It started with flip flops in the White House. A few days ago I was watching an NBC News report about how a women's championship lacrosse team wore flip flops to their photo-op with the Prez at the White House. Big deal, right? Well, one of the analysts said how, for Generation Y or whatever you want to call kids these days, wearing (dressy) flip flops in formal settings their form of rebellion. Compare this with the ruckus-raising antics of the 60s, and those of Generation X. Is that the best we can do? Flip Flops?
That little comment led me to reconsider a lot about people in my age group. It's not that we haven't done anything, it is that it seems we don't have the desire to do anything. The M.O. is, just stay low, buy whatever's on TV, do what your peer groups expects you to, go to college cause it's "the thing to do", and get a job where you make a lot of money. Outside of white kids listening to rap, "Rock the boat" is certainly not on the list (and even that isn't a big deal anymore I would argue).
We can't even wear our slacker labels with pride like Gen X can. At least they were serious about it. Nowadays, don't step out of line, and be sure to look good while not doing anything. Did the economic boom years of the late 90's make everyone complacent? Is it the country's increasingly superficial, cookie-cutter ethos to blame? Even with the events of Sep. 11, there is still a shocking apathy of young people towards politics and the electoral process. It's a safe bet most college kids can't even tell you who their state senators are, never mind the details of the Iraq war. I'm just concerned that if people get complacent, and allow things to happen that shouldn't, that could be as damaging in the long run as any rebellious activity.
Hell, I know these arguments are nothing new. These tags apply to probably all groups of young people and have been said by old people for generations. But for me, this was a revelation of something that I'd felt for awhile but never really made the connection. I'm concerned when we look back at ourselves, we're not going to have stood for anything except a sharp increase in iPod sales. Now, I'm not recommending that everyone get weeded out or start a radical political movement, but just do something, dammit!
Posted by nc/frodaddy
at 1:03 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, 22 July 2005 1:08 AM EDT
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Updated: Friday, 22 July 2005 1:08 AM EDT
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