PUTNEY — March 14 was one of the most heartening days since election day 2016.
We, the caring and thoughtful people of this country, are under assault by a federal government that has been taken over by a criminal cartel with exactly two interests in mind: money and power.
This has been clearly and repeatedly dramatized by the unqualified and poorly performing appointments to key jobs, the few bills passed, including a tax bill (disastrous if your last name is not Bezos, Koch, or Trump), the many ill-conceived executive orders, and the daily barrage of racist, sexist, and generally nasty tweets and public statements by the so-called president.
The National Rifle Association is a part of this cartel of greed that has been dominating this system, with only token resistance from those in power in the state and federal governments. Even after dozens of mass shootings, the word has been that the NRA is untouchable, both in Vermont and the federal government.
Well, the students of Parkland, Florida and now the students of Windham County have shown us all what can be done with unity, heart, brains, social-media savvy, and being on the right side of history.
Attending the March for Our Lives rally as a supporter of these amazing young people was a joyful experience that made me feel more hopeful for the future of my children and grandchildren than I have felt since the surprise victories of the Bernie Sanders campaign.
The students at Brattleboro Union High School organized a stellar event. They spoke clearly and passionately about not only the need for safety and a sane gun policy. They also spoke about the connection between student power and making a real change in the state and in the country, including making sure that their peers register to vote at age 18.
Young people are far more connected in this age than ever before, and the possibility of using all their abilities to create a better world is a truly awesome vision.
I was about the age of these students at the very time the protests against the terrible war in Vietnam were intensifying. We also walked out of our high school - repeatedly.
I was moved to tears when I realized that this protest, unlike those of the late '60s, was clearly run by the young women present. These are the leaders of the future, and I for one can't wait until they replace my generation with new and visionary ideas about how to create a world that is peaceful and sustainable.
Thank you to every student involved in the protest.