By Paola Rodriguez
As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipient, this fall I’ll only vote vicariously through my friends and family. But the hope and tranquility I feel as the election approaches stems from the fact that I know the values embraced by so many of today’s young voters.
In fact, I have come to believe that my generation is bringing to this year’s election a kind of revolution. As I imagine the power that young voters are bringing to the polls, the power of that revolution, it brings to mind that iconic scene from “Rocky,” the one where he runs up a flight of stairs and does a celebratory dance at the top. But in my imagination, the flight of stairs represents all the justice system flaws that need correction, all the outdated laws and policies that need to be changed, all the division that has been fueled by our current administration. And in my imagination, the star of this fall’s election—the “Rocky” figure—will be played by the huge numbers of young people who have empowered themselves with knowledge and courage to make a lasting difference.
Led by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and activists in the faith community, including the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s director of education and advocacy for migration, José Arnulfo Cabrera, members of the Jesuit educational network gather for a Rosary Walk and rally in support of DACA students in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
They are living firsthand the regrettable repercussions and limitations of decisions made by older generations. Even when they themselves may be privileged, these young people have often suffered alongside their brothers and sisters who experience injustice, who live under circumstances that bring about so much material deprivation and spiritual degradation. These young people are not only empathetic, but they are also intelligent and committed to using their power on behalf of others, crying out with rage and fury because calls for necessary change have been consistently ignored. In this, they embody the values of solidarity and cura personalis, or care for the whole person, on a large scale.
These young voters are also not content with empty promises and half measures. They seek something more. They demand something more. And so, they are also true representatives of magis, for they live by the conviction that it is time to do more for others, to live in greater love with others.
Yes, there are many steps to climb before this revolution is complete, but young voters are not fazed by the challenge. They recognize change doesn’t come easy. And they seem ready for a tireless fight. Our Rocky is prepared to take on the challenge, to reach the top of our country’s broken stairs. And with so many young people, I’m so ready for that celebratory dance to start.
Paola Rodriguez is a senior majoring in psychology at Rockhurst University.
The featured cover photo (above) is courtesy of the Ignatian Solidarity Network.