Call To Arms

By Katie A.

You think you understand, but you don't.

We all have dreams, and we all have ambitions, but do you remember what you wanted when you were little? Whenever someone asked you what you wanted to do when you grew up, what was your response?

Funny how things turned out, huh?

Did you ever think that you'd be where you are now? With the issues you have now? Did you think that if troubles ever came up, you'd be mature enough to deal with them? Or that you'd still be dependent on your parents?

Do your parents even know what shit goes down when their backs are turned?

I'll bet not. Yes, your parents were teenagers once too, but honestly, things were different back then. Everyone looks at you now and thinks that you don't know anything, can't do anything, and won't amount to much. Frankly, it's discouraging. We live in troubled times, and people are more careful than ever about what they invest in, be it financially, academically, or romantically. People are afraid to dream. Inspiration has lost its charm and hope has its faults displayed for all the world to see. We've shut our eyes and crawled back into our hole of ignorance and desperation. We've shut our eyes and pointed fingers at everything that's different. Homosexuals, blacks, latinos, asians...the list goes on and on. We point the finger at everyone but ourselves. Do we realize how tightly we've bound the minority? Do we realize that we've taken basic rights from our neighbors for being different? Do we remember that there's still a war going on?

Does anyone remember what for?

This is why. This is why, now more than ever, we need to be the generation that has the courage to see each day through and live our lives to the fullest. We're afraid to live. We're afraid to make change. We're afraid of taking a risk for fear of what tomorrow will bring. We worry about the consequences of our actions when we take a stand. Stop. Stop being afraid. Instead of fretting about what will happen if you do, worry about what won't if you don't.