At 16, Are You Fit to Decide a Nation's Future? Germany's Divided Over This.

Have you ever had this feeling?

Grown-ups always discuss "big issues" at the dinner table – housing prices, government policies, international relations. And you, as a young person, clearly have countless thoughts and feelings, perhaps anxiety about environmental concerns, or discontent with the education system. But the moment you speak up, you invariably hear, "You're still young, you don't understand."

It's as if an invisible line has been drawn, demarcating the boundary between "grown-ups" and "children." On one side of this line, there's no right to question; on the other, there are the undisputed decision-makers.

So, where exactly should this line be drawn? At 18, 20, or… 16?

Recently, Germans have been fiercely debating this very issue: whether the voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16.

A Dispute Over the "Family Key"

We can imagine a nation as a large family, and the right to vote as a "family key."

In the past, this key was held only by the "guardians" (older citizens) of the family. They decided everything within the household: the interior decor (urban planning), utility expenses (public budget), and even the air conditioner's temperature (environmental policy).

Meanwhile, the "children" of the house (the younger generation), though they live here and will continue to for decades, didn't possess this key. They could only passively accept the guardians' decisions.

But now, the "children" have had enough.

Global youth, epitomised by "Environmental Activist" Greta Thunberg, have demonstrated through their actions how deeply they care about the future of their "home." They took to the streets, appealing for attention to climate change – after all, if the "house" grows increasingly hot due to the grown-ups' decisions, it's they, who will live in it the longest, who will bear the brunt.

A 2019 survey revealed that over 40% of young Germans are "very interested" in politics. They are no longer the generation characterised by political apathy.

Consequently, some "enlightened guardians" (such as Germany's Green Party and Social Democratic Party) proposed: "Why don't we give a key to 16-year-olds as well? Since they care so much about this home, they should have a voice."

This proposal immediately caused an uproar at the "family meeting."

The opposing "guardians" expressed deep concern: "16? Have they truly thought this through? Will they be easily misled? Will they only think about partying (making irresponsible votes) and turn the house upside down?"

Does this sound familiar? It's precisely an upgraded version of "You're still young, you don't understand."

The Right to Decide the Future Has Never Been a Given

Interestingly, historically, the criteria for "who is qualified to hold the key" have constantly evolved.

In the 19th-century German Empire, only men aged 25 and above had the right to vote, accounting for merely 20% of the total population. Later, women also fought for and gained this right. Still later, in 1970, the voting age was lowered from 20 to 18.

You see, so-called "maturity" has never been a rigid biological standard, but rather a continuously evolving social consensus.

A democracy scholar incisively pointed out: "The issue of voting rights is, at its core, a struggle for power."

Political parties supporting the lower age limit naturally hope to win the votes of young people. But the deeper significance lies in this: when a society begins to discuss "whether to grant voting rights to 16-year-olds," it is, in fact, rethinking a more fundamental question:

Do we truly trust our next generation?

Instead of Asking "Are You Ready?", Give Them Responsibility to Help Them Prepare

Let's return to the "family key" metaphor.

Our concern is that 16-year-olds might misuse the key once they get it. But have we considered another possibility?

It is precisely because you give them the key that they begin to truly learn how to shoulder the responsibilities of a "family member."

When they know their vote can influence their local community's environment or school resources, they will be more motivated to understand these issues, to think, and to judge. Rights foster responsibility. And trust, in itself, is the best education.

This debate unfolding in Germany is, in fact, a subject that the entire world is confronting. It concerns not just a single ballot, but also how we perceive the future, and how we walk alongside the young people who are shaping it.

And in this era of globalisation, understanding voices from distant lands and participating in global discussions has become more crucial than ever. Fortunately, technology is breaking down barriers. For instance, a messaging app like Lingogram with built-in AI translation allows you to effortlessly communicate with friends worldwide, whether discussing voting rights in Germany or sharing your perspective on the future.

After all, the future belongs not just to one nation or one generation. When you can truly understand each other, that's when this world truly becomes our shared home.