MILLENNIALS AND BABY BOOMERS MARCHING IN THE SAME PARADE

On Sunday September 21st I got to discover what matters to Millennials (ages between 18-33). I witnessed what they passionately cared about when mobile devices are temporarily cast aside in order to experience the non-virtual, in-the -present moments. This generation became real time players and participants of history making. On this Sunday, New York City was transformed again into a global unified spectacle of an organized peaceful mass protest reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s. It was a scene where the latest younger generation became tactical, engaged and totally present. What was this event? It was The People’s Climate March, a call for more action to combat global climate change, in what organizers have called the largest climate change march in history. The anticipated turnout for this event was 100,000 but, it soon exceeded all expectations. The largest estimate gaged it at 400,000 people.

My personal draw to this climate march was being a member of the League of Women Voters. The 2014 LWV National Convention paid importance to the emerging mindfulness of local leagues’ action considerations to combat Climate Change. The national LWV heeded this call with the formation of the Local LWV Climate Action Network. So, there I was boarding the nearest chartered bus that would take me to this global movement march representing the League from the northwestern part of New Jersey. When I got to my pickup location which was Newton’s, Municipal parking lot, there was a group of very enthused local Sierra Club members. They were the lead group who organized the bus transportation. Included in with the different activist organizations was the representation of diverse generations. We had Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials aboard our bus. I was representing the eternal activist of the 1970’s – the glory years of my Baby Boomer age. I shared a seat on the bus with the LWV State President. She carried with her big buttons and small posters from the LWV for the march. Little did we realize that our modest posters and buttons would be drowned out by the elaborate displays that were so eye-catching even in a crowd of 400,000 people. There were people dressed as butterflies, birds and flowers. Big parade balloon ball globes were a bound, followed by a long procession of street length banners. But, most of all, there we throngs of enthusiastic, young people chanting, dancing and singing songs along the multi mile parade route.

It dawned on this participating LWV Baby Boomer that our spirit was as strong as the 1970’s but our knees were in need of 21 Century replacement parts. We shouldn’t be leading these parade groups. We need new legs, new organizers, and new voices to carry the message. It is time to hand the torch to the Millennials. Our mission was not to be in the march but, making sure our new marchers were represented by their votes. They are the new generation with the soul to spark the revolution of new political movements and perspectives that will save the nation and the world.

What I am learning about them gives me hope they will bring positive change with their own unique creed and philosophy. They can have a deep impact. This emerging socially conscious generation can be the firewalls against elected willful ignorance that cuts undisclosed deals that become the Trojan horses to our future. According to recent data, Millennials now account for approximately one-fourth of the voting age population. That’s a voting bloc larger than today’s senior citizens.

The Millennial generation has the the power of well-connected social network through texting and tweets. They can go much further when it’s combined with the awareness of what’s in the electronic ballots at the voting polls. Millennials need to register to vote despite their distrust of the two-party system. This distrust increasingly makes them distance themselves as independents (34 percent according Reason-Rupe poll). As a free thinking Baby Boomer, I share their sentiments. However, the wisdoms I learned through the years, finds urgency in convincing them that now is not the time to abandon the election process. It is only their active participation in politics that they can remedy the outrageousness and the mindless insatiable greed that’s choking a planet. When this generation starts to coordinate their feet with their handheld devices we can successfully protect our democratic system that was intended for “We the People”.