Dear Editor: We Can't Blame It All on Gen X

Dear Editor,

We can't blame it all on Gen X. Although much could be directed toward the generation in question, this is a generalization; it's not quite fair to say all people from this particular era are at fault. It's also not quite true that Gen X, or ANY particular generation, can claim sole responsibility for the mess which we are witnessing in this day and age.

The mess: the irresponsibility which seems to be almost proudly or maybe just brazenly exhibited lately. Not only is there a blatant disregard for the property of others, but many people today seem to have a sense of entitlement; the world owes them something. These same people seem to be focused solely on themselves, with no regard, not just for the feelings of others, but for any harm they might be causing.

One might say that teaching our kids the importance of looking out for Number 1 has backfired! We are slowly but surely relearning the importance of self-care. Reading these two statements in succession might cause some to do a quick double-take: "Wait, WHAT?!" comes to mind! Read that again. The difference between looking out for Number 1 and self-care is astronomical!

One is taking care of yourself so that you can properly care for the other, while the other is purely selfish. Looking out for Number 1 means things like striving for a position, no matter how many others you have to step on. Looking out for Number 1 could even include, "I want that and the owner's not looking!"

Gen Y, or the generation that produced what are popularly known as Millenials are, some might say, the worst. These are also called digital natives as technology is a part of their everyday lives: all their activities are mediated by a screen.

Though obviously not all people from this era are affected by digital exposure in the same detrimental ways, much of the blame for wanton violence, such as school shootings and bullying, can be laid squarely at the feet of certain video games. Much of the blame, I say, for as always, one must consider the human factor. The human factor refers to the fact that there is always a choice. The choice between doing what one wants with no regard for others and acting with compassion/empathy could, at its most extreme, mean the difference between life and death!

Again, the issues we are currently facing cannot fairly be blamed on Gen Xers, much less on any particular generation, even on the so-called Millenials. There is plenty of blame to go around! Some might be tempted to go as far back as the rigid Puritans, whose influence lasted well into the 1950s and remains, to some extent, today.

So what, if anything, can be done about this problem? Today, the answer seems to be more and stricter laws/regulations, but we've witnessed how well that works.

No one's looking: I'm going to see if I can get away with it! Or some such scenario.

Fortunately, not all people treat the laws of the land in such a frivolous manner; there are many who show decent respect for these laws, as well as for the property of others.

Although certain aspects of the accepted cultural norms in any given generation most certainly didn't help matters, the issue at hand is choice! Everyone has a choice, even when they think they don't. As a wise man once said, in other words maybe, even if you decide not to choose, you still have made a choice!

Charles Haddon Shank

Whitehall, Montana