“The youngsters of today”.
Oh what a terrible bunch.
“We were never like that when we were young”.
I am forever seeing emails, posts and memories of a rose-tinted past of when older generations lived an idyllic life. But – hang on a minute. I think some people have got it all wrong. Are the older generations right when they criticise the young people today? Read some of the comments below and take a minute to really think about them.
“The younger generation are so violent – It’s all because of the violent computer games”.
Which generation was it that started two World Wars?
“The younger generation have no family values”.
Which generation shipped off women to have their babies then forced them to return home in shame and never speak of their children, who they would never see again.
“The younger generation are always texting and using their phones – Facebooking and Tweeting…”
Which generation effectively Facebooked and Tweeted across their garden fences when entire communities lived in the same village or town. The world is more mobile now but the gossip is just as connected now as ever.
“The younger generation have no respect”.
Which generation showed little respect to other cultures (creating Empires, claiming nations, having slaves, banning mixed race marriages), or homosexuals (banning same-sex marriage)? Which generation created more divides between social and ethnic groups?
“The young are not educated”.
Which generation felt the need to only educate the men and knew that a woman’s place was at home?
If the older generation are proud then so be it, but I am glad to be from the younger, progressive, more open, less high-and-mighty generation where people can be more free with their lives. People can marry who they wish without having to live in shame or run the risk of being disowned by their families and friends.
The world is far from perfect – but surely it is improving – human rights continue to improve.
I would rather live in 2012 (which the older generation criticise so often) than the repressed 1940s.
