Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation is not a Surprise but Don't Worry Gen Z will Make Sure Handmaid's Tale Doesn't Become a Reality

Society of the Tiny Mouths, Big Entitled Privileged Egos

Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation as a Supreme Court justice is not a surprise because we as a society still have centuries of misogyny and abuse of power and control to unlearn.  It's sad and disappointing that still, many people do not take sexual assault seriously, but look at who's sitting in the oval office.  What concerns me more after seeing Kavanaugh's and the Republican party's response is that people still support Brett Kavanaugh is that people still support him as a Supreme Court justice after he behaved completely unprofessionally and abhorrently.  If they're not concerned with having a potential sexual predator serve a lifelong appointment in the highest court of our land, if they're not concerned about his position on certain major issues, his behavior and responses should have given pause to those that support him.  Even the way he responded to questions about his position on different issues outside of the sexual assault accusations were concerning, though he certainly showed his true colors when being questioned about the sexual assault claims.  All we saw was an entitled, privileged white man with a tiny mouth behave like a childish, egotistical maniac.  Although maybe I shouldn't be surprised by that either, since again, look at who's sitting in the oval office. There's now officially a boys' club of "Tiny Mouths with Big Entitled, Privileged Egos." Despite all this, I have hope.  I have hope, because I went to speak to about sixty eleventh graders at High Tech High North County in San Marcos, California--yes, that's the actual name of the high school--and these students showed me they won't let Handmaid's Tale happen to us.

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I realize that this group of kids I spoke with may be exceptional, but from what we've seen from other high schoolers across the country, like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students, I think this generation is going to make a lot of positive change...unless we have a bloody revolution first.  Some people think a revolution is coming--I just hope it can happen without bloodshed and complete and utter chaos.

As I spoke with the students and observed them, I was excited by how engaged, curious, and open they all are.  They showed bravery I most definitely did not have as a junior in high school.  Boys talked to me about body image issues, and others talked to me about abuse they were experiencing.  Probably with the help of social media spreading news faster and further these days, these students were even more engaged in current events.  The students asked their teacher if they could discuss Kavanaugh, so she took a poll and only one person said they did not want to talk about it.  

Again, I realize that this group of students may be exceptional because of the progressive nature of their school, but I know they're not alone.  With the proper support, these students can achieve so much.   So, for any of you worried about our future,  I hope this can help you rest a little easier and give you hope, too.  Again, Kavanaugh's confirmation should not be a surprise, and if we keep moving forward, being engaged, and setting good examples of leadership for younger generations, I'm sure the younger generations are going to wow us.  With our support, and our cracking open the door to positive change, I believe we will see Gen Z do greatness.  So let's make sure we start/keep setting the example.  I just pray we don't have a bloody revolution first.

BIG LOVE & HUGS

Love,

Justine