Reply #86: Wow. I read your piece, and scanned the responses...

[OneGrassRoot]

Count me in as a 44-year-old who is pissed at ANYONE of any age who has, and is still, allowing mainstream media and Corporate America to dictate EVERYTHING.

Your generation is better at using the Internet, in general, than the "older" people. I wish more in ANY age group used it to gain facts and research in order to form reasoned opinions.

Having an interest is the first step, and I applaud you personally and those like you of any age. I especially applaud anyone who then looks beyond the surface of what's being shoved down our collective throats to form their own individual opinion.

Yeah, we're all pissed. About different things. You had every right to write that rant, and everyone who was offended had a right to be as well. Broad strokes are never wise, but you knew that and did your best to diffuse it as you let loose.

One thing I will slam your generation about specifically (you've taken care of what there is to slam for older generations), which ties into what I feel is the primary issue: control of our media and the attempt to dumb down America.

One name sums it up for me, and hopefully everyone will understand: Paris Hilton. You personally probably have no interest in her and her ilk, but there are a shitload of younger people who have bought into this garbage - online and off - allowing the media to continue to spew fluff shit to distract us from the real news.

It's mainly young people online, yet the bulk of online activity is Facebook and social networking. There is real value there and great potential to have an awakening and do wonderful things, but do you feel the vast majority of young people are viewing it that way?

I know my criticism there is unfair, as there are people of all ages who have been frivolous and allowed themselves to be controlled for many decades now.

Like most here, I have a child...a teenager...and I try to instill individual thinking and not buying into crap as being what is valuable, even though that's all we see around us. Trying to have the selection of the next President of the United States and the debates leading up to this compete with America's Next Top Model, American Idol, etc., is a real challenge. Apples and oranges to most of us, granted, but sadly no contest to most under 30. You gotta admit that.

The people over 30 are watching something else equally useless rather than tune into the debates.

I've always said I give Obama much credit for waking up the youth and engaging them in the process. No criticism from me about that. Once the populace is awakened, hopefully whoever is chosen will have their feet held to the fire to COME THROUGH on what they've said as they've campaigned for this job.

One thing about the younger generation's experience IN GENERAL which is in play here - and which is very much the fault of the parents and society at large - is the LACK OF CONSEQUENCES. We see it in the Bush administration, in the Paris Hilton's of the world, and in our family and friends. In general, people are getting away with behavior that those of us over 40 would NEVER have gotten away with. Not your fault at all. Maybe the older people raising young ones are compensating for the shitty world their kids are inheriting.

I don't know.

All I know is that for me personally I have always fought the good fight, with the ultimate goal of unity once those who have wrecked our country and our world have been held accountable and safeguards have been put in place so it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. That's my priority, and I share my thoughts and actions regularly with my daughter so she understands my thought process. Even if she doesn't always agree with me, she sees that I look at all sides, research all sides, and come to my own non-robotic conclusion. I also continue to keep an open mind and continue to learn every step of the way rather than put blinders on once I think I understand a situation or a person.

Now, I must get back to work. I'm sure a lot of people are getting things off their chest in your thread.


:)

Good luck to you and everyone. We need it.