I thought I'd share a clip this morning of the late Paul Lynde performing "Kids," a number he premiered as Harry MacAfee in the 1960-61 Broadway musical, "Bye Bye Birdie." Back when I was a kid.
And so were quite a number of others who have been sharing lately, I've noticed, comments, quotes and memes related to their perception that the younger generation, as always, is going straight to hell. Just like it was in 1960. The meme at left, referencing World War II of all things, is an example from my Sunday Facebook feed.
Gun control-related student activism in the days following the Feb. 14 slaughter of 14 students and three staffers at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, seems to have inspired at least some of the snark among folks who most likely would describe themselves as conservative.
For some reason, as folks grow older, they tend to forget that kids are really just young people who are entirely capable in most cases of coherent thought, logical conversation and strongly held convictions if encouraged and given a forum. Some argue maturity is lacking, which of course is true --- but advanced chronological age, while a good indicator of physical maturity, doesn't necessarily bring emotional or intellectual maturity. As witness the folks who post stuff like that absurd meme.
Plus, the obvious answer to the question "what's the matter with kids today?" is --- "adults."
1 comment:
I agree. Younger people are not devoid of all understanding and their ideas are not devoid of all merit. Silly retorts and memes from older people simply call attention to the fact the age is often wasted on the old.
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