False Expectations

 

                If it’s not obvious at this point, there is a generational gap on the view of this country. The older generation is scared of the changes that are being made and pushing back as hard as they can. The younger generation is scared of the lack of change being made, are rallying and protesting. All of our thoughts are being generated by fear. They are not being made by progress or the desire to help others. We demonize the other side, because their fears are different than ours. We demonize them because we feel that we alone have the solutions. Be it reliving the status quo or trying to move forward to a new normal. We owe it to ourselves, and our next of kin to determine what can be the best path forward.

                The younger of us have grown up in a society where they know that they will need some form of degree to get a job. However, they also know that said degree will almost assuredly put them in debt for most if not all of their early adult lives. Due to that debt, few of them will be able to reach what once was the American standard of home ownership. The calculus here is not hard, rising tuitions costs plus the near stagnant increase in wages for about 40 years, means that there is less money to be spent. How can one be expectant to achieve the same as their parents when they have far far less opportunity to?

                To add to all of this, we have grown up in a society where we have been taught that the less fortunate are less fortunate because of who they are. Its not that they haven’t been given the same opportunities as us and not taken advantage of it, no, they are just lazy. We’ve been taught that anyone who doesn’t conform to what is considered “normal” is likely to be a problem. We’ve been taught that people loving each other for who they are is a slippery slope. We’ve been taught that weapons of mass destruction are a reason for you to die, unless you use them to defend yourself against a potential dystopian apocalypse.

                We’re told time and again that we don’t know what we are talking about, that when we’re older we’ll understand. What more do we need to know? Too many of us are in debt obtaining a degree. Even though we want to be on our own we are chastised for living at home despite the fact that we simply can’t afford to move out even if we managed to land our dream job. If we are lucky and land our dream job at an early age, we could be stuck as far as growth within. Healthcare is only “affordable” to those who have a job. To move ahead you have to consider the window to get healthcare with your new job. Too many people are afraid to move on because there would be a gap in healthcare. Meaning, you’ll stick around with a crappy job because moving to a new position could easily mean that someone in your family will die.

                It’s so easy for the previous generation to write us off and say that we’re just looking for a hand out, or looking for an easy pay day. This is just so far from the truth, it’s out of touch with reality. We want to work, we want to contribute. The problem is that society has told us that we’re not allowed, we’re not qualified enough, we’re too young, we don’t understand how the world works. Let me tell you, we know more than you give us credit for. At the same time qualified individuals don’t get jobs because they’re too “old”. What is it? Is it the age or how you’re perceived?

                To be sure, an entire generation of Americans were raised in a period where they were forcibly told they weren’t good enough, that they needed more money, despite the obvious lack of ability to obtain it. An entire generation being told they didn’t stack up to their ancestors simply because they had less opportunity. An entire generation being told any type of reform isn’t possible because someone 200 years ago said that what was best for the time will forever be the best. An entire generation was told that the people who ensured that adaptability and change was part of their government said that their word was final and couldn’t be changed.

                Was there any other outcome? People are pissed off and want change. The system has only benefited few, not the general population. And none of what I have said takes into account how racist our world view as a country truly is. I probably can’t really take that into account myself. Best I can do is to reflect on my own thoughts and realize that there are things I’ve said or done that was wrong. I wish that everyone else could do the same, for everything, not just race.