when the youth revolt…
Even though the generation that will supersede my own is viewed as reckless, irresponsible, money hungry, and foolish, I see so much more. My eyes observe a group of individuals who resemble change. They stand for something more than JUST anarchy. The youth of today remind me of what it truly means to be free. They are the balance our civilization needs, to continue.
The older my generation becomes, the more we resemble our parents. Do good in school so you can go to college. For what? Does not matter, just go. Graduate with a degree, procure a job that makes your family proud. Settle down with someone who gains easy approval from your family. Get married, have some kids. Work grueling hours so your kids can go to college. For what? Does not matter, they just HAVE to go…and the cycle repeats itself…typically.
This might sound extreme for some people, on point for others. There is no denying that far more people older than me, as well as my older peers, believe in this formula. I do not see a lot of my generation on a path of happiness. I see them trying to pursue it every day though. Whether it be through their jobs (NOT careers), relationships (platonic and romantic), or children.
The American Dream has been drilled into our heads as the cycle I stated above. As time evolves so do ideals and this Dream will never die; it just begins to look different. So while the youth are “misguided” at what point do we ask WHO led them astray? The youth of today seek happiness wherever they can find it but the focus seems to be more on sex, money, and drugs. While not too farfetched from our parents and grandparents, the excessive levels cause concern.
Rather than seeing that the cycle is completing itself (only to start again), we spend tremendous amounts of time trying to see the differences. There really are none…the youth have always terrified the old. My assessment is that the older human beings see their lives ending and do not want these wild deviants taking care of their homes. This is out of our control but there is something we can do to feel more at peace. We COULD seek to be allies with the youth versus waging war with something we cannot control. The Baby Boomers could not stop the change Generation X effected; Generation X is powerless to Generation Y’s obvious intrusion and Generation Y cannot fully suppress Generation Z from doing what they are destined to do.
These are not heretical beliefs. It is the history of our country. Everyone wants a life without constant worry about necessities of (American) life.
History also tells the same story of rebuilding. The only way anything was rebuilt was people worked as teams to rise. This is the stage America has not completely cycled through yet. The old want to make it difficult for the young and the youth behave so belligerently that their elders refuse to have patience. If anything will create anarchy, it will be humans trying to destroy a process that is inevitable. All of us thinking we know what is best when the blueprint continues to be laid out every 18-20 years.
So, much to the dismay of my older peers, it is not us who will solely stage a revolt. Most of us are too scared to give up our miserable ass jobs and the rest of our material possessions we cannot take with us when we die. It is my belief (according to history repeating itself) that my younger peers and the Millenials are the ones effecting enough change to provoke a revolution. They have less to live for so they have less to lose…so their risks tend to be many versus our safe few.
When we all get to a point where all we have is our lives to live for, then it will be clear that WE create our American Dream. The youth, regardless of their lack of immense knowledge our old, “smart” asses have, see this. Those who do not want this either need to work harder to prevent it or work with the new generations to effect POSITIVE change.
The sign of a good leader is being able to follow as well as they lead. Somewhere along the road of change, our assumed leaders (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.) forgot this. The youth do not desire to be lead by stubborn, autocratic leaders. So as we continue to age, we are faced with the harsh reality of the results of our bad leadership biting us in the ass. I have faith in time though…it will work itself out and I am ready for all of the change that time brings while I am alive.
Are you?
