I wrote this in 2012

As I write this in 2018, some of this happened, some did not, and we are two presidential elections beyond the point when I wrote this, with a very different, perhaps totally unexpected, definitely unpleasant political and national 'health' condition, one with which we are all quite familiar. I have only edited one short part of a paragraph (because it was based on an assumption of mine that did not happen) but the thoughts that remain are valid. So, read on.

November 5, 2012
To the young people on my Facebook timeline:

You are the generation that hold the reins of this horse we call the United States. Some of you feel hurt, frustrated, and lost by the recent presidential election. Some of you will continue to wonder if any of it means anything, whether your vote really does count. Well, like riding a horse, learning your part of the process takes time, energy, and the willingness to get back on after being hurt a bit. One of my daughters broke her collarbone while learning to ride when her horse spooked. Some of our elected officials will and have 'spooked' causing pain to their constituents. But like anyone who fell off a horse and had to decide whether to get back on or not, you each have the choice whether to continue or not. I hope you do and here's why.

By the next presidential election in 2016, one that will not have an incumbent, the current batch of white males that constitute a huge block of voters and those serving in elected positions will be smaller. OWG's, Old White Guys like me, will be replaced by younger candidates, many of whom will be non-Caucasian; there will be more African-Americans, more Asians, and significantly more Latinos. There will be - and should be - many more women. The candidates will have names like Chu, Christie, Baldwin, Mohammed, Rubio, Fattah, and Jindal. There will be more acceptance of lesbian, gay and bisexual candidates, as well as less stigma placed on mixed-race candidates or race of any kind, as there already is in your own lives. You will agree with some and disagree with others, and there will be extremists on both sides of the spectrum - politician and religious - but they will come from your generation and have your values and thought patterns. They will understand Twitter, have a Facebook timeline, and know what an emoticon is. Their view of the deficit and the true purpose of government will differ from what your parents' politicians were.

You will understand them because they are you.

The country's demographics are changing. My generation is getting out of the public face, aging, and dying. By the next presidential election, for example, many people you hear about in the news will have passed on. I will be on Medicare and probably on long-term prescription drugs of some kind for my ailments or diseases. My children will be nearing the dreaded 30-Something era and have children; some of those children will be old enough to begin understanding what "election" means for themselves and for their world. 

My 50-year history is past. Your 50-year history has just begun.

So, dear young people, please remember this: Even though you hurt like hell because you fell off, grab the reins and get back on that horse. They belong to you. Do not give up; it's the only way to learn to ride. Even though you might be frustrated by your recent voting experience, take solace in knowing that every presidential election will be like this. Some results will make you smile, some won't. But every vote is valuable and every election is important. You hold the reins. Don't give up.