This past Saturday, over 1,000 people inflated Centennial Hall with their cheers and their passion. At 17, I was rendered unable to caucus, but allowed to help shepherd the horde of voters and pass out caucus registration forms until its start, and later, observe the vast sea of Bernie supporters from House District 33 and 34 enliven at his victory.
While volunteering, I was thanked on multiple occasions for simply being a teenager interested in politics. And with each expression of gratitude I wanted to respond – I wanted to thank everyone in the building for participating in the caucus.
Yet, as proud as I was of our small town coming together to lend its voice, it still struck me that those present were only one small drop out of our electoral ocean. Or, more precisely, three small drops. That day, only 3 percent of Juneau came to voice their opinions on the future of our nation.
Though I was inspired each time I greeted a new person jumping, for the first time, into the world of politics, I was also devastated to learn how many voted in comparison to those who had not. In Alaska, as well as Washington and Hawaii, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ colossal win has added more flame to his revolution. But, we are in dire need of another political revolution: a coup d’état of the negative stigma surrounding politics that enshrouds our youth’s brains.
Today, the vast majority of Americans do not participate in politics because a lack of a political education has taught us to be fearful of it. Because we were not given enough education or encouragement to be more engaged at a young age, many feel that their own involvement would only do harm. Though frequently, as a youth, I am told that I am the future, we are rarely given sufficient enough information to better understand the political beast, and even rarer given the tools that are essential in taming it. Thus, we are left stuck in an inescapable quandary as we wait at the mercy of the monster.
It is crucial that this cloud of unawareness disperse, as it impedes our people’s ability to ground our politicians when there is an issue to be solved. If our youth are to step up to the challenge of fixing the many problems of our nation, we must first have access to the education needed to create our podium. Education must start at an earlier age and become more comprehensive with the passing of each stage. As knowledge is built, the individual will become more confident in their ability to choose a worthy presidential candidate or when researching a legislative bill. We can no longer expect an 18-year-old to make informed political choices with only a broad overview of government from middle school and a semester-long government class in high school; this amount of information is too limited and would be too unfamiliar to the person to be drawn upon when making indelible decisions. Many high school seniors find caucuses and the electoral college confusing, and therefore unworthy of their time. But, by educating, we are encouraging more individuals to participate in the political process as they will be better equipped to understanding topics that before seemed incorporeal.
It is no question that our youth care – concerns are expressed daily in school hallways, along with the wish that our world improve. In March, upon hearing that their right to medically-accurate sexual education was being infringed, an assembly of teens came to testify against SB 191. Last year, teenage troops flooded the Capitol steps at the threat of activity cuts. Passion is easily instilled at the sight of a problem, but progress can only occur when the required tools for change are known and had. The question is how we turn thought into action, and with education, that question is easily answered. A more passionate and involved country is possible, but not without education. So, this letter is our call to arms, our signal to start preparing the army. We are all the future of our nation, and it is time to begin our own political revolution.
• Tasha Elizarde is a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School.
