Greetings from Denver

It would be easier to hate it here.
It would be easier to hate it here because it would be so much easier to write. Think of it- a room full of self-centered lethargic, unmotivated, “Daddy-Made-Me-Do-It” teenagers. I could rant endlessly about how America’s youth is so passive when it comes to the Real issues, and incapable of taking adult responsibility in today’s would. It would be an easy article to write, because it’s an article I’ve read a hundred times before. So, I set out with the pre-conceived notions (nay, hopes) that my peers would be the typical TV/gossip obsessed teenagers I’ve always known…but in a more mountainous setting.

And I was correct. For a second.

But by the time we arrived in our hotel (meaning I’d only had the bus ride to reach this conclusion), I’d discovered that my peers are not joking around. The teenagers who are attending the DNC are not simply those who could cough up the cash, so to speak. My first clue was when I produced a deck of Politico flash cards from my bag. While, in any typical highschool setting the existence of such a study aid would have elicited glares and name-calling (if not simply indifference), I was immediately shocked by a chorus of high-pitched squeals. Apparently the JoBros have nothing on Madeline Albright.

I was further confused and astounded by the fact that political conversations transcended all social events: dinner, shopping, Starbux-ing, and of course, blogging. What would normally have been a game of Truth or Dare in the lobby became a group blogging session.

My faith in my generation has been completely restored. I must confess that another of my pre-conceived notions was that the country would cease to function after my peers and I turned thirty. I simply could not picture the holder of the Guitar Hero high score running for senate, or even the President of my class getting her term paper in on time at a top college. But apparently I’m not alone in this, either. Those going to the DNC are heard complaining about the lack of political interest in their schools as frequently as foreign policy debates. Apparently everyone is worried that their generation is one comprised entirely of slackers.

So what, then? Have I some how infiltrated a secret organization of the country’s young elite (but never “elitist”)? Well, not exactly. They’re still teenagers by nature, obsessively checking Facebook in between lectures and dropping references to Michael Phelps’, er, impressive Olympic performances.

But unlike the people I thought they were, the real versions can identify competing countries on a map.

-e