Empathy for the Young

 Reflecting my thoughts in the previous post, one of the great refuges of solace I find, perhaps the greatest, is empathy for the young. When I reflect on what they are going through, as a generation, in the midst of the current tides of civilization, I feel great compassion for all of them. 

Compared to what they face, I feel like my life was on easy mode. Not that I have had a particularly easy life at every phase---although perhaps I have---but I lived at a time when imperfect decisions along life's journey were more forgivable than today. 

In many ways the world was far more "dangerous" then as well. So what do I mean? The main thing that seems different is that there was what might be called a "default setting" of life that one could follow. If one stayed out of certain kinds of trouble and plugged along, one would typically wind up with certain outcomes which were considered honorable and satisfying.

This was certainly true in my parent's day. They did not live easy lives and had a hard time making good decisions, yet they wound up having a family and a decent home, and lived to see their grandchildren. They world gave them second chances to do the right thing after mistakes. They didn't face a great deal of confusion about what they were supposed to do. There were role models they could follow.

This is the part that seems much harder today for young people. So many of them seem lost, and in despair over their lives in a way this unprecedented in scale by historical standards. As I say many times, if I had to cope with what have had to cope with, I think I would be in the same situation. I don't think I would have had anywhere near the life I have been able to lead, in all the richness that has been given to me.  

I like to share this perspective with young folks because I get the idea that so many of them are used to being told they are failures and they just need to work harder. Certainly that can be true, but I truly believe the deck has been stacked against them in many ways.

I find it easy to understand why so many of them are heavily into identity politics. Such identities give one a sense of camaraderie against the world, and also a reason for their frustrations and misery. Of course, I find myself often the "bad guy" of these evaluations based on my race, sex, etc.  Perhaps they are right. 

Yet the emerging political tides are shifting more and more towards a generational conflict, of old versus young. It is easy to foresee the battle lines shaping up between the "conservative progressivism" of the Boomers (that is, keep the Revolution against the Man going in a way that supports the current progressive-friendly power structures) and the "radical let it burn" attitude shaping up among many disaffected youth. We are probably at least one election cycle away from this becoming the dominant them, but it is surely coming. 

Here again I will be on the wrong side because of my age, but I'm used to it. Not everyone my age will be used to it, however, and it will be a shock to many to find out they are the "designated bad guy" after having voted the correct way their entire lives. One of the things I learned a long time ago is that eventually you will look down and find yourself wearing a grey uniform. I suppose I found mine early enough to have it nicely tailored so it is comfortable by now. It goes well with my hair color.