GEN Z
What political issues do you care most about?
GEN X
“Climate change and the degradation of political respect in our country.” - Nico Cefalu (USB ’23)
“Healthcare, the pandemic, immigrant rights.” - parents of Nico Cefalu (USB '23)
“The Green New Deal, Medicare for all, universal basic income, public and more accessible university and college education.” - Sasha Zhang (USG ’23)
“Voting rights, equality, education, accessible healthcare.” - parents of Sasha Zhang (USG '23)
“Climate change, the economy, COVID-19 response racial justice, gender equality.” - Tyson Johnston (USB ’23)
“Getting Trump out of office, abortion rights.” - mother of Tyson Johnston (USB '23)
Do you often talk about politics with your parents and/or grandparents?
“Almost every night we talk about it after the news, though rarely do we disagree.”- Nico Cefalu (USB '23) “I talk about politics often with my mom, but not anyone else in my family.” - Sasha Zhang (USG '23) “I talk mostly with my mom about politics. I do not know much about my dad. I try not to [talk about politics with] my grandparents because we would not agree on many things." - Tyson Johnston (USB '23)
Do you have to explain certain issues you care about to other family members?
“With most topics we’re on the same page, but when it comes to social justice and racial issues it does tend to be a little harder for me to explain… my dad, who is Italian, thought that the whole idea of Indigenous People’s day was irreverent, and stated that Columbus Day is something that many Italian Americans take great pride in. As for them explaining things to me I generally understand what they are talking about, but my mom does tend to explain the idea of a coup or collapse of democracy a lot as she witnessed it in Chile when she was a child.” - Nico Cefalu (USB '23) “I don’t often have to explain what different topics are to my parents and they are also pretty open minded to my ideas, but I have to explain why my views might differ. When I learn about new political ideas or policies that I like, I bring them up to my mom to see what her opinion [is]. She doesn't always agree with my beliefs, but she does allow for space to have discussions about them.” - Sasha Zhang (USG '23) “I do have to explain many things to family. But that might be more to do with me being more interested in political theory. I also sometimes ask for my parents to explain their opinions to me.” - Tyson Johnston (USB '23)
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INKWELL | NOVEMBER 2020
