How will we be remembered?
I am a member of the millennial generation.
After some reflection I considered what I hope my generation can contribute to our country. I would like to now share these hopes with my fellow Long Islanders.
We millennials have inherited something special. We live in a country that offers us wide political freedoms, that is fueled by an economy led by innovation, and that protects us from those who wish us harm.
These are all privileges that set us in a unique place in history where we have been given the gift to set our own course.
Nevertheless, we recognize that our country is in the midst of confronting its most painful divisions and faces profound challenges, both at home and abroad.
Unchecked, these struggles threaten to consume us and lead our country down an undesirable path.
The question then bears repeating. How will our generation be remembered?
Will we take action to overcome this moment’s challenges? Will the generation that follows us have the tools to create the next Google, Facebook or Microsoft, whose reach captures the world and, in turn, drives our economy?
Will we ensure that those who follow us enjoy the same privileges that we could hardly imagine living without?
To achieve these ends our generation must make the proper investments in our future.
First, we need to be sure that we invest in our children. I often revel at how fortunate I was to be raised by two teachers and attend an excellent public school.
This allowed me to receive a remarkable amount of attention that contributed to my development. We need to recognize this attention as a necessary investment for all.
We must spend time reading to our own children, inspiring them to become great citizens themselves, and support our local schools with the resources they need to engage students both during and after regular school hours.
Second, we need to invest in our fellow citizens. We should ensure that we are the generation that never tells someone that they cannot be themselves.
This means that we must make a conscious effort to impress upon each other that we are all in this together. That no matter one’s race, religion, sexual orientation or gender everyone is fully empowered to achieve their dreams.
As an American Jew, I am remarkably proud of the cultural and professional contributions that my fellow Jews have made in the U.S. I am also cognizant of the fact that this has only been realized because our country largely welcomed people like me when far too many nations did not.
With this focus we will ensure that our society remains a healthy one, inspiring successes from each of our citizens.
Lastly, we need to invest in driving a new civility in our regular discourse, on our social media, and demand that civility governs our politics. These investments require small steps. We can do little things like hold the door for a stranger or offer an extra compliment to our acquaintances.
On Facebook and Twitter all of us must remain conscious of the effects of platforms that simultaneously connect us while reducing our need for more traditional interactions. In our politics we must speak with our votes and penalize those who lie, undermine institutional norms or demean others.
We must punish those who lack the character we deserve from our leaders.
All of these goals are within our grasp. We have the agency to realize them. If we want a better future for ourselves and those who will follow us all we need to do is act.
Peter Fishkind
Roslyn Heights
