Bashing Millennials

Bashing Millennials seems to be a growing sport. I think bashing the next generations is a long time honored tradition. So it is nothing new. Is it deserved? How is such behavior helpful? Can we do better?

I'm a Gen Xer. What in the hell did we do other than become good, well behaved, consumers and watch the world burn via CNN? We did not create the current mess we find ourselves in. No, we made it worse with our demand for monster SUV's, fresh meat, High Fructose Corn Syrup and opioids. I'm sure somewhere along the way we did a few useful things. We did give the world Beavis and Butt-Head, perhaps the finest cinema ever produced. We did NOT survive the Great Depression, storm the Normandy Beaches or even fight for Civil Rights like those before us. Nah, we got into internet porn. Given our track record, we should spend a little less time bashing the next generation we are passing this shit show on to.

No the kids are not perfect, endlessly staring into the glow of an electronic screen large or small, ordering food online for delivery because going out is... well hard. And going into six figures of debit to study theater may not be the smartest thing. But they do get some stuff right.

I think they are much better Hell raisers than we ever were. Occupy managed to at least change the conversation from debit and austerity to the 1% and gross income inequality. I think rather than failing it morphed into new movements. Black Lives Matter is still going strong and depends on young people. And then there is March for Our Lives. Kids are growing tired of being shot to death just for going to school. While my generation was day dreaming of Hummers back in the day, youth now are starting stuff like Zero Hour fighting for climate justice.  There are more good things going on with Millennials. Just look around.  

So to all of us older types, maybe stop bashing and jump in and help? Oh and if you are fortunate enough to grow old, these will be the people taking care of you. Have we done enough to earn care in our old age? No. But it is not too late. We are in this together. So give the kids a little applause and guidance (if they ask for it). It seems to me they are doing a good job of leading the way.