One Generation Speaks About Another

The more things change, the more they remain just as crazy. I was in the midst of a group of people in my general age group a few weeks ago. I sat in stunned silence as the conversation got around to

This Younger Generation Today.

Slackers, lazy, uncommitted, always looking for the ways out of work. Not like our generation when we had to work hard doing things like stocking shelves in grocery stores, de-tasseling corn, even mowing the lawn. For a few brief moments I was sure that the greatest dream of science fiction writers had finally been invented. The Time Machine. I was convinced I was listening to my parents and grandparents and their generations talking about that large and oh so lazy and unwashed group called The Baby Boomers. The group that every one in that conversation belonged to.

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
--Pete Townshend and the Who (Wikipedia)

My, oh my. Have we such short memories? Or is this an absolutely normal growth of narrow-mindedness as one's brain ages, synapses fire differently, and years of rock and roll erode the ability to remember? Is it impossible to trust anyone under 30. I'm actually wondering if we can trust anyone over 60 to look at the youth and see them as the future us just as they are a real remnant of the memory we have tried to glorify of what we were.

We look at them and the glowing memories are tarnished. We are brought back to reality. We come to issues of mortality and try to make sense of it.

As for my experience of the younger generation after working with youth for most of the past 45 years in one capacity or another? I think the future is probably in damn good hands. Perhaps even better than ours have been these last 45 years. But then again, maybe that's early senility creeping in.

So turn up the volume.....

There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!
--Pete Townshend and The Who