No matter what degree you are seeking here at Harding, at some point you will learn about generation gaps. In fact, I think almost every class I’ve taken has at least touched on the subject of the differences between age groups and the implications these gaps have on our lives. Even if you don’t, I am sure at some point in your life you will hear an elderly person go on a tangent about “the good ole days,” which is potentially more exciting anyway.
But just in case you are completely lost, here’s a quick rundown of the generations: Your grandparents are probably a part of what is called “The Silent Generation,” your parents are either “Baby Boomers” or “Generation X” and you and I are in “Generation Y.” Without going into great detail, it is pretty obvious that there are huge gaps between every generation, which can cause some pretty hilarious misunderstandings between you and your grandparents.
That being said, almost every time I’ve been in a class discussion or lecture involving generation gaps, I leave feeling a little bit discouraged about the state of our world. This is probably because our generation isn’t viewed with much positivity. Almost every time I hear something about Gen Y, it’s about how we spend too much money, or we don’t have respect for anything, or how lazy and irresponsible we are.
Now don’t get me wrong, I see the problems going on in the world and I get frustrated with my peers just as much as the next person, but all these discussions have me wondering: Are we really that bad? Or more importantly: Are we really causing the downfall of the Western civilization? I believe if you take a closer look at history, the answer is: probably not.
Let’s think about this: How many stories in the Old Testament do you read that are completely inappropriate for the eyes of children? Quite a few. We’ve all heard the cliche that if they made a movie about the Bible, it would be rated “R.” So judging by Scriptural evidence, we are no more or less crooked and depraved than the people living in ancient times.
If you watch any movies involving history, I don’t have to tell you about all of the problems associated with Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance or any period of time prior to modern history. Simply put, they all had some serious flaws.
In more recent history, “The Silent Generation” had all those problems with prohibition and civil rights, “Baby Boomers” are often viewed as a selfish generation, and were considered hippies by their parents, and Generation X has been credited with starting the large increase in divorce percentages over the past few years.
Nonetheless, it is also common to hear youngsters these days talking down to older generations and saying they are “out of touch.” It is important to remember that we still have a lot to learn from our elders, especially if we wish to be employed in the near future.
My goal in this article is not to bash every generation in history to make us feel better about ourselves; my only point is to give us hope. Every generation in history has had its share of problems, but most are remembered for their contribution to the world, not by how terrible they were.
So remember next time you hear someone going on about the “kids these days” or “back when I was your age,” just remember that at one point their parents and grandparents were shaking their heads at them the same way, and they are still here to talk about it.
