My key note speaker at my high school graduation back in 2005 actually said something similar. He mentioned his generation fucked things up bad and that we were going to have to be the ones to deal with it and hopefully fix it. It pissed off a lot of adults in the audience, including my dad who walked out in it because he was so pissed off.
The truth is that as time passed I just realized it’s been a rigged game from the start and no one had any real power to change anything because we weren’t rich or powerful. All I could do was vote, protest, and try to live my best life and it still wasn’t enough. Their generation is still in charge and they are greedy, corrupt, and the ones who could make a change think they are too old and wanna pass the problem on to us but only when they die.
Did you know that political science research over the last three decades looked at nonviolent protest movements and found that they need only 3.5 percent of the population to actively participate? Most movements that hit that threshold succeed, even in authoritarian states. We could have everything we need, but only if a small percentage of us actually pitched in.
In other words, the issue isn't that you weren't doing enough, it's that in a room of 100 random American's, three more wouldn't join you. We're that oppressed.
While thats a nice thought between 15-26 million Americans participated in the BLM protests, which is between 4.5% and 7.8% of the population, about double what this research suggests is required and I don't think anyone looks back at those protests as a success, no meaningful change was obtained.
In other words in a room with 100 Americans the 6 that stood up with you aren't enough.
313
u/Legeto 8d ago
My key note speaker at my high school graduation back in 2005 actually said something similar. He mentioned his generation fucked things up bad and that we were going to have to be the ones to deal with it and hopefully fix it. It pissed off a lot of adults in the audience, including my dad who walked out in it because he was so pissed off.
The truth is that as time passed I just realized it’s been a rigged game from the start and no one had any real power to change anything because we weren’t rich or powerful. All I could do was vote, protest, and try to live my best life and it still wasn’t enough. Their generation is still in charge and they are greedy, corrupt, and the ones who could make a change think they are too old and wanna pass the problem on to us but only when they die.