The collective mind of America’s youth reflects the fruitless diversion extolled by America’s media. A diverse generation of MTV viewers, online with daddy’s credit card shoppers; hard working individuals; spirited vehicles of change; comfortably numb legal pill poppers; Bush hating punks and student council presidents who also got the lead solo in choir -- we are merely terrified. If one deems the terrified “X” and “Y” generations devoid of change, they are mistaken. The very definition of reality and what it means to be an adolescent has changed.
Young people continue to challenge and esteem tradition, but they have become consumers, not movers and shakers. Adolescence has become a hopeless consumption of adult tendencies while disregarding all former childlike outlooks on life. Children are modeling their behavior after frivolous “reality” television shows. They are growing up too fast into adults, while adults in positions of authority, including America’s leaders, are evading responsibility. I have to believe there is still a youth movement led by spirited individuals in favor of revolution, we simply do not hear about them amid the circus of wealth and emphasis on amusement.
The poem “America” written by Allen Ginsberg in the 1950’s, is still very true of the America we live in today stating “America why are your libraries full of tears?/America when will you send your eggs to India?/I'm sick of your insane demands./When can I go into the supermarket and buy what I need with my good looks?/ America after all it is you and I who are perfect not the next world./Your machinery is too much for me./You made me want to be a saint.” It seems as if the menacing issues have not been resolved….but merely altered. There are still artistic movements against our nation’s policies of education and foreign relations. There are still numerous political protests, mainly for peace, in yet another time of war. The youth of America are still asking the same questions their predecessors were. It is as if there are no answers now….only distractions. For example, we did not hear a whole lot about the three Duke University students who skipped class and drove into the heart of New Orleans after the Katrina disaster. Gaining entrance with false press passes, they took matters into their own hands by driving refugees out to Baton Rouge, while the American Government was nowhere to be found. This is a small accomplishment, but interestingly enough it gained only minimal coverage compared to say, the glorified brats from MTV’s “reality” series Laguna Beach. There is a huge focus on the incredible shame America faces in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From the ashes like a rising phoenix, I hope this monstrosity will be an awakening to America’s daydreaming youth. I hope that we all realize that Mary Kate’s eating disorder is really not a national disaster, the coverage of it is. There are real issues that are being missed by the media. As we focus on the lives of the rich and famous, we hinder our own growth and the progress of our generation and those to come.
I am disgusted at the adolescents in positions of influence. The kids with the real resources to make a dent in the direction of this Nation are too focused on creating a charade of glamorous parties and possessions. They carry the torch of fashionable clothing from earlier generations to be deemed trendy today, yet leave the ideals of yesterday behind. With the outstanding technology we are blessed with presently, these trends spread like wildfire. All of a sudden we are defined by whether we possess the hottest purse, like the hottest young celebrity. Who is this celebrity and why do we hold them in esteem by dedicating an hour long television special to their affluence? What happened to possessing an aspiration to effect change for the benefit of the less fortunate? This should be the topic of conversation that spreads like wildfire.“Make Poverty History” is an exceptional example of famous faces promoting a good thing. Recently, “Live 8” has taken a focused relief effort and made it trendy by using Rock & Roll as the vehicle of revolution. Numerous musicians and artists continue their protest pieces, some affecting change just beyond the point of their fans purchasing Anti-War T-shirts. As the youth of America form their opinions of this world and their views of themselves, they look for direction from celebrities because that is what they are exposed to in excess. This is a travesty as the American media feasts on image and glorifies substance abuse. Their façade becomes a reality to those watching and reading headlines.
Young people continue to challenge and esteem tradition, but they have become consumers, not movers and shakers. Adolescence has become a hopeless consumption of adult tendencies while disregarding all former childlike outlooks on life. Children are modeling their behavior after frivolous “reality” television shows. They are growing up too fast into adults, while adults in positions of authority, including America’s leaders, are evading responsibility. I have to believe there is still a youth movement led by spirited individuals in favor of revolution, we simply do not hear about them amid the circus of wealth and emphasis on amusement.
The poem “America” written by Allen Ginsberg in the 1950’s, is still very true of the America we live in today stating “America why are your libraries full of tears?/America when will you send your eggs to India?/I'm sick of your insane demands./When can I go into the supermarket and buy what I need with my good looks?/ America after all it is you and I who are perfect not the next world./Your machinery is too much for me./You made me want to be a saint.” It seems as if the menacing issues have not been resolved….but merely altered. There are still artistic movements against our nation’s policies of education and foreign relations. There are still numerous political protests, mainly for peace, in yet another time of war. The youth of America are still asking the same questions their predecessors were. It is as if there are no answers now….only distractions. For example, we did not hear a whole lot about the three Duke University students who skipped class and drove into the heart of New Orleans after the Katrina disaster. Gaining entrance with false press passes, they took matters into their own hands by driving refugees out to Baton Rouge, while the American Government was nowhere to be found. This is a small accomplishment, but interestingly enough it gained only minimal coverage compared to say, the glorified brats from MTV’s “reality” series Laguna Beach. There is a huge focus on the incredible shame America faces in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From the ashes like a rising phoenix, I hope this monstrosity will be an awakening to America’s daydreaming youth. I hope that we all realize that Mary Kate’s eating disorder is really not a national disaster, the coverage of it is. There are real issues that are being missed by the media. As we focus on the lives of the rich and famous, we hinder our own growth and the progress of our generation and those to come.
I am disgusted at the adolescents in positions of influence. The kids with the real resources to make a dent in the direction of this Nation are too focused on creating a charade of glamorous parties and possessions. They carry the torch of fashionable clothing from earlier generations to be deemed trendy today, yet leave the ideals of yesterday behind. With the outstanding technology we are blessed with presently, these trends spread like wildfire. All of a sudden we are defined by whether we possess the hottest purse, like the hottest young celebrity. Who is this celebrity and why do we hold them in esteem by dedicating an hour long television special to their affluence? What happened to possessing an aspiration to effect change for the benefit of the less fortunate? This should be the topic of conversation that spreads like wildfire.“Make Poverty History” is an exceptional example of famous faces promoting a good thing. Recently, “Live 8” has taken a focused relief effort and made it trendy by using Rock & Roll as the vehicle of revolution. Numerous musicians and artists continue their protest pieces, some affecting change just beyond the point of their fans purchasing Anti-War T-shirts. As the youth of America form their opinions of this world and their views of themselves, they look for direction from celebrities because that is what they are exposed to in excess. This is a travesty as the American media feasts on image and glorifies substance abuse. Their façade becomes a reality to those watching and reading headlines.
The American youth’s accomplishments are belittled by glossy photos of exotic endeavors. Their reality becomes a quest for wealth and fame because they are evolving into a young consumer. At this point an adolescent realizes their parents are far from perfect, and their innocence is lost in a fog of childhood idealisms and adult realities. At this point, America’s youth need direction not distraction. All of a sudden, spring break festivities become a point of utter importance. To partake in alcohol and even drugs is a part of everyday survival. To smoke oneself into another world is fashionable, to bong a beer is revered and to escape under the influence of substances is the most convenient way to solve discontentment with the world as it exists. This fact is a point of focus for the American public. The American administration has instilled standards to punish drug use and under aged drinking, unfortunately there is no focus on the issues that drive an adolescent to the point of substance utilization. The American media has covered all of the crime, and substance abuse of its youth. It fails to cover the actual substance of America’s youth.
I see America’s youth effecting change; it is just not fairly represented with the spotlight focused on affluent love triangles and jail sentences. To the general public, the youth of America are not accomplishing anything other than abusing substances and worshipping celebrities, while pulling off the latest vintage look. We are buying our blue jeans already worn in. We didn’t do anything to get down and dirty, instead we are a generation of false advertisement living in a skewed reality. Living in an age of endless technological and scientific advancements, we are still dealing with the redundant issues of race, equal opportunity, peace and political tribulations. We are an impatient generation. We are growing up too fast to hold onto our childlike ideals and yet we are naïve of the realities we face as a Nation. In a time of trepidation, we are avoiding our responsibility as citizens by striving to be the glossy photos of society instead of the grassroots modifiers of society. Still, I consider the fact that the general public is predominately focused on the icon extravaganza, causes ignorance to the actual convalescence of America’s youth. In reflection, the lack of action is not only the responsibility of the adolescents, but also the leaders of America. It is as simple as changing ones focus from the problem, to its solution; changing ones reality from worshipping another individual, to finding an individual ability to effect the change necessary to finally conquer the affliction of our youthful predecessors. That will be the day that the news headlines finally reflect the accomplishments of America’s Youth. Eat that Paris….eat something.
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