An open letter to “Millennial Haters”, from a proud Millennial
I would begin this letter by saying that I do not wish to spark any war. However, I am more than tired of being on the receiving end of the countless hatred, stereotypes, and bashes for my generation. It’s exhausting and frustrating to be invalidated, ignored, dismissed and generalized. So, it’s time for me to use my voice, and you are going to hear it.
First of all, I don’t get why talking about my expensive tuition is whining. Forgive me for not understanding how wishing to get out of a condemned life-sentence in the form of students’ loans turns me into a brat who “just wants things handled for me.” I mean, apart from the massive loan of (on average, in the U.S) $37,172, I am fairly certain that nothing else was handed to me. What’s that? Oh, you think I ought to work to pay that off because things shouldn’t be taken for granted? In other words, you expect me, a full-time college student to pay off $37,172, with interest nonetheless, and still be able to get my bachelor degree after 4 years. Okay... So, which job should I take, bank robber or jewels’ thief? I mean, what else pays that much for a high school graduated student with little to no work experience and a full-time commitment to education? And please do not use the “back in the old days...” argument because we both know that the fee has raised quite high since then (and unfortunately, flipping burgers part-time still keeps the same salary from said time for nostalgic effect, apparently...).
Secondly, I am sick of hearing how my generation is “easily offended, touchy and sensitive.” Honestly, isn’t it a little bit hypocritical of you to whine about how millennial “can’t take a joke” or how you’re sick of everything being politically correct, especially after you criticize our rightful complaint about tuition fees? I did not realize that your racist joke is a far more important matter than a generation’s education. And no, we’re not a more sensitive, touchy generation. Getting offended by things that violate human’s basic rights such as transphobic, racism, homophobic, sexism and physical assault isn’t the youth “making a big deal out of nothing.” It’s called “common sense.” But hey, maybe I should “man-up” and listen to the privileged person joking about how stupid black people are, right? I’m sure a statement that belittles years of slavery and violence against an entire race is perfectly harmless. After all, the person who’s making the joke must have a really great insight to black people's struggle, we’re technically all white anyway.
Before we get to the third point, I would like to make an assumption. I am guessing that this letter would ruff a lot of people in the wrong way. This letter is annoying, I get it. It’s totally unfair and biased to be generalized, is it not? Well then, my point is: stop generalizing millennials. This letter is not intended to beautify my generation at all. Just because we’re young does not mean we all are open-minded, nice people, and the same can be said for the older generation as well. Generalization and stereotypes are frustrating. Yet, I have found myself in countless situations where my opinion was taken for granted because “that dang college student does not know what they were talking about.” So dear “millennial haters,” I am in no way obliged to respect you because respect, much like consent, should be from both sides.
