In the past, you've roasted the youth for not being involved. Now they are and you call them stupid [View All]

What do you want from us?

I'm 30 - on the cusp of young-adult and middle age. I am getting sick and tired of being told that young people are stupid, gullible or shallow when they get involved in politics and support a candidate.

The media, the Democratic Party and people at DU have spent years bashing the youth for not being involved enough, and I had to put up with that even though I was involved. Now that young people are more active in this election season, the message has changed - young people still suck because when they support a candidate it must be because their too young or stupid to know the facts, they are just sucked in by sensationalism, etc.

I'm getting really tired of constantly being bashed by you people, by the media and by the Democratic Party. Yeah, I'm 30 now and starting to not "count" as youth anymore. But its been going on for a long time. What really makes me angry is this - here's what I've done in my youth:

-- earned a bachelor's degree and will be receiving my master's degree in social work shortly
-- run a state-wide political campaign
-- worked for the American Civil Liberties Union
-- Read 119 books on Politics, Economics, Globalization, International Political Theory
-- Been asked to speak or serve as panelist for statewide public policy conferences of state activist organizations

To name a few things.

When you keep saying that I must support Barack Obama because I'm stupid and sucked in by hype, or that I'm part of the blind "American Idol" culture that is shallow and ignorant I really, really, really just want to tell you to go fuck yourself. Its insulting, its age-discriminatory, and its wrong.

So - stop it. Stop making sweeping generalizations about "the youth." PLEASE. Either that, or don't wonder why they don't stay more involved in the process.