students give us hope

Hundreds of SC high schoolers get a close-up lesson in how government works as part of the Palmetto Boys State and Palmetto Girls State program.

The program is sponsored nationally by the American Legion. The Boys State and Girls State sessions are immersive, week-long sessions. They’re designed to promote patriotism, leadership, civic involvement and an understanding of our nation’s institutions. There are mock elections for statewide offices and a mock legislature and court system.

Participants are selected by their high schools and are formally sponsored by their local American Legion posts.

On June 15, Boys State and Girls State came together at the State Capitol for a parade, rally, and mock inaugeration ceremony. As always, I was excited to participate. The opportunity to speak and interact with state officials is an important part of the experience. Personally, I always learn a lot from spending time with the students.

I’m always impressed by these young people. It speaks well of them that they’re willing to spend the first week of their summer break this way. These students are excited to be there, and are enthusiastic to learn the ins and outs of public policy-making. They’re optimistic about the future.

For those let down by or fed up with the politicians of the present, these teens offer hope.

Today’s political class falls short of what Americans deserve. Especially in Washington, those who govern often seem more interested in scoring political points than fixing problems. Some in Congress are bent on endlessly refighting a two-year-old presidential election.

The current state of public debate isn’t for the queasy. Now incivility is defiantly embraced. Toxic rhetoric which once would have been condemned by all decent people aren’t just tolerated, but celebrated. Certainly such an atmosphere does little to promote the meaningful debate.

Yes, it’s easy to be despirited, but today’s young people want a better country and are eager to help build it. They seem to understand that meaningful change isn’t about winning elections but about winning hearts and minds.

They realize it’s possible to fight for closely-held convictions without abandoning civility or decency. They believe public service is an honorable pursuit for those who further the common good. They may be coming up in an age of cynicism, but they’re committed to rising above it.

Today’s teens will one day be the ones who must create the policies we live under and will clean up the messes left by their elders. I believe they’re up to the challenge. We’ll be in good hands.

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