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I have a problem. Even though I write about a society going down the tubes and a greedy overclass cynically and gleefully leading it there, I also believe every human is a magnificent light being, if each would only heal the pain and confusion leading away from love.On Saturday, I posted an article titled "I Know Where All The Young (Non)Protestors Are". I just want to be clear that I am not down on young people in America. I am the proud father and stepfather of four wonderful young women (only one of whom rebelled against her loud-mouth liberal stepfather and became a conservative).
I have also had the privilege of working with amazing young people in political and social justice organizing and action. A huge part of my lament comes from seeing how incredible effective an energetic 22 year-old can be at prodding her elders into action.
But I really did almost cry when I saw the long, overnight line of young adults outside the Apple Store in Portland, and watching the CNN report of young people waiting in bad weather as others walked out holding up their I-Phones triumphantly to a standing ovation. As if they were heroes of lore. As if they had just been elected to office, or secured some major progressive law. As if they had done almost anything but just buy a thing.
AND IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT!
IT IS MY FAULT; MY GENERATIONS FAULT. We are the ones who swallowed those values whole and passed them on as if rare, ancient wisdom. We are the ones who demonstrated political apathy and failed to show you HOW to get involved.
We have built a whole society (with exceptions, sure) for which money and matter are the top priorities. We have been so mesmerized, we barely noticed the money being squeezed from us to the top, and have surely not realized, not enough of us anyway, that were are exchanging our freedom, our sovereignty, our very souls for superficial accumulation.
So my young activist friends, Goddess bless you! My young materialistic friends, Goddess bless you too. All of you: we need you. The grown-ups may not be able to do what needs to be done. Young adults revived their parent's nation in the 60's and 70's. We may need you to do it again. Sorry, but we just might. And for the sake of grace, if you bought an I-Phone, please use the fucker to advance the revolution.
