This election represented more then just a once-every-four-years chance to elect the president. It signaled a seismic shift in the political nature of young adults. Millions of young new voters pledged to follow through in yesterday's all-important presidential election. Through democratic participation like voter registration and campaigning, this election has transformed our generation from one of apathy to a demographic group that — by most accounts — played a key role in determining the next president of the United States. Because of these accomplishments, Nov. 2, 2004, will stand as a triumph not just for American democracy, but also for us, the 18 to 22 year-olds who have taken it upon ourselves to fight for what we believe in.
But it is important to realize that our generation will not be judged by what we've done on Nov. 2. Rather, we will be judged by our commitment that begins on today. For if our civic involvement is not even stronger the day after Election Day than it was before, our contribution to democracy will be nothing more than a onetime show.
Our job has just begun. No matter who is elected president, the issues on which we based our vote are not going to be resolved if we don't actively push our elected leaders to follow through on them and make them a priority. Simply put, if we try to play the "game of democracy" once every four years, without practicing it every single day in between, the outcome will be anything but the country we had hoped for by voting for either Kerry or Bush. This is where our generation must take the initiative and fight for our own future while we still can. "American citizen" is not just a title; it is a way of life. We must, therefore, take it upon ourselves as college students to be leaders and not followers, to be active and not apathetic about the issues that matter to us.
How can we be active in the democratic process beyond voting?
One answer is to become involved with an advocacy group on campus that fights for issues that one believes in. These advocacy groups allow us to be active 365 days a year, and it is through this civic involvement that we can play an active role in the future of our nation. The largest advocacy group on campus, the Princeton Justice Project, is just one way that many of us have become involved in issues like prison reform, the death penalty, family rights, housing and education. The fact is that the Justice Project and other advocacy groups exist to provide Princeton students with the opportunity to fight for what we believe in, the right to stand and be counted. It is through these organizations that we will avoid becoming party to an apathetic generation.
As a great hero of our generation, Spiderman, put it best, "With great power, comes great responsibility." This is, in essence, what it means to be an American, because it is not just our privilege, but our duty to participate in the political process every day of our lives. A vote without action doesn't count at all.
It was easy to play our part on yesterday, but our generation will only succeed if we ask and answer this question: What will I do today to stand and be counted? Jonah Perlin is an officer for Princeton Justice Project. He can be reached at jperlin@princeton.edu.
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