A new generation

I went to college at the very end of the sixties.  We thought we could change the world.  “Make love, not war.”  Today most of us have become mainstream citizens.  We gave up the headbands, bare feet, and idealistic rebellion of youth for regular jobs and the very life styles we were so against back then.

Or did we?  We are not our parent’s generation.  We may look like it when we walk down the street, or drive out of our garages, but there are differences.  We made mistakes.  We failed at achieving many of the things and over did others, but that is always going to be part of change and big changes come slowly.

Ultimately we did achieve a few things that I am proud of.   We stood behind Bobby Kennedy and brought civil rights into reality.  We gave both men and women the option of working outside their home, or staying in it. 

We turned from idealistic protests to petition signing, hard working adults, some of whom have given their lives and many who gave up the quality of their lives to make a difference. 

So today, when I find myself totally disillusioned with the politics of the day and the blatant pandering of government to big business I remind myself that there is a new generation out there, joining all those who went before, and many of them are just as determined as we were to change things.  And they will, but change comes slowly.

It is a better world, but it will be even better if we all keep nibbling away at the complacency and ignorance and greed that seems to be a natural part of the human race.