Millennials embrace future’s challenge

The millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) are now the largest age grouping in American history. Many baby boomers who raised the millennials seem to find it cathartic to blame them for any perceived societal failings. Boomers point the finger when concerned about the direction of social issues, family values, and the economy. The attacks can be personal: “These kids are entitled, sheltered, and lazy.”

Boomers really wish someone had raised these millennials with the same values that the boomers hold so dear. They scratch their heads and wonder who gave them all of these participation trophies. It’s natural for an aging generation to fear change and cling to nostalgia.

As a proud millennial, I challenge the critics. We are the most open-minded generation this country has ever seen. We are well educated, high-achieving, and teamoriented. We work together to solve problems creatively.

We bravely serve our country at home and abroad. Like it or not, we will soon take the torch and lead this country. But have faith. One of our strongest qualities is our desire to leave things better than we found them.

Zach Imwalle Dublin that most people pardoned were in fact convicted felons.

Past pardoned felons have been thieves and/or murders and/or traitors. Very simply, a presidential pardon is a get-out-of-jail-free card. Only presidents William H. Harrison, James Garfield (both served abbreviated terms) and Donald Trump have not issued a pardon. In my opinion recent presidents have made several questionable pardons.

Could a president pardon himself/herself? Maybe. The U.S. Constitution says a presidential pardon is absolute, not reviewable, with the lone exception involving an impeachment. As the British Lord Acton stated: “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

To change the president’s pardoning authority, an amendment to the constitution is necessary. Therefore, I propose that The Congress begin to debate the merits of a constitutional amendment requiring that a presidential pardon to be reviewed and approved by a non-executive branch of the government before the pardon can be issued/enforced.

David Gluntz Hilliard