The kids today: "frank, forceful and sound."

[Robb]

This struck my fancy more than a little, as I struggle to "get" younger generations.

Fast-Moving Youth of Today is Frank, Forceful and Sound

By Angelo Fatri, Spokane Daily Chronicle

(snip)

... As I see them they have their faults, but they are the sort that are common to inexperience, and they have fine solid qualities that inspire faith in their generation. We older ones have to remember that this generation has been born into a world that is marvelous to us, and a matter of course to them.

(snip)

Thought has changed while we have been going along our established way. Many customs have been dethroned, and what was awful in our day is usual in this one. The old taboos have been lifted or altered, and we are shocked every once in awhile by the nonchalance of the younger ones in the face of the situations that would have embarrassed us dreadfully.

These young people have ambitions and plans, and the power to carry through. There is not the least doubt of it.

Read More: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19330422...

[MedleyMisty]

1. I'm 30

So I'm on the border between the Millenials and Gen X.

One generation gap that has often struck me on DU - the bellyaching about technology, and oh noes kids don't play outside anymore because they're inside on the computer, and no one talks at dinner because they're all on their phones. Facebook and Twitter are silly and stupid and for egotistical people to tell everyone what they had for lunch.

The phones that we use to livestream protests and take videos of police brutality. The computer that we use to access Facebook and Twitter to connect with activists all over the world, so that those videos of protests and police brutality are seen worldwide so that there are signs in solidarity with Wisconsin and Oakland in Egypt, so that in Libya they chant "Syria we are coming for you! Bashar you are next!", so that all the occupations worldwide are linked together and you hear "New York is Oakland, Oakland is New York!"

So yeah. Those paragraphs about the car and the radio and everything - easily applied to the internet and cell phones today.

Oh! Forgot one more thing I've noticed.

It tends to be the older people who are focused on leaders and personalities. People who grew up with the internet - we are Anonymous. We're not so much into leaders or personalities. The younger crowd on Twitter doesn't care about Michael Moore, about Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann, about Obama. We're doing it for ourselves, and we only need us.

[undergroundpanther]

3. Hell Yeah

Do it because you need to,accept no"leader & no masters".

I'm 45(world's slowest txter) but I understand,face book twitter,all of this is a tool a way to create solidarity in an atomized culture built by older minds.So,let no middle class control freak or misguided pacifist,asshole or coward skew the truth or take the fire out of your bellies.Do what must be done and let no one shame you.Let the old minded be old minded they will fade away,for they will never be secure enough to risk anything to be free.They will never own you.Keep the locus of control on the inside of your heart and never let it go,bow to no one.Waves of changes will come through you.And the bad old ways will go away as new and better ways bury the ossified ones and grow into a better way.

[msongs]

2. when they are not attacking gay boys in high school while peers REFUSE to intervene to

help the gay boy being attacked.

[undergroundpanther]

4. I went to school in the 70's

And everyday was hell,for me.I was transgender but had no word for it, seemed everyone else knew.They would call me a dyke,I was so damn innocent I had to ask my sisters what a dyke is,the slurs came at me everyday,threats fists you name it..I was very different and I have a shattered mind because of it. If everyone had the courage to not by-stand this world would be so much better maybe kids raised by authoritarian religious freak parents or just plain sociopath kids might not be able to get away with traumatizing you,you have a chance,mine is gone the damage done.I swore to myself I would NEVER be a by-stander,and I haven't stood by.
Wish it was not so hard for you,wish someone fucking would DO something. My heart goes out to you.

[antigone382]

7. I would not say that is specific to the younger generation

It illustrates the same human trait that shrugged at slavery and the Trail of Tears, that looked the other way when faced with the death camps in Nazi Germany or the torture chambers of Chile under Pinochet...the same human trait that went along with the Milgram experiments, and did not intervene to save Kitty Genovese. It is the same human trait that draws people to participate in horrific genocide against their neighbors and friends.

As long as there is human variation, there will be an "other" to dehumanize, to whom violence and inhumanity will be tolerated by those unaware of their own capacity for evil. The task of those of us who do see this ugliness--in the world and in ourselves--is to broaden and deepen that awareness.

[jwirr]

5. I agree - I am 70 and very proud of my family. I think if we can escape

the trap we are in right now they are going to do just fine regardless of what happens in the future.

[Robb]

6. Kick. (nt)

[antigone382]

8. I know too many beautiful and principled young people not to have hope.

And I know too many beautiful and principled older people not to draw on their wisdom and confidence.

As a young person, I appreciate your effort to promote generational unity.