Lost Generation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

After watching this YouTube clip, I would have to say that my generation could be the "Lost" generation. I think about how it seems to have become the dream of many to become wealthy, or at least to be well-off in life. Just thinking about some of the comments made at the dinner table such as, "I'm want to marry someone rich," or "I want to be a doctor or a lawyer" gives me the impression that money is important. Look at how many college athletes leave college early so that they can make big money in the professional leagues. Even if you simply think about how many people apply to be contestants on shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, it goes to show that many people at some level believe that money can make them happy.

Another statement from this clip was about the Lost Generation not caring for their environment. I see many examples of that happening right now. In the lunchroom how many students don't bother to compost their waste? How many students don't even bother trying to recycle? How many people would consider turning off their computer, giving up their car, or taking less than 10 minutes showers for the rest of their lives? I think that my generation generally is quite self-centered. We need instant gratification, and unfortunately being eco-friendly doesn't usually provide that satisfaction.

Finally, I think that my generation could be the Lost Generation because we don't value family togetherness as much as in the past. How easy it is now to get a divorce, to rarely speak to your parents, and to think that we are independent enough that we don't need their love and support. How often do families actually sit down for dinner together? For many families it is a rarity because each family member is off at their own activities. With so much pressure to achieve individually, I think that my generation has grown up without the close family ties that our parents and grandparents had.

Now, just because we might fit some of the criteria of this so-called "Lost Generation", I don't think that means we are hopeless and helpless. We can take action to change things around, but first we have to be willing to recognize just how lost we might be. Check out our iMovie that we made for class to see how you can help the next generation be more active in taking care of the environment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adl5dJVFpy4