As society moves to being more progressive and inclusive, there are many things that are now accepting that at once, weren't. With this has come some sharp criticism from the youth of "old school" morals and values.

If you have a standard or value that could be considered 'old school' or 'outdated' or 'conservative' people immediately begin to call you brainwashed and close-minded without stopping to hear why you believe what you do. Here are some reassurances for the "old school" youth:

1. It's okay to think that some things are wrong

Nowadays, it's hard to have a discussion with some people about what you believe is right or wrong because there's this new suggestion that no one can really be wrong.

You believe what you believe and I believe what I believe but neither of us are ‘wrong’. The best way that I've seen it described is a tennis match. Back and forth and back and forth. At times you begin to wonder if you yourself are in the wrong just for thinking that someone/ something else is not right.

This has turned discussions from issues themselves to the people arguing the issue. If you have the minority old school opinion then you’re all sorts of names and all different kinds of –phobic. America thrives on diversity and not just in the physical sense but also diversity of thought. If everyone woke up everyday thinking and feeling the same way there’d be no need for debate, discussion or vote. But there is and it’s okay to disagree.

I recently read the article ‘My Boyfriend DOES Deserve Husband Privileges’. It was a response article to another article by a girl who doesn’t think that her boyfriend deserves husband privileges until he’s her… husband. The idea of “husband privileges” is no doubt a more traditional one.

The definition of husband privileges, sex before marriage, living together before marriage, and a slew of other values aside from relationships are definitely things that older and younger adults have different perspectives on.

The point is that young people shouldn’t be intimidated to agree with their parents—no matter the reason. Whether you agree because you were raised a certain religion or that’s simply the environment you were brought up in, you don’t have to apologize to anyone. You aren’t brainwashed just because you haven’t lived any other way.