I am from classic rock,
from hunting and women belong in the kitchen
from big Sunday meals,
from believing in god,
and from staying home

i am from "children should be seen, not heard"
from "this generation has it easy"
from "discrimination doesn't exist anymore"
from "in my day, we didn't have bullying laws, we 'took it like a man'"

but just because i am from these things,
doesn't mean that's who i am

i like heavier music, metal and heavy metal,
i am an anti-hunting and feminist advocate and activist,
i prefer salads and take out
i believe in more than just Christianity
i like to be outside and away from home

our youth, my generation, are the ones growing up in the world
not nearly ready to leave
we have a voice that deserves to be heard
we think outside conformity
why should other people dictate our future when we don't have any say in the matter?
why should they-we- be forced to fight in a war
that we didn't start, want, or have a choice in?
but you're right
"children should be seen and not heard"

our generation deals with cyber-bullies,
and the ones that are heard, but not seen
we deal with stress levels so high,
if we were in the 50s,
we would be in a mental asylum
we get so stressed over finals,
we make ourselves physically ill
we are told its "not that bad"
our friends are committing suicide at an all-time high
one in 12 of us will attempt suicide
many-to many- will succeed.
we deal with under ground and subtle sexism
which is, in many ways, worse
women are afraid to be who they are
dress how they please,
because they might get raped
then blamed for it.
police officers and relatives,
the people we are supposed to trust,
are the ones acting against us
we constantly live in fear,
but you're right
"we 'have it easy'"

people of color don't always have a completely fair trial
people of color are beaten by police officers for "looking suspicious"
women are told what they can and cant wear
because it'd "distract the boys"
women are getting suspended because they showed a shoulder,
while boys can play shirts and skins basket ball in co-ed phy ed
gay and trans people are getting abused and kicked out,
for being who they are
homosexuals are being told they "just haven't found the right one yet"
asexual are being told their sexuality doesn't exist.
that they just have to "wait for the right person"
people with eating disorders are called freaks,
instead of getting the help they need.
the older generations are denying us our rights
some people cant marry the person they love
some people commit suicide because they were harassed
because of
race/sex/gender/sexuality
but you're right
"discrimination doesn't exist anymore"

our "none existent" disorders are killing us
we have anxiety disorders so real, they physically because us pain
at some thoughts, such as not getting a good grade on our final, we can vomit.
because one test could destroy our entire future
eating disorders occur because of how much pressure we are under
placed by society,
by friends,
by education system,
by our families even,
to be perfect.
to be thin,
but not to thin
to have a perfect waist and bust line,
to have large breasts,
but not to large
to be tan,
but not to tan,
its everywhere we look
they can affect anyone,
they have gotten to me,
and affected me.
but you're right
"our disorders aren't real"

i was emotionally and mentally bullied for years,
i came home crying every day since the 3rd grade,
wishing i could just die
get hit by a car,
burn in a fire,
catch a fatal disease,
just so i wouldn't have to deal with slowly dying inside.
my bullies were not only on the outside, but also on the inside.
a third grader shouldn't have to deal with these thoughts.
millions of people are bullied,
whether it be online-anonymously,
at school, at home, even in their own minds.
usually just for being who they are,
trying to fit in,
or for things they cant help.
some are physical abuse,
being punched, kicked, etc.
but most are even worse,
the emotional and mental abuse,
the scars that wont fade, or go away
thousands of us commit suicide from it,
most, if not all, think about it,
every week, everyday, every hour, every minute, never leaving.
but we shouldn't try to end it
you're right
"we should just 'take it like a man'"

this is where i come from
but that's not who i am
just because you come from something,
doesn't mean you must become it
change MUST come
but it wont if you always become
what you came from
i chose to change my way of thinking,
will you?