by David Ramos

Created on: September 09, 2008   Last Updated: February 27, 2010

Are young people less courageous than they were three decades ago?

Webster's Dictionary describes courage as: mettle, spirit, resolution, and tenacity. Mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty to support unpopular causes.

As my mind drifts back over 30 years to the turbulent late 1960's and early 70s I can't help but recall the first televised images of America's youth literally giving up their lives for one of the most unpopular causes in the annals of our history. These young men and women returned home to no bands playing, no heroes welcome and many were literally spat on. 58,000 troops gave up their lives in that so-called conflict. We lost Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy and our nation was headed by a less than exemplary presidency. On the home front there were the race riots, the Kent State massacre, and a generation of young people turning on and tuning out to escape an uncertain future. Despite these challenges many of our returning veterans began to rebuild their lives and look forward to the future with the hope that things would turn around. Many of today's political, financial, and spiritual leaders were molded and for better or worse are a direct product of that era.

Zoom ahead 30 years and here we are again engaged in unpopular causes around the world. Although it is true that we have not reached those horrific statistics of up to 200 soldiers losing their lives on a weekly basis, how can you possibly measure the sacrifice of just one life? What is ironic is that a large majority of the youth that served during that bygone era were drafted into the military. How much more the measure of courage that should be attributed to today's volunteers that unselfishly give up years of their youth for the service of their country.

We now live in an era where we may possibly witness the first Black President opposed by the first woman to ever run for the Vice Presidency. November of 2008 may very well see the largest turnout of young voters in history to decide the future of our nation. We still face what may seem like insurmountable difficulties with our country plagued by Aids, drugs, teenage pregnancy, the lack affordable health care, and rising violent crime statistics. But just as they did over 30 years ago it is the youth of our nation that will show that they have the wherewithal not only to meet these challenges head on but will have the courage to overcome them and transform this country for the better.

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