I don’t always believe that the results of surveys or polls or even personal anecdotes are representative of reality, but I sense that we nonetheless would do well to consider their findings when most of them are pointing to the same difficulties. In particular, a spate of studies seem to be indicating that members of Gen Z (those who are eighteen to twenty seven years old} as well as students from twelve to eighteen are feeling alienated from society. While disenchanted young people are nothing new, their concerns seem to be quite valid and we would do well to hear what they have to say.
Historically those of us who have weathered the storms of adolescence, teen years and early adulthood generally scoff at the angst of the younger folks among us as being simply phases that we all endure until we have a bit of real life experience under our belts. Even ancient Greeks complained about the lassitude of the young, but somehow the issues that they describe in today’s world ring true and should be more of concern to all of us. They earnestly and honestly are attempting to tell us what is wrong and we tend to blithely suggest that they might do better if they simply switch off social media, computer games and television. In other words we ignore what they are telling us because it seems to be just a modern day version of growing pains. We forget or possibly never knew that the Founding Fathers of our nation were not all older men. James Monroe was eighteen, Alexander Hamilton was twenty one and James Madison was twenty five among other revolutionary voices of our American revolution who were in their teens or twenties.
Our youngest citizens and voters are indicating that they are in fact intensely interested in the current issues of our country but feel that most adults are ignoring what they have to say about them. They also point to problems that don’t appear to be of concern to much of the electorate. As such they feel a sense of abandonment by the older voters and politicians. They are looking into the future while the rest of us seem to be mired in the present. So what is worrying voters aged eighteen to twenty seven?
Many of them believe that the American obsession with guns is making virtually every public and private venue unsafe. Most advocate for some form of gun control but instead witness more gun sales and more mass shootings. The idea of ever reaching consensus or even logically discussing this issue seems remote and so they feel ignored and perhaps even unimportant as they attempt to voice their concerns.
Our young also worry about the advance of climate change and the impact it will have on their lives. They see themselves as ultimately holding the bag of the mistake of pretending that we don’t have to make some tough sacrifices now to prevent worldwide climate related chaos and tragedy later. Some even wonder if they should bring children into a world that might one day feel apocalyptic.
This group feels that educational systems need to be continually updated to correspond with the times rather than returning to methodologies of the past. They expect truth, not protection of their egos, which means that they want to study difficult topics and be taught how to critically analyze them. They know that they will need both academic and practical skills to navigate the problems that seem to be looming while the cost of gaining them continues to grow beyond their ability to afford them. Those who make the investments in time, effort and money have been left to juggle enormous debts before they even start working on their first jobs.
They look into their own future in the face of looming wars and political parties unable or unwilling to work together with a goal of solving problems rather than being elected. In their estimation systems are breaking down because older adults would rather bicker than compromise. They see their freedoms being diminished one by one while nobody asks them what they would like to see happening. The world appears chaotic and if they voice opinions about it that older adults do not share, their voices are stilled and ridiculed.
The results is that more and more of our youngest emerging adults are filled with anxiety and sometimes a lack of hope that leads to depression. The numbers reporting such feelings are unprecedented and all too often the response from the rest of us is to call them “snowflakes” or to insinuate that they are lazy and ignorant of reality, a familiar response to those who grew up fighting for what they saw as justice during the Civil Rights movement or the protests of the war in Vietnam.
Every nation needs a conscience and often that self analysis comes from the young who have not yet become so tainted that they are much more able to see the problems that most need to be addressed. It would be quite wonderful if we would take the time to listen to what they have to say and respect their right to have a stake in their own futures. We would do well to know who and what inspires them because one day we will hand over the reins to them and hopefully they will have something more to work with than the problems we have left them through inaction.
I believe in the wisdom of Generation Z. There are Alexander Hamiltons and James Madisons among them. We should tap into their discernment and earnest interest in tackling the problems that are most affecting them. They have the kind of pure wisdom that we desperately need. Let them into the discussions and they will help us to revolutionize the future.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 