Yesterday I shared my pride to be an American. The young men and women who are the future of America impressed me, and even brought me to tears. Yesterday was the opposite of what happens to me when I hear our old, white politicians lie to us. From Trump, to McConnell, and even Schumer and Pelosi, I hear empty words which are mostly falsehoods. They have no passion; no ideas for our nation’s future.

All governments are bad, but America’s is the worst. Washington fails to address the needs and desires of the majority, while supporting special interests, and campaigning most of the time they are actually in our nation’s capital.

As I watched our nation’s future speak in Washington yesterday, my faith and hope for our country’s future was restored. They proved themselves to be intelligent, driven, and passionate.

Entertainers sang in front of the crowd of about one million people of all ages, but the most impressive moments came from students from several states. One young woman’s silence became the crowning jewel of Saturday’s event.

Emma Gonzalez, who has been at the forefront of this inspiring movement almost immediately after the murders at her high school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, in Parkland, Florida, made an impassioned speech. Suddenly she stopped and stood silent. She remained that way for six minutes and 20 seconds; the exact time that a lone gunmen spent killing 17 students and educators.

Here’s the most important truth about March 24, 2018. This is America’s next generation of voters and the beginning of our nation’s second revolution. Some will be able to vote in the November election, and most will be eligible in 2020. They will go to the polls, and they will keep their promises. If a politician accepts money from the NRA, they will lose their bid for election or reelection. Millennials are following the lead of their younger brothers and sisters. Because they are now the largest demographic in America, their votes will change our nation’s history.

The Trump administration is moving our nation backwards; America’s youth demands a move forward. Not only do they renounce gun violence, and demand changes in our nation’s laws, they reject the hatred of white supremacists; they accept the right of all Americans to love whoever they choose; many reject organized religion, but support the right of all Americans to practice the faith of their choice; and most importantly, women are not viewed as less than equal in the workplace, or in any other venue of our society. They are united as one; a generation which is diverse and representative of my America.

They will lead, and I will follow with both pride and humility.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Photo courtesy of Gregory Varnum

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