Age should not determine the validity of one’s opinion

Brea Jones/Staff Writer

Several months ago, I was asking my professor—a fellow journalist—for writing advice. This professor told me that I should switch from writing for the opinion section and start writing for the news section, following the statement with, “No offense, but you are not old enough to have an opinion.”

I’m sure that this professor meant no harm in the statement but it is something that has bothered me for the past couple of months.

Regardless of age, a person’s life experience and knowledge should be what determines the validity of their opinion, especially since many young people have been able to cause great change in the world.

Although the brain does not fully develop until the age of 25, young people are obviously more than capable of developing a coherent argument and putting a plan into action to help create a change for the better.

In fact, for the past couple of years, millennials and younger generations have been on the front lines of marches and protests fighting for a wide range of issues such as the Dakota Access Pipeline, gun control, women’s rights, and DACA.

They have been able to bring awareness to a number of issues that would’ve been swept under the rug, and cause our current leaders to think about the consequences of their actions.

Despite their efforts, however, young people are constantly told that they are too young to understand what they are fighting for.   

Adults bash and label youth as “snowflakes” or crybabies without taking into consideration that young people genuinely want to make the world a better place.

I believe the saying “kids are too young to understand” is just an excuse that some adults use to block out opinions simply because they don’t coincide with that of the younger generation.

Baby boomers, for instance, often dismiss millennials simply because of the fear of change and being wrong. This prevents them from realizing that some ideas of the past are outdated and need to be changed.

Instead of admitting that younger generations are right, older adults just label them as ignorant babbling children. However, millennials and younger generations have been able to see the injustices occurring in America, and speak out against them without any fear or shame.

It is this spirit that is driving force of our nation and should be encouraged, rather than suppressed.

Older adults, especially baby boomers, need to stop pausing the conversation before it is even heard.  

Instead, they should actually sit down and listen to what they have to say as young people, including myself, are the ones who will be making decisions that will affect the world.

Young people will not cease having opinions on numerous issues and speaking out on injustices. With so much going on in the world, it is our generation that is taking action, and bring our current nation further into the 21st century.

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Photo by Walid Berrazeg on Unsplash.