Young Voices Critical to Advancing Nuclear Security

Late last week, KT “Queen of All Media” Mounts took to the pages of Maine’s The Times Record to drop some knowledge on how important young people are becoming in the fight to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons.

Can KT work a “Tommy Boy” reference into her first paragraph? Yes, she can!

I was born into the millennial generation in 1985. I have no memory of the Soviet Union. “Fat Man” to me refers to a Chris Farley dance in the movie “Tommy Boy.” And “duck and cover” in my elementary years meant we would get to play “Heads Down, Thumbs Up.”

In a funny twist of fate, however, despite a lack of experience with these symbols of the Cold War, it may be my generation that will be left to clean up the nuclear weapons mess that remains from it.

[snip]

As the involvement of young people in current debates about nuclear weapons grows, momentum builds for a more secure global future. The road to a world free from the threats of nuclear weapons may be long, but current efforts can get America securely onto the right path.

My generation has been offered a unique opportunity to take the reins — and I believe we’re ready to lead.

Consider this a warm up for tomorrow night’s youth/student conference call with President Obama’s deputy NSA, Ben Rhodes, on U.S. nuclear weapons policy.