Yes, I said Discrimination with a capital D.
We have seen racial discrimination in this country — along with bias against people because of their gender, age or sexual orientation — so it makes sense that discrimination targeting those guilty of simply turning 18 can be just as prevalent.
Jonathan Smith had been told that he was old enough to seek county office, only to later learn he was barred from doing so by state election law requiring such candidates to be 21.
As fellow reporter Meghann Evans mentioned in another column in recent days, Smith is to be commended for wanting to help his community — which she aptly pointed out is the key ingredient in public service. Meghann also noted that Smith’s efforts are especially refreshing at a time when most in his age group are apathetic toward government in general.
Yes, as a staunch defender of democracy, the Jonathan Smith story does make me feel refreshed and all warm and fuzzy-like, but also causes me to be steaming, boiling mad.
As a former 18-year-old myself and a professional journalist sworn to speak out against discrimination wherever I see it, I must loudly protest the gross mistreatment of those coming of age — or are they?
Certainly, being 18 can present confusing times for a person even when laws or rules aren’t part of the equation. He or she usually is graduating from high school and deciding what course life will take, and often the path isn’t too clear.
As Alice Cooper sang in his legendary song, “Eighteen”:
“I’m in the middle without any plans. I’m a boy and I'm a man. I’m eighteen, and I don’t know what I want.”
However, does society do much to help young folks find their way in the world? No, it does not, and you only have to look at our system of laws to see that:
n For example, a person may vote if they are 18, but as in the case of Jonathan Smith, he or she can’t run for county office. In some strange way, we are saying young people can be depended on to help decide who gets elected, but not to actually hold seats. Hmmm.
n In North Carolina, a person can get married without parental consent at age 18, and also obtain a tattoo or piercing.
n However, one may not purchase liquor, beer or wine until they are 21.
You might say that the collective intent of those laws reflects Big Brother’s worries about someone getting plastered, then waking up the next morning to the shock of a wild tattoo along with a new husband or wife.
n Meanwhile, one may own property and pay taxes at 18.
n An 18-year-old also is allowed to buy a shotgun, but people must be 21 to own a handgun and the same age to possess a gun permit, of course.
n But you only have to be 16 to be issued a driver’s license and get behind the wheel of what becomes a deadly weapon all too frequently.
n A person can enlist in the Army even at age 17 with parental permission and be exposed to military life, although service is limited to the Reserves and National Guard at that age and doesn’t include regular Army duty.
Analyzing all these confusing rules on ages required for this or that brings me to the all-time-favorite contradiction of people being old enough to die for their country, but too young to drink a beer before being shipped overseas.
It seems to me, particularly in light of the Jonathan Smith case, that we must decide once and for all if 18-year-olds are adults or children and then treat them this way — across the board.
I don’t think anyone wants a president who is only 18, because the maturity and experience of older age truly makes a difference with that position. But county commissioner? Come on?
Although our county commissioners are usually quite qualified and knowledgeable individuals, there’s every reason to believe an intelligent, caring 18-year-old could make just as much difference on the local level as people twice or three times that age.
Tom Joyce is a staff reporter for The Mount Airy News. He can be reached at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or 719-1924.
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