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| I'm 23...this is what I see around me.
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Our generation is on the brink. The question is, on the brink of progression or deterioration? We are in position to flood the economy, the government and the media, every outlet that influences the pulse of society. It is our day now. We can no longer say “when I grow up…” .We are grown up; we are capable of our own path, actions and choices. Where is the voice that our previous generations fought so hard for? The generations that now doubt our values, intellect and mentality, washing their hands of us as they speak of the good old days. Where is the quality of life they lived by and believed in? Many of us are just starting out in our career path, slowly working our way up, creating our own businesses, and laying the groundwork for future economical achievements and progress. Over half the CEO’s and upper management positions will be retiring in the next five years. The majority of the establishments for the next 30 years will be managed by someone of our generation. We will set the tone for the economy. Many of us have children or plan on having children within the next five to ten years. This is pivotal because children change the perspective and balance in anyone’s life. Whether they are in the first years of life or still a thought yet to come we need to understand the responsibility of raising morally sound individuals. Children learn from the home, they may see other things outside the home but they know what’s true and right from what they’ve been brought up to know. But how can we pass on what we have not yet mastered ourselves. It starts with us. How do we teach children to do the right thing and be respectable when we glorify and create celebrity out of people who shake their ass and party to become famous? How can we instill morals that we don’t value. How do we display the importance of self love when we don’t love ourselves? How do we guide them with the true meaning of life when our motivation is materialistic competitiveness and not a higher power or self enlightenment? How do we raise children to understand the importance of hard work when we spoil them and praise average behavior? I know too many parents my age who are not raising their children. They yell at them maybe but they are not instilling anything of value in them. Kids grow up too fast these days anyway, if you don’t give them the love, attention and discipline they need from the start, nothing positive will follow. I’m not a mother so I’m not judging. I’m just observing. I see a difference between the people who make their children a priority and understand the responsibility and the ones who just have a kid.You may want to be indifferent to how your peers conduct themselves or raise their children but how they lead their lives intertwines with your path. Some people care about their children more than they do themselves, so here is another way to look at the importance of not just turning the other cheek to the state of our society and the people around you. The entry level teachers coming into the schools now will be responsible for teaching and inspiring your children. The mid level managers at this time will be your children’s boss. Our medical students will be the ones to deliver your child or save their life. The law students will be the ones to represent and enlist new laws. The government interns or community leaders will become our government leaders and someone from our own generation will be our children's president. Understand that what we do and what our peers do will directly affect our future as well as their future. One of our biggest weaknesses is that our generation constantly needs superficial validation. I genuinely believe that we have become the shallowest and laziest generation; we are apathetic, and self-indulgent. It’s a shame that we have the resources and ability to change so much in this world yet we sit back and do nothing. There is a whole world full of people out there who need someone to believe in them or establish something that will allow them to survive. Instead we are distracted by silly things like MySpace and shows like My Sweet Sixteen. They are distorting what’s really important in our age group. The vanity, expectation and entitlement is concerning and it alters the standard for living. It’s important to celebrate all milestones in life but now the emphasis is on the scale of the production not the actual celebration. Outdoing someone else has become the incentive. Earning nice things and providing for our children, giving them what we may not have had is natural. Defining who we are, basing happiness on possessions, living for leisure activities, and outshining someone else is what’s not. We have the 8 years old girls who can pop, lock and drop it and talk about name brands and we have 8 year old boys who can rap along with any song and flirt, but can’t read at their grade level or display common manners. Youth living their life to display it for MySpace feedback has become a damaging trend. It can be a great social tool but it can also heavily promote self absorbed, superficial behavior. It’s ruining the mentality of our younger siblings, as well as us and will only get worse for our children. Even if you want to think it’s not you or your kid’s that will be like that or is already like that…I bet you he or she is friends with or is bullied by one who is, so turning the other cheek is will only become a smack in the face later down the road. There is no shortcut or substitute for parents instilling values, self-worth, faith, discipline and motivation in themselves and their children. It is the basic foundation for anything in this world moving in a positive, authentic direction.
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Posted by missjones523 on 2007-07-19 11:49:53 | Rating: | Views: 119
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miss jones... you are right on point. i am a new father of a 5 month old baby boy named jason. i have been talking to him about his responsibility in this world since he was in my wife's belly. i explain to him that we are so very fortunate to live in the united states, and to live in the home that we do. i explain to him that there are so many people in the world with so much less, and that it his responsibility to help these people out. i know he may not understand the words just yet, but i believe he does understand the meaning. my mother talked to me like this when i was in her belly, and while i was growing up. today as a 30 year young man, i very much believe it is my responsibility to make a difference in this world. by teaching our children the more important things in life, we can begin the change the world. this was an excellent post and thank you for adding some fuel to my already blazing fire.
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Posted by jason
on 2007-07-21 01:16:42
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