Dear Older Generations,
Recently, I saw a post floating around the internet claiming that the older generations were pretty much better because they went off to fight wars while we, the younger generation, sit around complaining about a lack of “safe spaces.” This claim surprised me, because while I do agree that my generation has its laundry list of problems, trying to make the world a better place is not one of them.
I wrote an article a while back saying that people have become too sensitive and that we need to be less serious. This is not my way of putting down safe spaces. Safe spaces are meant to protect those who have gone through traumatic experiences and often suffer from PTSD because of it.
Yes, people of other generations have gone off and fought more wars, but we’re fighting wars at home. We’re trying to make the world a better place, a place where someday war won’t happen.
A lot of the older generations seem to think of us as “weak.” They often call us spoiled because we don’t have to go through the same hardships as them. We may not have to all work on the farm and get jobs early on in life to help out the family, but we are facing trillions of dollars in national debt that will be left to us.
And I don’t think that we’re unwilling to go to war like some people make it sound like. I know plenty of people my age who are going on to fight for their country, and they’re really proud to do it. The difference is that they’re making a patriotic choice, whereas some of the older generation didn’t have a choice because of the draft. Being an American is all about having choice, so don’t judge us for being able to make it.
Yes, we are more privileged than the other generations. We have the Internet, where we can reach out to just about anyone in the world. And yes, we don’t go outside as much as we should. But it is through the Internet that we are trying to make these global changes. We want peace, just like everyone else.
Many older people still seem to see millienials as children. We are adults though now, and need to be treated with respect. The saying “Treat Your Elders with Respect” needs to be done away with, because no matter the age you should respect everyone. If you treat me with respect, I’ll treat you the same. But just because you’re older doesn’t give you any special rights. If you don’t treat me with respect, why should I do it for you?
The older generation needs to come to the realization that we are people too. Our lives are not easy, and I hope people realize that. I don’t want to come off sounding like a whiny privileged white girl, but we’re really just trying our best to make the world a better place.
