I grew up in Berkeley in the 60s and 70s. As a child, I was aware of the ongoing struggle to make this country and this world a better, freer, more humane, more just, and more harmonious world. I learned about the people who stood up and spoke against the sins of our society. I joined peace marches, attended integrated schools, and had soul-searching conversations with my girlfriends about how we would advance the cause of women.
The torch burned brightly when those Berkeley radicals passed it to me. In recent years, its light has been dimmer. I’ve had moments when I’ve been afraid that the torch might burn out completely.
My 16-year-old daughter posted this on her LiveJournal yesterday:
| I see these old sci-fi films and see some things that, frankly, I consider barbaric. Oh, Trek’s not utterly backwards, but still. And my mum keeps reminding me that back then those things weren’t considered barbaric. It’s scary to realise that when I see Han Solo committing sexual harassment in Star Wars, it wasn’t even terminology that had been invented when the film was made.
Then I think, I used to believe that war didn’t happen. I still have trouble realising that actually, my freedom can be taken away. I can’t fathom the idea of not being able to vote when I turn 18. I honestly used to think that racism was strictly a thing of the past. I still can’t believe any of these things, really. And then I look around and realise that the majority of people my age and even a decade or two older think the same way. Why is feminism not a liberal issue any more? Because people, both men and women, think that it’s over. Why is racism not a mainstream issue at all? Because people think it’s only practiced by old-fashioned rednecks. Why were people so shocked by 9/11? Because we believed, all of us, that there was no danger for our nation any more. When people assume that all the evil is in the past and that nowadays people are too modern to do the horrible things people do, when people assume that “oh, it can’t happen here,” when people forget that the past is not over and that history does repeat itself, then we lose what so many people fought to gain. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to give up what millions of people suffered for to make my children repeat that fight. I will damn’ well hold on to what I’ve got and not let myself take it for granted, because the future deserves better. |
I think that she and her generation are going to need every ounce of that fighting spirit to get through the struggles of their times.
I want to express my thank you to your daughter. She seems very astute in her observations. I want those like her to remain at the helm of this “carrying the torch” for it is she and others like her that is MY future and I do not want that light to be dimmed or go out, ever. It is for that light that shines brightly that keeps everything into its perspective that we do make advances to humankind.
This broad statement goes without being said, of course. I have a very disturbing feeling that those who take things for granet, are very foolish as to what their rights are. Just read the diaries here and at other sites. They are the warnings to those young, that it is an ongoing process and that we have to ever be vigilent on this civil rights issues for us all, no matter what civil right you fall under…it affects us all..all races, both genders, all religious beliefs, and so forth. This is what I see today happening, the fact that there are those out there that want us to quiet our voices and hearts …and that it is of great importance to them that this happen so that their agenda is proclaimed as law.
Something is wrong with this mind set. I believe with those like your daughter, we still have faith in the future, and our human kind.
Please tell her for me, I really do appreciate that in her..and that it means a lot for me to know this. God’s speed I hand her my torch. CHARGE AHEAD!!!!!!
Your daughter is a treasure! I hope there are many more out there with her spirit and conviction.
Very impressive writing from a 16 year old, and very impressive parenting from you!
I also grew up in the 70’s and remember when it seemed like everybody was liberal or progressive. In those days it was considered desirable to possess qualities such as caring for your commmunity or your neighbor. Now these very same qualities are somehow being seen as “Anti-American.” What happened? It all seemed to change with Reagan.
But today I have felt more hopeful than I have in a long time. The winds of change do seem to be whistling through the trees right now. And it looks like your daughter will be right there and ready to hop on it and fly.
Oh that your daughter hang on to her beliefs and ideals. “Teach Your Children Well” and you my friend have. It has been a very emotional day for me. One of hope and despair at the same time. So much hope after the Conyers’ Forum today. So much despair that the RWMSM barely mentioned it if at all. I know NBC Nightly did not and I want to know why not. Hope seeing Conyers standing at the gate of the WH with”our” signatures. Despair that we have such a wacked out President. I am drained. I will go to bed now and hope to wake up over at Froggy Bottom Cafe to the smell of Cinabuns and freshed brewed coffee.