As someone rather attuned to generational complaints, I have heard plenty of comments about how spoiled and pampered the rising generation is [1] [2]. And certainly in part these complaints are true, but to be sheltered and pampered in a particularly wicked world is better than the alternative, which is being traumatized and abused in one’s youth by negligent or tyrannical parents, as happened far too often in my generation. There are always trade-offs.
Nonetheless, when the idealism of the rising generation is properly channeled, its benefits are wonderful. Take the story of a Connecticut softball catcher who decided to stop complaining about her school’s terrible field and do something about it, by spending her summer vacation last year making a better field, through mobilizing funding and volunteers as well as doing heavy work herself [3]. This is certainly an anecdote, but it is a revealing one. Every generation and every personality has strengths and weaknesses, as well as a purpose and a point.
Among those who study generational cycles, there is an awareness that there are four fundamental generational types (obviously with a great deal of differences among them). Generation X is one of the nomad generations (the last one of which was the Lost Generation), which tends to produce very well-known writers as well as cynical and individualistic people who tend to be deeply critical of the corrupt and decadent cultures of their time, even as they are unfairly marginalized and insulted by their elders. It ought to come as no surprise, given my very Generation X background, that despite being born as a fairly early Millennial that I tend to think and act more like a Generation Xer myself.
Generation Y, or the Millennials, are far more collective in nature. This collective mindset is both a great strength and a great weakness. But the young, by and large, cannot help being callow and immature. After all, youth is youth, and it lacks the wisdom of age in large part because it lacks the experience that brings painful wisdom. They will grow up in time, and we ought not to be too worried about the pampered and talented young people who have been raised with high expectations and high achievement. We ought to be more concerned about the rest of us, to make sure that they have spaces to fill and opportunities to excel and to use their talents to benefit their own lives and everyone else’s. They will grow up and grow wiser in time, and we ought not to be too hard on them now.
I am more concerned about the older generations than about them. After all, the idealism of the younger generations can easily be corrupted by wicked Baby Boomers who have a supposed crusade for liberty that ends up being for license, and for purity that ends up being for selfish politics. Right now the idealistic younger generation is looking for role models and looking to make a better world. The biggest problem is that so few leaders today, in whatever realm, are worthy of the loyalty and devotion and idealism that the younger generation has in spades. That is our problem and our failure.
Far too many of our leaders today, whether they are political or cultural or religious leaders, are like the Pied Pipers of Hamlin. They preach freedom and liberty and fidelity to better ways but only end up seeking their own selfish interests and bringing destruction and misery to others through endless cultural wars and divisive crises. At best they make a desert and call it a peace. Right now the younger generations by and large are not leaders–instead they are paying dues (mostly in fairly corrupt institutions that are unworthy of their idealism and faith) in the hope that they will eventually be able to lead. And yet like the idealistic Hitler’s youth in the 1930’s, I am deeply concerned that the callow idealism of our rising generation will follow corrupt charlatans like Ron Paul simply because strong godly leaders are lacking. And if it ends up as tragically as I think, it will not be their fault, but they will suffer anyway.
It’s not the kids I’m worried about. It’s the ones who should be adults who trouble me in these dark times.
[1] http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/a/millenials_2.htm
Edge Induced Cohesion 