Gen Z has a problem, an apathy problem, that goes beyond the expected teenage carelessness. Teenagers have all slipped up on curfew, their grades have slumped, and they have been lectured on their behavior. But Gen Z is living in a world with wars, a corrupted government, and even scarier, if they are not affected, they don’t care.
And what can’t be ignored is that Bowie High School’s population is privileged and is set up for educational and financial success, as well as a sense of security on campus. In my opinion, this is the foundation needed to speak up against corrupt government and businesses safely and productively. And yet, my classmates express how done they are with this whole “political thing,” with the tone exhibiting this “political thing” as an inconvenience and not wars, fascism, and ICE raids. As the next generation to live and function as adults, we need a government that cares enough about its people to provide the tools to lead productive, fruitful lives.
And given the reality we live in, I urge my classmates to get “woke,” get involved, and use their voice now.
I am not going to list for you the many ways the American government is becoming a fascist one, because if you cannot see the signs, then these words are for you to urge you towards becoming aware of the political decisions and actions taking place at both the national and state levels. My goal is to give you some advice on how improve your media literacy, so you can be able to see the signs of a corrupt government and ways you can help prevent this development from furthering.
Firstly, becoming informed goes a long way. But, propaganda is everywhere, and if someone wrote it, it’s biased to what they believe. Being around my classmates, I have realized that this is the major factor preventing them from getting involved, most feeling discouraged by the vast amount of news sources and their basis. For example, Fox News information is right-skewed, while CNN can skew left. So, what about how you get your information?
Read your school newspaper, and yes, I am aware of the bias. Calling the Dispatch newspaper a reliable source when I myself am a newspaper staff member. But, looking at accessibility, school newspapers are the most accessible for high school students, shocker. I am sure they are well aware of this; the problem is, they just don’t care enough to read it. I urge you to read your school newspaper at least because if you don’t care about what’s not affecting you, at least care about what is. The Dispatch Newspaper covers what’s happening on campus, off campus, and in the city of Austin. Furthermore, you can ask your peers who wrote those articles further questions, making the way you can get information a conversation in person.
Now, don’t let that information sit idle in your head. This is unproductive and can make us, as kids, feel hopeless with the weight of the information. So here are ways you can act.
Call your representatives and complain. Gen Z is great at that. For us in Austin, Texas, our representative is Lloyd Doggett. Calling your representatives lets your voice be heard and holds the people in office accountable. If you don’t speak up when you disagree, your silence is heard as approval.
Gen Z is more than in tuned on how to use social media platforms to their advantage, and I believe this is the prime way for high schoolers to participate. You can interact with the people who hold office accounts, spread information, and build a community.
Remember, it is all about balance. No one is expecting high schoolers to solve every issue. But, at the same time, we can not be ignorant. So please, lock in with this whole political thing.
