By Elise Meyer

If teens are looking to be heard, they needn’t search any further. The answer lies in peaceful protest. Protest, an age-old tactic used to display opinions and encourage reform is as effective now as it ever was. Teens can be empowered by this outlet of expression; for where voting has an age requirement and strikes require a union, protest has no prerequisites; all you need is passion about a cause and the right forum to share it.

There is no lack of issues for teens to be impassioned about. Abortion touches the lives of thousands of teenagers each day and the legislation currently being evaluated by the government could change the face of teenage pregnancy in the United States. The recent history of school violence could lead many teens to become proactive about wanting stronger laws for gun control. The destruction of our rain forests, the rape of our national parks for our gluttonous oil consumption, filthy air and unclean water could motivate others to take up the environmental banner. The legalization of drugs, like marijuana is always a heated discussion as some argue that legalization would disband organized crime. And, though Social Security may seem light years away from high school and college, in reality the legislation that is being cooked up now will change our lives.

America stands on a foundation that is strengthened by the practice of protest. Were it not for the forceful tactics by the participants at the Seneca Falls Convention, women might still be without voting rights today. If the unions of the late 19th century had not challenged the exploitation of the laboring class many might still be working in hazardous and unfair conditions. When the Northern half of our country refused to follow the Fugitive Slave Laws passed in Congress under Southern pressure, the population protested slavery, a practice it likened to murder. Following the civil war, two prominent leaders, W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington urged the black people of our country to advance and enfranchise themselves peacefully through protest and education. The Boston Tea Party and the migration of the Pilgrims to America two historical events that define our country were protests against the British monarchy. The colony of Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams was a form of protest against Puritanical beliefs and intolerance. Those who protested not only founded our country, they also advanced it.

Our country’s legacy in protest is well documented in history. Yet the protester who appeals to many teens is Henry David Thoreau. Author of the famous and absolutely timeless essay, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau was the first to propose peaceful protest as a feasible means for reform. Much of Thoreau’s influence stems from his deep transcendentalist belief in the individual and his power. In his essay, Thoreau urges moral men with conviction to stand up to a tyrannical, unsatisfying government through small, but significant actions. Thoreau’s own life is a perfect example. He refused to pay taxes because he did not feel comfortable paying a government that supported African slavery or a war with Mexico. “If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance,” he wrote, “uncorrected by the seasonable experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations.” The power of one man’s words moved men like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., to make historical and lasting differences in the lives of other men and women.

If the man who developed the idea of civil disobedience believed that one person can make a difference, surely the possibility exits! Generally, however, teens do not seem to agree with Thoreau. Research shows that teenagers are among the most politically apathetic of all demographic age groups in the United States. Voters between the ages of 18 and 21 have the lowest attendance at polls during elections.

There are probably infinite reasons for this disinterest in activism and participation in government. Thoreau suggests, “Men, generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil.” But isn’t it the responsibility of the citizens of a democracy, a government run “by the people,” to make their opinions and dissent known? With this in mind, teens cannot expect positive difference in the quality of their life if they do not find validity in Thoreau’s belief that individuals, not throngs of people create great changes.

Teens should heed the call of their conscience. Laziness and apathy are the only things preventing teens from making things happen by being heard. The power IS within our hands. With a push in the right direction, passion for a cause and inspiration from Henry David Thoreau, teens can lead this country to greatness.