Wanner
11/16/08
In our current generation we seem to be a group described by our
technological prowess and social liberation. We live in a time and
country where, for the most part, our generation's members are free
to be whatever they desire. Whether it is based on religion, sexual
orientation, profession or political viewpoints, we have the freedom.
But why, with all of our possibilities in life, have we succumbed to
the apathy that the previous generations never seemed to totally fall
victim to? With all of the potential we as a young crowd possess, we
sure do exhibit a depressing and diminishing amount of passion.
Of course apathy has always been a strong trait among men and women,
even the most rebellious and passionate people have fallen under its
lame spell. We've all overlooked things which in our mind were petty
and futile to care for, deciding they would be better worked out
without our interference anyways. It used to be that the people of
the United States stood up and fought for what was right instead of
sitting around hoping for better times. When the African Americans
were suppressed, they marched, they protested, they did it all.
College campuses used to be places that showcased teenage angst and
promoted the rebellious nature that was amplified by events such as
the war in Vietnam or the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s.
Abbie Hoffman and the hippies fought, in a reasonable and non-violent
way, against the things they believed to be wrong in the world.
Our current youth seems content with sitting around and using the
internet to relay messages of animosity and hate against politicians
we don't understand and events we weren't alive for. It is hard for
me to walk around this beautiful campus, filled with so much talent,
and hear the hypocritical demons who feel their word is right or good
because they exclaim it with pamphlets. I want to see them march; I
want to see them give it all up to make a change. People are saying
they care, but all I hear is fear of failure.
Some of our greatest attributes as American citizens have come from
the struggle of a man or a woman who had a dream. The dream may have
been illogical, corrupt, or even unkind in the sense of practical
morals, but at least they fed that dream. The point is not that the
dream is sane or moral in what it presents, rather that the dream
exists and through its mere existence we can see hope, truth and the
sanctity of man in its purest form.
I myself fall victim to the apathetic side of college. I cared very
much about grades until I entered college and put the idea in my mind
that everything would work itself out in the end, as long as I had a
degree. Degrees will not change the world; they'll feed my family,
and all of you Buckeyes may think that is enough, but it isn't. I
must do more; I must be a part of something greater. We need to
regain the passions that we as a society once held for the things we
believed to be true. I see those who were once morally sound falling
victim to corruption, and those who were once filled with corruption
falling victim to morals. Fight it. Do everything you can to create
your own identity and spurn your own revolution, whether it is for
animal rights, drinking rights, gay marriage, etc. We have so many
issues in this country that we leave up to our politicians to debate
that we have become a stagnant group who would rather follow one man
or woman than a strong, devoted group of lunatics with a dream.
Just remember, those lunatics are only such until their dream becomes
a reality. You know, screw it, I'm tired and this doesn't even
matter. We'll just die anyways.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment