"You can be disappointed, but you cannot walk away"
To the voters of my generation:
Well, it's all over. The election that was touted as one of the biggest of our lifetime has come and gone. Whether your candidate won or lost, promise me that you'll remember.
Remember that we sparred and disagreed and fought and debated.
Remember that we protested and rallied and stood up for what we believed in.
Remember that no matter which side we took, this whole thing made everyone cling closer to their values.
Remember that how much passion this ignited within all of us.
Remember that, despite what flawed statistics CNN is throwing at us, we raised our voices in record numbers.
Remember that even when we had to wait as long as 5 hours, some of us in the rain, we waited in line, just to be heard. The last people to cast their votes in this country were a bunch of college students in Columbus, Ohio, who stuck it out until 4 am.
Remember that we sat, biting our nails, glued to CNN. Trying to stay up all night. Feeling like we'd been watching a 12-hour suspense film.
Remember that so many of us voted for the first time in our lives.
Remember that we were so proud to say we voted, even if our candidate lost.
Remember that for the first time, we all felt like we were part of something.
So many people say that our generation never stands up for what we believe in. That we never had our Vietnam, our Civil Rights movement. Despite what CNN is trying to make everyone think, we're beginning to prove them wrong. Of course only 1 in 10 voters was 18-24. You based it on exit polls. Most 18-24 year olds are in college. We primarily vote absentee. Whatever they try to say, never before have I seen such passion, such conviction, and such enthusiasm among my generation about political issues as I have in the past few months.
Tell your children about this. Tell them how this election ignited passion in us all. Tell them that you were part of something important, even if it didn't go the way you wanted.
And above all, remember this passion and don't let it die. Keep fighting for what you believe in. Even when you lose.
Well, it's all over. The election that was touted as one of the biggest of our lifetime has come and gone. Whether your candidate won or lost, promise me that you'll remember.
Remember that we sparred and disagreed and fought and debated.
Remember that we protested and rallied and stood up for what we believed in.
Remember that no matter which side we took, this whole thing made everyone cling closer to their values.
Remember that how much passion this ignited within all of us.
Remember that, despite what flawed statistics CNN is throwing at us, we raised our voices in record numbers.
Remember that even when we had to wait as long as 5 hours, some of us in the rain, we waited in line, just to be heard. The last people to cast their votes in this country were a bunch of college students in Columbus, Ohio, who stuck it out until 4 am.
Remember that we sat, biting our nails, glued to CNN. Trying to stay up all night. Feeling like we'd been watching a 12-hour suspense film.
Remember that so many of us voted for the first time in our lives.
Remember that we were so proud to say we voted, even if our candidate lost.
Remember that for the first time, we all felt like we were part of something.
So many people say that our generation never stands up for what we believe in. That we never had our Vietnam, our Civil Rights movement. Despite what CNN is trying to make everyone think, we're beginning to prove them wrong. Of course only 1 in 10 voters was 18-24. You based it on exit polls. Most 18-24 year olds are in college. We primarily vote absentee. Whatever they try to say, never before have I seen such passion, such conviction, and such enthusiasm among my generation about political issues as I have in the past few months.
Tell your children about this. Tell them how this election ignited passion in us all. Tell them that you were part of something important, even if it didn't go the way you wanted.
And above all, remember this passion and don't let it die. Keep fighting for what you believe in. Even when you lose.