Every generation tends to look down on the youth in this country, and this generation is no different. Poor work ethics, laziness, and apathy are the most often heard criticisms of those coming of age today. And yet not all are the same, and one in particular is standing out as the newly adopted poster child of the right.
The shirts that VSU student Ashleigh Kenny designed, with R.I.P The U.S. Constitution on the front and a quote from former President Ronald Reagan on the back, have been selling so fast that her Web site had to be temporarily shut down.
But what makes Kenny so extraordinary is not that she made a T-shirt, or that she wore it to a rally, or that after presenting it to Congressman Jack Kingston, she has been the subject of several national political shows. No, what makes her special is her outlook on life.
In the wake of her newfound fame, Kenny is not just selling T-shirts, she has founded a new movement, matternow.org as a way to encourage others her age to get involved, now. She understands that the future depends on these young men and women, and knows that they will be the leaders for generations to follow. Mattering now is a way of getting students engaged in the political and social arenas, thinking about the future and working towards making a difference. While Kenny is now a full-time college student, she is getting an invaluable lesson in what it feels like to be the new face of a cause. In an interview with The Times this week, she played down her newfound fame to focus instead on the issues. She demonstrates a strong belief system, but is not so strongly conservative that she has lost her tolerance for other opinions.
For those who believe that the country’s youth will be unable to navigate the future, those like Kenny are showing that a little act of patriotism can go a long way to restoring the faith.
Whatever side you choose, right or left, young men and women like Kenny are a reassuring sign that the future may be in the best hands after all.
