Friday, March 21, 2008

Faceless Generation - updated

I wouldn’t say our generation is entirely nameless. Perhaps the “Faceless Generation” is a suitable name for a generation that takes an active role of ignorance and privilege acceptance; one that is complacent with its way of life and apathetic towards poverty, war, and suffering. Many people I have come in contact with seem to lack intense or enthusiastic political beliefs, and not many have meaningful interests or convictions. Very few seem to question any authority or challenge the status quo. There seems to be a generation void of thought.

Tony Benn, a former member of the British parliament, reminds us that, “We are the first generation in the whole of human history that has the money and technology to resolve the world’s problems.” We could just as easily send recruiters into schools that inspire students to become teachers and doctors, rather than soldiers in the military. We could build schools, hospitals, and homeless shelters, rather than developing high-tech weaponry that destroy such things.

This will not happen without political dissent, but there simply is not enough participatory democracy. But it does not have to be this way. There have been many silent generations in the past that have spawned the greatest revolutionary periods in our history. A simple action by Rosa Parks can inspire people to question the status quo; a charismatic leader, such as Martin Luther King, can animate a crowd towards a common goal.

But what will it take to motivate people today? There is a lot injustice taking place, yet very few people seem to notice. It is time we start. Lets stand up against the injustice taking place. And let us remember that America’s greatest qualities--qualities that separate us from the developing world--have not been achieved through victory on the battlefield. The eight hour work day, child labor laws, workplace safety laws, the right to vote for women, and desegregation were won, not with guns and tanks, but through protest and dissent against our own government. This country is great because of boycotts, strikes, rallies, marches, petitions, sit-ins, tree sitting, hunger strikes, pickets, candlelight vigils, tax refusal, go-slows, blockades, draft refusal, and public demonstrations.

There is hope!