabbit sucks the wind out of Papa Doc’s sails during the final rap battle? The moment he runs down all the characteristics of himself that Papa Doc can use against him? I’ll do that too. I’m a cis-gendered, straight, white male from New England. There, throw the white/male privilege at me all you want. Just do me a favor: For the sake of my three kids, read what I have to say and think about it.
I’m primarily a writer by choice, and a digital content producer by occupation. But I’m also a student of history. I was an AP history student, I’m the child of history majors and I took history and politics classes for fun in college. Much of the literature I read is nonfiction history, foreign policy and politics. I try and stay away from really biased news outlets like U.S. Uncut or Breitbart. I’ll look at them to see what kind of spin is taking place, but I try and take an analytical and thoughtful approach to the world, politics and social issues.
Make no mistake, this post is about the election and only the election. Let me make that clear. There are a plethora of other issues facing the generation and those to come, but this is about the 2016 election.
What’s happening right now is that we are facing one of the single most important elections in U.S. history. The very fabric of the American system is being tested to the absolute limits. Extremists have taken over a party that used to be based primarily on being fiscally conservative. There’s also been a rush of absolutism that is really disconcerting when it comes to the baseline of American politics, and the idea of America as a whole.
With this is mind, there’s a very important message that must be delivered to (my maybe fellow) millennials: No one owes us a damn thing.
I’ve seen this statement a number of times from millennial voters: “Hillary Clinton needs to earn my support.”
That is the biggest crock of entitled garbage I’ve ever heard in American politics. Respect is earned, but part of that respect is the duty to do what’s right for the greater good. Look, I’m an idealist too, FDR’s New Deal always sounds great to me, but I also understand how the cookie crumbles. I’d argue millennials need to do a better job paying attention to real issues with pragmatism and not blind, self-righteous absolutism. Millennials are not to blame for Trump ― that’s the Tea Party, along with general racism and stupidity ― but millennials aren’t paying attention to the broader spectrum and what history has taught us about ourselves as an imperfect nation that is perpetually fighting to improve.
“Millennials need to do a better job paying attention to real issues with pragmatism and not blind, self-righteous absolutism.”
When it comes to presidential politics, you don’t get a participation trophy for voting, but your vote does absolutely count. Turnout matters and honestly, at this point, no one needs to earn your support. As an American citizen with the free power to vote, it’s YOUR job to research the issues and vote for that which benefits the greater good. Presidential voting isn’t about you. It’s about upholding American freedoms and ideals for the greater good and not allowing people like Donald Trump to usurp everything we’ve built and fought for. So if you’re one of these self-proclaimed social justice warriors, there is no greater social justice in 2016 than voting for Hillary Clinton and ensuring Donald Trump loses badly.
Let me be as clear about this as I can: Hillary Clinton needs to win the White House on November 8. If you supported Bernie Sanders, if you identify yourself as a progressive or a liberal, Clinton is your choice. I get it, she’s not your ideal candidate ― I wish Joe Biden ran or we could get a real Obama third-term ― but any protest vote or third party vote just proves the general naivety of the generation and is just a vote for Trump. It proves that somewhere along the line, history failed to resonate with you either out of your own general indifference, or because the bubble you’ve created for yourself on social media tells you that everything is a conspiracy.
“I get it, she’s not your ideal candidate, but any protest vote or third party vote just proves the general naivety of the generation and is just a vote for Trump.”
The choice is between the Democrat and the Republican. Gary Johnson is a Libertarian in name only because he likes marijuana and Jill Stein is an insane person. Voting for Johnson or Stein is voting for Donald Trump. If you don’t think that’s true, open up your smartphone and Google “Ralph Nader.”
Donald Trump represents a very real threat to America — our very ideals and everything we’ve ever fought for. He’s the antithesis of the American Dream. He’s an entitled, trust-funded baby, not a champion of the people. And yes, he’s a racist, xenophobic, nationalist that has failed at every business venture he’s ever attempted. He and his surrogates are pathological liars and the threat of him rounding up anyone who dissents is very real.
The rhetoric Trump uses, the nationalism, racism and xenophobia is how tyrants and dictators rise to power. It was a major factor in how Hitler rose to power.
Again, I know Hillary Clinton may not be perfect. Quite frankly, no one ever will be the perfect candidate. Part of politics is compromise. Part of what makes America work is compromise. Hillary is absolutely the right choice for the majority of Americans. If you disagree because of some stalwart vision of what you think politics is supposed to be, take a look in the face of a threat like Donald Trump, it’s time to compromise. I guarantee you’ll sleep at night and your conscience will be fine when Hillary wins. But if Trump wins? You may have to sleep with the lights on lest his storm troopers come for you in the middle of the night because you sent a mean tweet.
I’m old enough to remember 2000 very well. When everyone thought Al Gore would win. But third party protest votes ate into his lead and ultimately contributed greatly to his losing the election. What was the result? One of the worst and most catastrophic presidencies of all-time. Bush’s failings go far beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. He left us economically crippled, the education system in shambles and literally looked down on people who needed him to be on the ground for moral support following a natural disaster. We’ve made a lot of progress under President Obama and if Donald Trump wins the White House, all of that is lost. America is lost.
I can understand why millennials are wary of Hillary Clinton. This is a woman who has been in the spotlight and attacked by opponents since before many of us were born. She’s lived her entire life public service. Yes, there are some bumps and potholes in the road, and I certainly don’t agree with her on every issue. But when you sit down and actually dig into her real record and the reality of who she is, what she stands for and what she has accomplished, you’re going to find the portrait of a woman drastically different than what is portrayed by the mainstream media, Republicans and your Facebook feed.
In 2008 and 2012, I supported President Obama feverishly. He’s been a great President in my opinion and I am saddened he can no longer be our leader. In 2015 and early 2016, my support was firmly behind Bernie Sanders. But when I sat down to dig into proposals and policies, there was much more substance to Hillary Clinton because that is who she is – a policy wonk with an uncanny understanding of our government. The more research I did looking to go on the attack and prop up Bernie Sanders, the more I discovered about Hillary Clinton, the lies about her and the general fact that she is extraordinarily qualified for the job.
I’m not going to sit here and try to convince you. But I’m going to implore you to look up real facts. I know it’s hard, you’re going to have to do some legwork and real research, but what you will find is a woman so devoted to this country that even under a microscope and treated with double standards for decades, she is still fighting for the American people. Donald Trump has already done a great deal of damage by exposing the worst in all of us. It’s also a damning indictment of us as a nation that he is even being considered to be the leader of the free world.
Do America a favor. Research the candidates in your state and local elections. Then show up at your polling place on November 8 and vote for Hillary Clinton. Don’t throw the power of your presidential vote away on a third party or for Donald Trump. Then vote down the ballot for those candidates you researched that you liked – state and local elections are incredibly important because in American politics, that’s where the change starts and happens.
This isn’t about you. This isn’t about having the entitlement of someone earning your support. Election 2016 is about saving and continuing to improve the American experiment.
Don’t blow it.