Politics are complicated-there’s no question about that. Watching one minute of CNN is proof enough. We debate and argue, going back and forth trying to decide who is right and who is wrong, and usually never come to a consensus-because people hold their beliefs for many different reasons, and the complex psychological structure that reinforces these beliefs cannot be destroyed in the duration of a single 30-minute discussion. Further complicating the issue is the fact that many people believe what they believe, without truly understanding why. Many people are spoon-fed the political ideologies of their parents, and come to accept them without ever giving them much contemplation of their own. But this further exacerbates the endless debating-people selectively attune themselves to the information that easily aligns with their agendas, blocking out anything that contradicts them. We go around and around in circles-everyone’s a winner, but no one’s really won. Because at the end of the day, we go home to our lives and forget about the politics, and slide into the ease of complacency, leaving these issues to the politicians. But the thing about gun violence is it can’t be forgotten. This is not just another “hot button” issue to go back and forth about over family dinner. This is bigger than politics and parties. These are people’s lives.
Even standing among a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people, I have never felt a stronger sense of community. We were all there for the same reason-to protest gun violence and demand political change. The students who spoke at the rally held themselves with more poise and eloquence than some of our current political leaders. Their stories left me with chills on my skin and tears in my eyes. One student, Zion Kelly, shared a story that really spoke to me. His twin brother had been killed last year walking home from school. He described the close relationship that only a twin can truly understand. Zaire and Zion, like me and my twin sister, shared everything with each other: they had the same friends, shared a bedroom, and even shared the same initials. My sister is my best friend, and trying to imagine losing her is painful enough. Hearing Zion’s story was enough to remind me of how much bigger than politics this issue truly is.
The courageous vulnerability these students displayed at the march was so incredibly inspiring. Emma Gonzalez led a 6 minute and 20 second moment of silence, the amount of time it took the shooter to kill the 17 victims. This was a quiet I’ve never experienced-the stillness that fell among the crowd was heavy, weighted. It signified the unity among everyone, the commitment to continue this fight after the march was finished. My act of resistance that day was sticking my protest sign among the fences gating the White House-a gentle reminder to the politicians in power that this is not something to be easily ignored or dismissed.
There are many political issues that deserve to be debated, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I don’t believe this needs debating. Because when children are being murdered in their schools, and there are clear solutions to ending that problem, action should-and needs-to be taken. I know the pain of losing someone you love, and the persistence of that pain. It doesn’t go away and it doesn’t end; it lingers and it follows, and I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy. Parents should not be losing their sons and daughters, students should not have to watch their friends murdered before them, and a teenage boy should not have to say goodbye to his twin brother. These are traumas that will affect people for the rest of their lives, and this is something that should bear more relevance in this discussion. The Parkland community, and anyone who has experienced a loss, will understand this pain. The march may have ended, but this issue will not be placed on the backburners. The midterm elections are coming, and, in the words of Parkland student David Hogg “you can hear the people in power shaking.” The strength of our generation lies in our voice, and we are speaking out. Because enough is enough.
References
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/24/us/march-for-our-lives/index.html
Photo Credits:
https://marchforourlives.com/rsvp/
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/photos-from-the-march-for-our-lives/556454/
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Zion+Kelly/Hundreds+Thousands+Attend+March+Lives+Washington/TK4aLTv2nNy