The Clash of Generations

There's nothing like having a front row seat to viewing a train wreck...

Is it so conceited to believe that my generation is unique? Without a doubt no, but many generations have thought of themselves as particularly strong, innovative, or passionate well before my time. Perhaps it is the environment that makes my generation's experience different. For the first time in America's history, the older generations are not fighting to create a better world for its children. The baby boomers have woven a strong safety net for themselves and forgot to invite the younger half of America to the party. Lucky for us, the people who hold all the chips in politics is (wait for it) the baby boomers. The create more than just job security with their antics; they create life security. But is it really true? Is it even possible for a generation to condemn all others? Well, perhaps we need to look at the facts.

America has seen very little progress on key problems in the last three presidential administrations. Pledges to fix Social Security and Medicaid, commitments (overzealous and irrational I might add) to fix the education system, and recently more proposals to maintain a healthy economy. In post-recession America, we have seen nothing accomplished. Attempts to adjust and mend an outdated education structure have remained within the committee that passed NCLB in 2002 with bi-partisan support. Unemployment still remains high as many Americans struggle to meet basic living requirements. Moreover, we have skipped from one crisis to the next with the budget, debt ceiling, tax cuts, bailouts, negotiations, and other folly that seemingly provides minimal aid to a damaged country. The best yet is the Social Security program. We know it is unsustainable. We know in a few decades something will have to be done. Yet, politicians won't touch medicaid and other welfare programs with a ten foot pole. Not to mention problems that have surrvived 30 years of debate like abortion rights, gay marriage, and equal pay rights.

We can't just blame three presidents (though I would assign different amounts of blame to different administrations). As a country, we can blame the entire system, and a growth in selfish careerism for the stagnant behavior throughout politics. What have we accomplished in the last two decades? The only industry that has changed is technology. Ipolitician anyone?

So what does the "facebook" generation do while this happens? How do we convince the people who wield the power today that we deserve a future too? Without sending smoke signals to Washington, how do we communicate that we are FED UP?

Ah but we aren't powerless! There's nothing more American than using our right to vote or protest to send a message to Washington. Sadly, I think those in power stopped listening decades ago when they took office.

WIP- A project to define all projects

Say hello to possibly the greatest contribution Hanna, Lacey and I can make to Wittenberg University: Women in Power or WIP for short. This brainchild came into existence because the three of us saw a void in leadership programs for women. Think about it; a campus filled primarily with women and women leaders without a leadership program emphasizing the next step? WIP was a no-brainer. I'm sure WIP will create discomfort among many individuals around campus. Any group with somewhat feminist founding naturally strikes a nerve within a patriarchal society. BUT we are not forming a group to burn bras, encourage women to loathe men, or to become "bitches" in the Wittenberg community. The point of WIP is to start getting women involved. WOMEN are the key to changing the major structural inequalities in America. WOMEN have to become a significant force in the dialogue for the future.

Conceptualizing this vision is unbelievably difficult. In reality, the success of our new venture teeters on whether or not a community of women can truly acknowledge inequality problems and unite against it. Competition and petty behavior defeats our goal. Thus we have to overcome deeply embedded behaviors (especially within the Greek community) in order to successfully start a change. Whew! Glad to know there won't be any hurrdles to jump along the way.
In it's most concentrated form, WIP looks to address the young, female college experience. What are the challenges the women of our age demographic encounter? Moreover, how can we make sure a woman's experience in college prepares her for leadership in the future?

In lieu of other groups/jobs/ meaningless nights spent drinking, I have decided to make a contribution. This is my mission. This is our mark. Alright, let's go.

WITT WIP

Change is going to come

While working my shockingly busy internship I had a profound thought: why am I not documenting the thoughts in my head? Not to sound conceited or anything, but I feel as though I have a few gem-like ideas here and there. So this is me restructuring this blog to focus on my thoughts--hopefully deep ones--on anything and everything. Potentially, I could help myself make better sense of the phenomenon known as LIFE.

I lead an ordinary life, but perhaps that is why it is worth documenting. I fancy myself as a cross between Carrie Bradshaw and a NYT columnist. A feminist, a politician, a woman concerned about the greater good, and someone who looks to create a ripple in what appears to be a settled, stagnant pool.

Wow, this post reads as though an extremely narcissistic invidual authored it. Definetely not my intention.

Ciao!

I'm not emo, just thoughtful.

It's been a month since I last posted, but it feels more like a day. I cannot believe my time here in D.C. is almost over. Walking to work today was especially difficult. I now look at things as if I am seeing them for the last time. The sight of the Capitol Building, the changing lights, the sound of my heels clicking as I make my way from Dirksen to Hart all are vivid sensations I want to hold on to. I know it isn't goodbye forever. I plan on coming back to D.C. once I get my degree, but a year is a long time and putting your dream on pause after you've seen a glimpse of it is extremely hard.
Thanksgiving is four days away. I can feel sadness growing inside me as we face the first holiday season without grandma. I'm fully prepared to label this part of my life as bittersweet. Endings and beginnings tend to stir that kind of emotion.
I guess this experience has done more for me than I expected. Everything seems so clear, as if a compass needle finally found its direction. It's scary and wonderful all at the same time. Well, this is the life I want to live, now I just have to get started.

Glee What I Did for Love Official Full TV Scene

You can't always get what you want.

I thought wishing you were older was only for teenagers. Yes, people who are 20 wish they were 21 for obvious reasons, but I simply wish to be older. Odd, right? It isn't when you think about it. Here I am, finally working in a field I love, living a fast-paced life, nearly immersed in adulthood when I realize that I am still only 20 years old. I feel ready enough --save for the knowledge/degree part-- to take on the world, and yet my age holds me back from doing so. I don't feel young, I don't look too young, but I don't fit in just yet. It's a strange transitional period to be in.

I wonder what it will be like to not have you life drastically change every 2 years. Seemingly, that has been the case since eighth grade. No one wants to be stagnant, however being in constant motion doesn't exactly have its perks either.

Do I really want to be out of college? Do I really want to be 100% adult? Surely, I will be chastised by someone older for wishing away some of my glory days, but I guess that all depends on what you define as "glory." I believe mine have yet to come.

Al

Fiesta!!!

Last Sunday I had the most profound experience in the streets of D.C. After traveling 7 metro stops or so to Columbia Heights I hoped to find Fiesta D.C. to be well worth the ride. We exited the metro escalator and walked with the "herd" a couple of blocks on a warm, inviting day. The air was fresh and we could hear drums coming from a few blocks up. I thought, of course, it was just going to be any old festival, plagued by cheap vendors trying to make a quick American buck.

Like a scene from a movie, the seas of people parted and we were mere onlookers as a frenzy of feathers, glimmer, and music shimmied by us. The fiesta parade was filled with 10+ piece drum cores, dancing women and these FANTASTIC but very skimpy feather numbers. Bam. Culture. Surrounding the parade was an endless line of grills, pina coladas, and fresh papaya. Bam. More culture. It was one of the most spectacular things I've ever experienced. As we wandered through the various smoothie vendors, smoke, and margarita stalls, I began to take note of the people around and the music; everything, everyone was Spanish (or Latino, Chicano, South American etc.) and speaking Spanish. Whoa.

Though one may feel intimidated, I felt alive and filled with complete admiration for how rich culture can potentially be. Could anyone not smile at a moment like that? Alas, my experience came full circle when hunger drove me to a small family taco stand. Nerves grew as I knew I was going to order in Spanish. Four years of French? Hell, I can do Spanish, right? Yeah, I still panicked. The phrase was simple, but the man understood and smiled. It was one of the most gratifying things I've done. Doing uncomfortable things and taking the occasional risk provides for the greatest rewards.



How extraordinary. I went home, satisfied with the most delicious tacos I've ever had IN MY LIFE. That was truly one of the greatest days I've ever had. Viva la Vida D.C.