Each generation of citizens in our country is tethered together by the major events that occurred during their developmental years. For our eldest population, those considered to be from the Greatest or Silent Generations, a couple of those events were the Great Depression and World War II. For Baby Boomers, the question was “where were you when John F. Kennedy was assassinated?” Other defining events for Boomers were the Vietnam War and the Moon landing. For our Millennials and Gen Xers, the 9/11 terror attacks, the election of Barack Obama and school shootings impacted them. These are by no means the only major events that bound those generations. Each era of Americans has its pivotal moments, those times when all seems lost or the world seems turned upside down. Times when change is instigated.

The current generation, called Alpha, will be the first generation of young people that will not know a time when social media didn’t exist. Their parents had the internet available to them. The election of 2016, January 6th, 2021 and the denial of 2020 election results will also be within their foundational events. A crisis in any point in time, necessitates that the right leader come along; a Lincoln, Truman, FDR, or a JFK; to square their shoulders in doing what must be done for all people. Someone, with not only the intelligence, empathy and the ability to work with those who have differing ideas, but someone who appreciates and truly sees the definition of America and its people. We desperately need leadership that loves the responsibility of their job. No one in the current Congress looks happy to be in politics. Somehow this generation of legislators have simultaneously removed the dignity and joy from their once prestigious and honorable positions. The cast of characters the American people have voted into office to represent their best interests is a sad, but clear reflection of the distrust and unhappiness of voting citizens.

When I was growing up, we would hear the stories of how members of both sides of the aisle duked it out in a war of words during legislative sessions, but come evening or the weekend, they could be found eating dinner or playing poker together. They understood what nonpartisan respect meant. A good example of that was the relationship between Republican President Ronald Reagan and Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, a Democrat. The pair were good friends, though their ideologies were different. They could separate their beliefs for the greater needs of the people. While they may not have agreed on the issues, they respected the other’s right to hold their opinion. Very much in the same way that George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton managed to do as the pair worked together post-presidency to try to make the world a better place. We need leaders today who can see the forest for the trees.

There are members of Congress and in our state legislatures today, who display a lackluster job performance through their uncivilized behavior and in some cases, a deficit of good basic values.

In times like these, when civilized behavior is not modeled by those in positions of power or those who aspire to be our country’s leader, it’s vital that it is demonstrated and taught for this particular Alpha Generation, whose foundational events have included witnessing outrageous behavior and deeds on media outlets. For what is to become of the future of our country if there are no models of respect, friendship, and statesmanship?

When the future looks dire, it is also important to remember that throughout history it has been our citizens who have activated change when it was needed. It has been citizens who have driven fundamental changes in our country; changes that characterize equal representation for all.

Today, when it seems that all could be lost if we have to face the possibility of negative consequences of the next election, we need to remember that we, the constituents, have power. That power is at the polls and through the use of the amendment process, but we must find ways to protect these rights. Throughout history, Americans have defended democracy and in some cases, the destiny of our people through the amendment process. There are those today that want to remove that process, as they realize that citizens have the power to modify the foundation of our laws. Some of the very lawmakers elected by their constituents are making a concentrated effort to reduce citizens’ power to enact policy through ballot initiatives. There’s an old saying that all politics are local and in many cases at the state level attempts are being made to slowly chip away at the amendment process and other rights.

Throughout history, our citizens have exercised the power of the amendment process. We saw this when the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, when the 14th Amendment recognized black men as citizens, when the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to them and years later, when the 24th Amendment abolished the poll tax.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics, “women have registered and voted at higher rates than men in every presidential election since 1980. In recent years, the number of women registered to vote in the U.S. has typically been about 10 million more than the number of men registered to vote; however, that gap declined to 7.4 million in 2022.” Now in the 21st century, women who stand on the shoulders of those who fought long and hard for the 19th Amendment to be granted the right to vote can take their power back if they so choose.

It was JFK, who said that problems created by man can be solved by men. “No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man’s reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable–and we believe they can do it again.” Living in the United States means that each and every one of us has an obligation to make America a better place and this era greater than the one in which we were born.

Now is the time that we need leaders who never forget that underneath the laws are the people. There comes a time when we are all called to step up in some way. It takes courage to fight for those who need a champion. Our generations have been given so much privilege that in some cases we have become anaesthetized to the difficulties of others. As Americans, and as descendants of the great democracy experiment, we should expect more of ourselves.

Crises do create opportunity. Those with bad intent always recognize this opportunity. The November 2024 election is our watershed opportunity to stand up and right any wrongs in this pivotal moment of our generation. It’s our time to own our power.

Pam Lowe is the editor of the Clay County Courier in Corning, Arkansas. Readers may contact Pam at plowe@cherryroad. com