A loved one who came into our “family life” more than twenty years ago
“has hope” “knowing Gen Z will someday be in charge.”
As a stupid knee-jerking contrarian, I could (& would) readily quarrel, using factual substance,
with several aspects of this statement above.
……………………
Some pensamentos …
It is a small sample size and very biased “analysis”,
but three dear Gen Z’s who I once knew & tried to see frequently (& continue to try)
and who I definitely know are, in many ways, intelligent, hard-working, well-rounded, loving individuals
are also de facto “very distant”, unforgiving, unempathetic, and lacking in compassion in their interactions (or lack of) with me.
(No one is perfect! … not even grandchildren!!)
“Hope (in Gen Z) springs eternal” in me, but it is qualified and not absolute.
………………………
My own baby-boomer generation has been described as …
- “Goal-oriented
- Focus on personal fulfillment
- Eagerness for change and development
- Have gained experienced
- Shaped society and the social context
- The desire for Equality”**
and it was the generation protesting & working hard for civil rights, pacifism, and ecological justice in the 1960s & 70s
(and with some success
but so much more is needed).
I believe my boomer generation’s eagerness for change toward equality/equity
(and perhaps systematic system change)
is/was its most admirable trait.
………………………
Gen Z perhaps could be characterized as …
- “They are money-driven and ambitious
- Politically and socially aware
- Racially and Ethnically diverse
- Engage mostly in social activism
- Digital natives.”**
(If true) being “money-driven” and “digital natives” concerns me greatly!
(The money-driven aspect is a characteristic of the disgraceful former president, Donald J. Trump and his Trumpians, and Trumpsters …
but also many others of varying socio-political/economic persuasions in all generations ofdemos.)
Being “politically & socially aware” is a nice positive step.
I do hope that awareness in Gen Z brings sustainable activism toward systematic system change
from “money/digital algorithmic-driven” neoliberal capitalism & consumerism (& necessarily-connected militarism)
toward ecological justice and a dynamic homeostatic symbioses involving humans …
but also (connected) … less artificial growth (an attitude of “small is beautiful”, less worhip at the altars of engineering and technology and human-built environment and industrial agriculture [even that labeled “Organic” or “Meatless”] vs. real science, knowlege, wisdom, & prudence).
******************
Within the ethos, psyche, applied ecological values of ALL existing generations …
I desire a Real Hope of “Less Is More”, pacifism, communication & solidarity, and equity vs. Trumpian-types of “laissez-faire/morally-corrupt capitalistic/militaristic, socio-economically false hopes.
………………………
*https://www.kite.pub/sustainability/games-we-play/
**https://worldwidetune.com/generation-names-in-order?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw65-zBhBkEiwAjrqRME_vXNSr-R0oPXiGEl_FPZDxKZeFX36JLC82mtc03i5gjWhMNeul-RoC1rsQAvD_BwE
pbm ( 7 Ss / VV->^^ )
