What do you think of when someone says, "I wish I lived in the Eighties! Life was so much better then it is now". Sure, the eighties had amazing music, interesting styles, and great political leaders, but one shouldn't keep comparing the present to the past. An issue in particular that no one is looking forward to is this Election Day coming up in November. Granted, this election may not be what we want it to be, but this came to be because of us, so our job is to make the best of it. It's so easy to hear from the older generation that life in America was not this bad before 2001. I grew up in Atlanta and my parents keep reminding me that, "We could have left our doors open and no one would bother us. Now, you're lucky if you can walk around without being bothered". That may sound appealing, but a common occurrence was blaming the victim rather than serving justice against the culprit. That racism is worse now then before, yet they forget that a cell phone has a built in camera at the ready. It's great to remember the 1920's as the "Roaring 20's", though it slips their mind that it lead to the 1930s, which was called the "Great Depression". During the 1900s, the world was facing two World Wars, an ideological "Cold War", proxy wars, and genocides.

Glass half full mindset, we've experienced a technological outbreak, the United Nations and other Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO's) were created in order to create a better international community. It is not wrong to appreciate the culture's of the past, but it is very disappointing to not acknowledge the entire narrative. Now, with a new generation now able to vote in an election, it means that we now have a voice that must not be silenced. If you are one of the lucky ones to be granted with privilege, then it is now your responsibility to use it. It is time to use the education that was given freely (again, if you're lucky) and try to change this world. While it's very easy to dream certain stories to ones narrative, it is imperative that it should not conform reality in any way. Be strong, be educated, and live for the future so that we no longer look back towards the past to dream in.