Have you ever heard the expression, “What are you going to do when I’m gone?” My dad asked me this question several times when I was still living at home, and recently, I heard myself asking the same question to one of my grandchildren.
It is a very interesting question that requires some thought. Perhaps I’m overthinking the question, but I have changed some of the words to read, “What is the next generation going to do when this generation is gone?”
The “millennial” will soon be in charge of our economy, our government, our culture, and I am worried.
For those of you who may not know what the definition of a “millennial” is, let me explain.
“A millennial denotes people reaching young adulthood in the early 21st century.”
From what I can tell, these individuals are much different from my generation.
These individuals are more “delicate” than my generation, and anything that is not politically correct offends them.
A middle-aged doctor who teaches in a medical school told me that he has had to rethink how he treats medical students.
“If you appear harsh while correcting a student or if you don’t choose your words carefully, you might get written up. The medical school world has changed.”
Speaking of being delicate, my brother and I played football at Anding High School. During football season, coach Glorioso ended practice around five o’clock. If Bro. Bud and I were fortunate to get out to Highway 49 before 5:15, we could catch a ride home with a neighbor, Mr. Monroe Cesna. But if we were late, we had to walk the nine miles home.
We did it many times, but we wanted to play football. Dad was working, and in those days, the family had only one car. So we got home the best way we could. How many “millennials” would walk 9 miles after football practice just to play football? My guess would be very few.
But we have a problem, and I think some of it lies with our modern educational system. “Millennials” just don’t know many facts - especially about the founding of our country.
If one does not understand how and why we were founded, then there is no reason to have a profound love for the country.
Our high schools are failing our youth, and our universities are failing our students. The University of Oregon is an example. Recently, the University of Oregon hosted an event titled, “thanks but no Thanks-giving, and labeled the holiday as a celebration of ongoing genocide.” Does this type of activity on a college campus frighten you as much as it does me?
When asked to give an opinion about Thanksgiving, one student said, “There is definitely a racist history to Thanksgiving and that should probably definitely be addressed more in education.”
What is “racist” about Thanksgiving?
To a millennial, everything that does not match their view of the world is “racist,” and this idea has been planted in their heads by teachers who are incompetent or who have a malevolent agenda.
Another student made this deranged statement, “The whole concept with, like, taking land and assigning a value to it through cost is, like, it was different through European cultures.” What in the world is this college-age student trying to say? Is she saying that being a European styled socialist is better than being a capitalist? I’ll bet she has no idea what she is trying to say. Still another outstanding student said, “Thanksgiving is racist because we’re celebrating taking away land from Natives.” We are? That’s a new revelation that I’ve never heard.
Others said that there was “too much feasting” going on and this had to change. They suggested that “we feed the natives or give them money.”
I have some good news for millennials. Not everything is racist. Capitalism is not racist.
Opportunity for everyone is not racist. Capitalism affords more opportunities than any other economic system. It is surprising to know that people in the middle class, regardless of race, have a lot in common.
Most individuals in the middle class want two cars in the garage, a nice fishing boat, a descent home, and enough money to take the family on a nice vacation each year. Anyone who thinks Thanksgiving is a racist holiday is either ill-informed or perverted.
Thanksgiving simply celebrates the bounty that God and capitalism has bestowed on the people of the United States. For that, we should all be thankful.
