So there are walk-outs happening throughout our schools
across the country. But for what?
Gun control? Not really, but for some, probably.
Stopping gun violence? Kinda, yeah.
To find an excuse to skip class? For some, definitely.
I won’t rehash what I wrote a couple weeks ago about how
change is coming and this is the generation at the forefront of it. But,
regarding these walk-outs, I’m fascinated by some of the opinions I see.
But most all of them I’ve seen are from adults. Who don’t go
to school.
I’ve seen some teachers chime in with good points on all
sides of the issue.
But, of those who think these walk-outs are stupid and
pointless, I find it interesting they are all from adults. I’m sure there are
some kids who do as well. I’m not dumb enough to think I’ve seen the entire
gamut of opinions here. But, as adults, we’ve conditioned ourselves to think we
know better, so we just shut down and ignore the voice of the young. And if
history has proven one thing, it’s marginalized voices eventually get fed up
and force themselves to be heard.
What does it accomplish? Sometimes nothing. Sometimes
something.
But it reminds me of a verse I learned in Jr. High from
Benny Proffitt. (Some of you may know him/of him).
1 Timothy 4:12: Don’t let anyone look down on you because
you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity.
For this ‘movement’ to gain traction, I do believe it has to
be rooted in good speech, good conduct, love, faith and purity.
But, just because someone is young, doesn’t mean they are
always wrong at the expense of adult opinion.
It may change nothing, but who are we to stomp out their
voice and flame? Maybe part of the problem we created in the world they live in
was because we never acted on our convictions when WE were young. We keep
saying the world is getting worse and worse… why snuff out their desire to make
it better before life proves they can’t? It goes beyond the issue at hand. It’s
a concept. Gun violence in schools is just the backdrop to a larger discussion
and movement of having their voices heard and respected.
Who are we to deny them developing a voice. Our might have
been snuffed out when we were younger and the only thing that changed as we
grew up is this world got more messed up. Maybe this next generation will screw
things up even worse. But we can’t pray for change and then knock the podium
away from those willing to speak toward change. We can’t be saying the children
are the future then deny them the right to make it theirs. Children are the
future. But it’s their future. We had our chance and our present is the future
we made for ourselves back then. They deserve the right to create their future-turned-present.
Most of the fear of ‘their future’ stems from our fear of
what that future will be. That’s why they need adult guidance. There’s a fire
in youth that usually gets snuffed by the adulting world. Let them embrace what
youth really can do before adulthood grips them and doesn’t let go.
Bills. Responsibilities. Jobs. Dumb Presidents.
All these things and more eventually weigh down and turn our
youth into adulthood. By then, it’s usually too late. That fire has to be
harnessed and controlled… and guided. If it’s just chaotic, then it’s our fault
for allowing it. But, you can either be scared of that fire and put it out or
turn it the direction it should go and watch it burn what needs burning and
spare what needs sparing. Because when they become adults, that fire will
probably burn less hot too. But if we teach them by our actions now that their
voice doesn’t matter… if we water down their fire out of fear, then that’s our
problem that we are shoving down their throats.
Don’t be scared of change… step up and in to help guide it.
Recapture some of the fire YOU had when you were young and
didn’t know what you know now about life.
If you’re worried (or just carry the opinion) that this will
do nothing or these kids are just getting out of class, etc… then look for ways
to educate them on the issue. They are a captive audience. They may initially
reject it… but who can blame them? All they see from most adults is people
telling them to shut up and sit down. But, once they trust you, they’ll be
sponges to trusted guidance.
Some won’t. Obviously. Some are knuckleheads. But, there’s
enough sincerity in the cause to make plenty of noise. Noise that can turn into
coherent sound and a true voice if it’s guided appropriately.
Will the walk-outs themselves accomplish anything? Probably
not. But it lets those in power know they deserve a seat at the table we set
for them.
It doesn’t mean they control the conversation… or outcomes.
It teaches them what they can and can’t control, actually. But, at minimum, it’s
a lesson in what it really takes to enact meaningful change and at most, actual
change for the better will happen.
If we are raising them to be good adults, we can’t say
something must change and then deny those most impacted a voice.
That’s not good adulting.
