TO THE EDITOR:
On April 21, a letter was published calling the students of UNC to action to protect their rights, equality, and the civil rights of both students and citizens. The author marked a “dulling” of activism since her time in the ‘60s and ‘70s, which seems to echo concerns from similar voices about millennials’ disengagement from politics. If I could offer a contrarian viewpoint, perhaps it is the execution of the message, not the potential messengers, that is the problem.
Perhaps the tendency of many self-proclaimed champions of civil rights to advocate growing the power and scope of government as a means of ending discrimination and inequality is exactly the problem for a generation where only 22 percent trust the federal government.
But there is an alternative. Millennial conservatives and libertarians champion many of the same causes of civil rights and civil liberties as advocates, but do so in a way that attempts to empower the individual, not the state.
Support gay marriage? You may want to look into Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry.
Oppose foreign wars or escalation of drug prohibition? Young Americans for Liberty may be for you.
Support immigration reform? Republicans for Immigration reform could interest you.
Want to volunteer for campaigns that favor or oppose a certain issue, the College Republicans can try to get you in contact with the people to make that happen.
The millennial conservative and libertarian elements on the right are rising, and have demographics in their favor. So, if you have strong principles about equality before the law and individual liberty, but seem disenchanted with the way they have been executed in the past, please do a quick Google search on what young conservatives and libertarians are doing about it. You may just find what you’re looking for. I did.
