OPINION

Here are three lessons my generation can and should learn from theFounding Fathers. 

Ambition. Tenacity. Unconventionality.

Hopefully they will learn these, doing so before it’s too late. 

Simply hearing these words today seems out of the blue. Perhaps a sight even rarer is seeing someone demonstrate these characteristics – dare I even say in politics.

Although, this was not the case 247 years ago.

The Founding Fathers boldly exemplified each.

Many of them were successful in their own right as inventors, lawyers, authors, songwriters, businessmen, farmers, and physicians.

Yet, they united together for one common purpose: to fight tyranny in order to be free.

By every definition of the word, they were trailblazers. Their ideas were counter cultural to the times. A revolutionary courage flowed through their veins.

Yet, how many years did our Founders have behind them?

A majority of them were under 40 years old– significantly younger than the Senate’s current average age of 64 or the House’s 57.

James Monroe was barely a legal adult being 18 in 1776.

John Marshall and Aaron Burr had only lived 20 years.

One of the main contributors to the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, was 21.

The other was James Madison; not only was he a mere 25 years old, but he went on to become the Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Thomas Jefferson, to whom we owe the Declaration of Independence, was 33 at the time.

If the Founding Fathers weren’t “too young” to fight to be from tyranny then certainly neither is Gen Z today.

But that begs the question: how did they make such a profound impact?

Simply, it goes back to the beginning three words. They had a vision and the drive to achieve it.

They were strong enough to keep hope in the highs and lows.

They went against the grain and did what no one else was doing.

That which was required from young men in 1776, during the founding of our nation, remains equally, if not, exponentially more important for my generation today on our journey to save America.

Though it obviously looks different for Gen Z today, it starts at a very similar position: accepting the torch of freedom.

Before that, you must realize the cost of failing to do so.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Ask yourself these simple questions:

1.) Can You Spend Freely?

Has Joe Biden put more or less money in your pocket?

The rest of your generation agrees with you. Inflation has crippled Gen Z to the point 73% have been forced to cut their spending in just the last year. Are you one of them?

Can you afford to start a family and/or buy a house?

Few could respond by saying, “Yes.” The highest interest rates in history and home prices only on the rise have only further weakened Gen Z’s financial hopes.

2.) Can You Walk Freely?

Where is your job opportunity?

Does Texas sound about right?

Florida?

Over 117,000 Gen Zers have flocked to the thriving states of Texas and Florida.

Are you next?

Joe Biden says he wants to take your guns, but then his administration turns around and takes your police protection as well. Would the left protect you?

Approximately one month ago, a 22 year old Georgia nursing student went for a jog on her college campus. It didn’t end how she expected. If Laken Riley can’t walk freely, why can illegal immigrants?

3.) Can You Speak Freely?

Are you afraid to be canceled?

Research finds that 40% of Gen Zers are more likely to self-censor themselves instead of risking getting “canceled” while another 35% say they are less likely to share their perspective on an issue if they believe someone would disagree with them.

It has been alleged that Tik-Tok is owned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Instagram and Facebook continue to be used as an arm of our federal government.

Information is being hidden from us all the time.

Do you believe you can see both sides?

If not, who is?

Soon enough, A.I. will be manipulating our information. Does that frighten you?

If you answered “No” to any, or all, of these three questions, how can you be ambitious, tenacious, and unconventional.

You can’t.

And perhaps, that has been the goal – at least it was in George Orwell’s “1984.”

Because within, Oceania’s citizen’s were stricken with little control over personal space, property, and zero right to personal expression.

By following the example the Founding Fathers set before us, the narrative shifts from a hopeless cry that “Gen Z will not save us” to a missional call to action reasoning “Gen Z will save us.”

Even more so– we, Gen Zers, must save America.

Christian Hodges is an 18-year-old aspiring conservative voice, student at Liberty University, and the author of “America, Don’t Give Up.” Twitter: @chr1stianhodges or email him at [email protected].

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