Memo to Washington: Change is coming; get on board

In the face of the myriad of crises that threaten the stability and security of our nation and world, there’s one big reason to be hopeful as Election Day approaches.

Change is coming.

I’m not talking about the trite slogans of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. I’m talking about the grassroots uprising of America’s citizens. The number of registered voters is at an all-time high. Political activism is at levels previously unheard of. Early voting in this election is already at record levels.

Most important, young people are engaged in the process. Throughout history, younger generations have carried the yoke on societal change. Young people were instrumental in the civil rights movement, fighting for women’s suffrage and ending apartheid in South Africa. Americans in their 20s, 30s and 40s led us through the Great Depression and World War II. They’re poised to lead us to a better world yet again.

While all of this promises to benefit Democrats more than Republicans this year, the increase in political activity is largely among people longing for less partisanship and more cooperation. The number of people who choose to register as independents is skyrocketing. The mood for change is about a longing for a government that sets aside differences to solve our problems.

I find a statement a friend recently made to be the most profound insight into the shift that is underway.

“Every generation tries to fix the problems of our parents, and that’s what we’re doing,” Ricardo Luna told me. “Our parents tried to build megachurches, and we’re trying to build communities.”

Bridges, not walls

Luna was speaking about the generational shift in evangelical Christianity that has led younger believers to be less wedded to the GOP than their parents. My interview with him was part of an article about whether the shift among young evangelicals will lead to a larger split of the group’s vote next week than in recent presidential elections.

Luna wasn’t talking about more evangelicals becoming Democrats as much as he was talking about them being less partisan than their parents. The shift makes sense: After all, didn’t the crumbling of the Twin Towers, the symbol of American capitalism and dominance, teach us something about what’s most important in this world?

The generation that created modern-day evangelical Christianity and other very partisan institutions on the left and right focused on grabbing power. The various factions in that generation built walls to separate themselves from those with whom they disagreed. They now find themselves incapable of solving our nation’s problems.

Luna’s statement is profound because it is indicative of a new generation that better understands the importance of communities and relationships in our global society, one that is more interested in building bridges than walls.

In many ways, the change the younger generation is bringing is a return to attitudes that were prevalent among my grandparents’ generation. With the world on the brink, they set aside petty differences to work toward the common goals of saving humanity and creating a more prosperous world.

On the brink again

We’re on the brink again. The world economy is in tatters. Radical Islam threatens the security and stability of the planet. America has proven unable, at least to this point, to address major concerns about energy, health care, infrastructure, immigration and other issues. Global warming looms as the next worldwide crisis.

It’s time for a new generation of Americans to step up.

There are politicos in Washington who get it. I was literally brought to tears earlier this year when Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., flew across the country to pay tribute to a friend from across the aisle, the retiring Sen. Pete Domenici, by headlining a conference in Las Cruces aimed at honoring New Mexico’s retiring Republican senator. The two politicians, who often disagree vehemently on policy issues, made the case for more civility and lamented the overly partisan political climate that has crippled Washington. They spoke lovingly and respectfully about each other, and it was clear they had built a strong relationship during their years of service.

They are models of what most of their colleagues have forgotten:

Most Americans want us to reach the same goals, such as reducing the number of abortions and increasing the number of people with health care. We just disagree about how to get there. We’re all trying to find our way through this life with different perspectives based on our unique experiences. We’re all human, which means we’re capable of both horrible mistakes and great deeds. We all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. When we sit down at the same table and honestly try to resolve our differences, we are capable of great accomplishments.

Change comes from the bottom up

Beginning with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the last several years have already led to dramatic changes in America. We’re shifting from a focus on building institutions of great power — whether they be megachurches, political organizations or huge corporations — to building relationships, which are the true foundation of any effort to solve the world’s problems.

Both major-party presidential candidates see the shift. They both talk about change and reform. John McCain actually has one of the least partisan records of any member of Congress. Barack Obama is correct when he says he’s been talking about change since before McCain and everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and made “change” the buzzword of the election.

As America moves into an era of addressing a myriad of emergencies and complex problems, both candidates say they would lead us down that path of change. Who can most effectively do it? You decide.

What I know, regardless of who wins, is that change comes from the bottom up, not vice versa. It begins with conversations around our dinner tables and at our churches and community centers. It spreads through involvement in local efforts to better our communities, be it through political activism, charity or other means. Eventually, if we force it, such change will permeate the highest levels of our government.

Change is spreading like wildfire across America. Regardless of who wins the election, my hope is that Washington is going to have no choice but to get on board.