As I sit here watching the inauguration coverage this morning, on our day off for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, I can't help but have a mix of emotions. As a teacher of social science I often have discussions in class about politics and the future with our future voters. Over the past ten years of my career I have noticed a huge change in how cynical and disheartened these young voters are becoming. They don't believe that they can help make a change by voting. They don't believe in the government setting out to help their lives get better. They believe that the politicians are all corrupt and selfish. So here is where my plea to you comes in: help change their minds.
I am asking to tone down the rhetoric that has been ratcheted up to sell ad space and copies. Politics should not be a reality show. Just because that is what gets the ratings for entertainment shows does not mean that we should turn our government into the same. Government is not to entertain us but to keep us safe and our country moving in the right direction. The media's job should be to inform without bias, not stir up a fight. We should call out the lies not perpetrate them further. The journalists are our eyes and ears to what is happening in government. We depend on them for the truth, not emotionally charged tirades. With all the access to "news" both real and made up, we need a string media to discern what is real and provide the people with strong sources of truth, not truth as you want to see it.
Throughout history people have fought for the right to vote. We have a democracy set up that allows power to be transferred peacefully, which is a feat so great that many countries never achieve it. As a teacher I try to impress this on my young students, the great futureof our country, and yet I'm me with opposition at every turn. It is getting harder for me to stand up for the government when every time I read the papers or watch the news it is a nonstop blame game. How will we continue to strive for excellence when we vow to go against anything the other party says? How is it that on this Inauguration Day we are already starting to speculate about the election of 2016? Why do we need election cycles to be so dramatic? Why can't it be honest debates for about 6 weeks prior to the election where we can get a clear view of the candidates positions, beliefs and solutions?
I'm asking for your help media officials, news team members and of course the government. Please don't create drama when civil discourse is better for he country. I'm not watching a sitcom I'm watching our great nation. Please help restore the faith in the government by working together on solutions. We expect this of our students in elementary school, sure.y we can count on you to do the same. Government should not be like the Super Bowl, World Series or any other sporting event with a win at all costs mentality. There are dire consequences for this behavior that include people getting discouraged and not voting. That letter after your name (R) or (D) should not mean more than the ones before (Sen. or Rep.).
We need these young citizens to see all the good the government has one, is doing and can do more of in the future. There are some truly amazing historical decisions made that have made our lives better. There are so many more decisions to be made. I am not saying healthy debate is bad, but it has to lead to decisions and compromise not name calling and ultimatums.
In order to keep this country great we depend on our future generations to continue our great traditions of government. We cannot afford to lose them while they are young and so hungry to learn. We must restore their faith.
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