Photo 199715078 / High Hopes © Solarseven | Dreamstime.com
Perhaps one of the most timeless and universal activities that people indulge in is that of complaining about the younger generation. Back in the day, like in the 4th Century B.C., Aristotle complained, “[Young people] are high-minded because they have not yet been humbled by life, nor have they experienced the force of circumstances… They think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it.” Aristotle’s thoughts weren’t unique. A century before Aristotle came Socrates’ comment that, “Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when elders enter the room, they contradict their parents and tyrannize their teachers. Children are now tyrants.” Later, in 20 B.C. the Roman poet Horace wrote, “Our sires’ age was worse than our grandsires’. We, their sons, are more worthless than they; so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more corrupt.” Okay, maybe he wasn’t ripping on the youth that he saw, but he was proactively complaining. And he did also say, “The beardless youth… does not foresee what is useful, squandering his money.”
The complaining about youth didn’t end as the world turned from B.C. to C.E (or A.D.). Nope. In the 1600’s there were complaints about youth swearing and being disrespectful to their elders. In the 1700’s there were complaints that youthful dress styles for young men were casting aside traditional masculinity in lieu of clothing that was “effeminate.” The fear was that future generations might suffer due to a lack of masculine pursuits as evidenced by the mincing and lacy styles (okay, if you look at some of that fashion you can maybe agree that the styles seriously needed revising). In the early 1800s the waltz was going to destroy the morals of society. Robert Louis Stevenson even took umbrage at the lack of morality seen in the style umbrellas some young people used! The list goes on and on. The jitterbug was going to bring down the next generation; rock and roll was proof of the loss of a moral compass; the invention of home video gaming was proof that the younger generation was doomed.
I have sat in many church classrooms filled with older people complaining about the younger generation in regard to language, dress, work habits, choice of activities, use of social media, eating habits, involvement in political causes, marital choices, and every other possible issue under the sun. As someone who has great love and respect for Millennials and Gen X-ers, I’ve decided that enough is enough and I am going to stand up for them! (In order to provide full disclosure, I have been granted honorary Millennial status…)
I want to tell you about some of the amazing things I have seen in these young people.
- One young Millennial, at the age of 16, started a non-profit organization that helped girls from troubled homes improve their self-esteem and build their self-confidence. She worked one-on-one with girls to help them love themselves. She has touched numerous lives.
- Another Millennial I know just adopted a family of five Native American children. These children all have special needs, but she is there taking full charge in their lives.
- I’ve watched incredibly high numbers of Millennials serve missions for their churches. They’ve worked not just in proselytizing, but in providing countless hours of service to the most marginalized members of society.
- My daughter, on the edge of both Millennial and Gen Z, is like many of her friends, choosing a career route focusing on humanitarian needs and human rights. Even though these aren’t high paying careers, they’d rather make life better in the real world for those who have so little.
- There is a Millennial (another one who sits on the edge between the two younger generations) who volunteered to take walk my very huge dogs every single day after my husband died. He volunteered to help in numerous ways as well in those following months, and even now – six years later – he comes weekly to do odd jobs for me and only accepts an occasional lunch as payment.
- I have participated in political organizations designed to bring down the political temperature in the country. These groups seek compromise while adhering to principles. They fight for social justice, equality, compassionate conservative fiscal policies, right to life at all stages, a cleaner environment, and standards of decency in public discourse. These organizations were all started by Millennials and most of the participants are young.
- I’ve seen Gen Z-ers undertake projects during the pandemic to ensure older people who were isolated had a means to get food and other necessities without leaving their homes.
- I recently heard of some Gen Z-ers who “adopted” grandparents at a local assisted living center and kept tabs on them throughout the pandemic through letters and phone/video calls.
- Many Millennials and Gen Z-ers have harnessed the power of social media to call attention to injustice and intolerance. With coherent, heartfelt, and compelling arguments they lead the nation to a more loving and equal place.
- Many individuals in these younger generations suffer from mental and physical disabilities at a rate that wasn’t known in my youth, and yet I watch these young people innovate and persevere to a level that amazes me. They seem unwilling to let handicaps and hardships stop them from pursuing their dreams.
It is so easy to look down on those who are younger and live life a little differently than we did at that age. Anyone who isn’t exactly a clone of us proves to be fair game, it seems. I’m reminded, however, of a line from the Merchant of Venice which I’m about to take completely out of context. In the play Shylock complains when he feels taken advantage of, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” In my out-of-context analysis, I look at this and think of people from all generations and all walks of life who bleed, are ticklish, and ultimately die the same as everyone else. Indeed, we are actually more alike than we often think. Technology, music, and clothing styles may change, but at our cores we are all humans with human tendencies and desires.
Elizabeth and I have a running gag that is, of course, based off of music. When I was in elementary school I learned the song High Hopes. In it we hear about an ant that manages to move a rubber tree plant and a ram who butts a hole into a billion-kilowatt dam all because they have harnessed their high hopes that they can succeed in impossible endeavors. I have always loved this song! I sing it frequently when I’m struggling to build up my courage for something or another. Meanwhile, Elizabeth also loves a song called High Hopes. This song celebrates the indomitable spirit and the need to never give up. Does the message sound familiar? Yep. The tunes, the rhythms, the lyrics, and the styles might be vastly different, but the messages are the same. One song was written before I was even born in the 1950’s and one is from 2018, but they speak to the same universal desire and hope. Every time Elizabeth plays High Hopes I ask about the whereabouts of the ant and the ram. Every time I play my favorite version of High Hopes Elizabeth groans and starts singing the more modern version. Each time we play this game I am reminded that one generation’s hopes are no better than another’s and that we all are reaching for the same dream of making the world better for their having been in it.
Obviously not all people of a generation are achievers. It doesn’t matter which generation we’re talking about, there are flaws that can be found and focused on. In general, however, where one generation excels, another may struggle, but they then soar and succeed in other ways. I admit that my favorite accounts on social media belong to younger people. Their desire to make things better and make no excuses is refreshing. I have nothing but high hopes for the future when I look what they are willing to strive for.
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Didn’t know how but I always had a feeling
I was gonna be that one in a million.
Always had high, high hopes
‘Cuz he had high hopes, he had high hopes,
He had high apple pie in the sky hopes.
Viva the youth! Viva those who have dreams and are working to make them come true! Viva to all, of all ages and in all times, who are fighting for a better world. The Greatest Generation saved the world from fascism. This current generation is working towards defeating bigotry and intolerance. How grateful I am for both. Here’s to high hopes and great success!
Look to God and Live... Joyfully! 