Now that the election is over, it is time to continue to see what the next generation believes its position within our Republic will be; Kathryn’s paper is next!
(Picture credit: Alan Glassman; class picture with John Stephen)
Previous submissions (this is number four): Peter, Maggie, Laura.
Yes, in fact, my generation IS America’s future. Our everyday choices in life such as voting, holding signs, our religious beliefs, following the law, and training to become good leaders are very important in shaping America’s tomorrows. We have a responsibility to our elders who will not be with us in the coming years. People in the future will look back at what we do now, just as we look back at the actions of our past leaders. We can make a difference in the future of our country by the decisions we make right now.
Voting is one of the best ways to secure the leaders that we want in our government in the years to come. Although some of us are too young to vote, we can still help in the process of choosing the right candidates. One way of doing this is getting signs to hold at street corners or to put in our front yards. Before we do this however, we should make sure that we do research on all the candidates to make sure we are choosing the best ones. Another thing we can do is talk to our parents about who they are voting for and discuss their reasons.
Our religious beliefs…
…are another way we can affect the future of America. If we are faithful to our religion, we will be more likely to bring up our children with good morals which, in turn, will help future generations. Christianity, Catholicism, and Judaism are the most prominent religions in America. Each of these religions considers human life to be very valuable. They also teach that all human life, from the pre-born to the elderly, should be respected. Most, if not all, religions teach their followers to obey the law. Many laws have been founded on the principles of the Ten Commandments. Some examples of these are: It is against the law to murder, steal, and bear false witness. Citizens who follow these principles will be more likely to live together peaceably.
This leads us to another important point: obeying the law. No matter what we do, my peers and I will make a difference in the future of America. One way to make sure that we make a positive difference is to live and abide by the rules given to us by our leaders. This doesn’t necessarily mean only the big laws. All of our laws, from the small ones like going the speed limit and not littering, to the big ones like paying our taxes and entering the country legally, were made to help us maintain order in America.
Another way we can ensure we make America all that it can be is to talk to our elders and veterans and ask them how they’ve seen government change over the years. We can learn from their mistakes and imitate the good examples.
As I researched this topic I came across this quote, “Many of today’s ‘leaders’ do not actually want to lead; they just want to be the highest person in authority. That is not leadership, it is celebrity. True leaders want to lead people to make a difference and to stand up for what is right.” This statement comes from the philosophy of Generation Joshua, a national organization that encourages and helps teens get involved in political leadership on both local and national levels.
If my generation is diligent in respecting the laws and leaders of America, we will have a bright future.
