I remember being two years old. I wouldn’t call this consciousness, however. This came to me much later when I was almost eighteen or twenty. Like so many of us, I was frustrated by the slow realization, a kind of fog lifting, that it was not going to be easy — this thing called “life.” I was reticent to surrender my relative freedom as a spoiled and pampered male child, but surrendering it was apparently a necessity. A recent article on the BBC claims that many present post-millennials, (1) however, do not leave adolescence until they are twenty-four or more. Some would even question whether they do not eventually join the herds that never become mature at all. The acceptance of the physical destruction of our Earth, for example, does not suggest a deeply concerned populace, does it?
“Young people continuing their education for longer, as well as delayed marriage and parenthood, has pushed back popular perceptions of when adulthood begins. Changing the definition is vital to ensure laws stay appropriate, (researchers) write in an opinion piece in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. … ‘There are also biological arguments for why the definition of adolescence should be extended, including that the body continues to develop. For example, the brain continues to mature beyond the age of twenty, working faster and more efficiently. … Although many adult legal privileges start at age eighteen years, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later. … Delayed partnering, parenting and economic independence means the semi-dependency that characterizes adolescence has expanded.’” (2)
This is apt testimony as to why this generation is so poorly understood. To put it in perspective for me, I was married when I was twenty four. That being said: we all have the same essential desire to achieve something in the world, whether we acknowledge this or not. What cannot be allowed to happen here, nonetheless, is for young people to “get a pass” (3) on becoming sensitive and productive members of our human family. The world is apparently riddled with disenfranchised young people (mostly young men) who can still justify their existence through anger and violence (the suicide bomber fueled by a perverted ideology, for instance). Gandhi’s (1869-1948) message of satyagraha (4) is still not being heard and acted upon. Why not? The answer, “in a nutshell,” (5) is that any skill must be acquired, it is not innate. This is especially true when it comes to the
area of thinking: critical thinking that is. You can continue to be an adolescent, but your mental acuity can be, and should be, ameliorated at any age. You don’t have to be very mature to realize that something is awry with our world. But, unless humanity is to be expunged from the planet, we still have a good chance to repair the damage and build a successful future for all. This will require a re-education of the masses, away from capitalism and consumption to the common good: away from the sullen blindness of “me” to the scintillating sunlight of “we.” I know that we are “up” for the journey. Actor and political activist, Brian Whitford (b.1959) leaves us with a thought: Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs honor your Creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen … yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.
A closing thought: One of the curious byproducts of post-millennial immaturity is pacifism. This is not a pacifism by choice, but simply by psychological inertia. The vast majority do not care about “your” war or any war for that matter. I cannot imagine the average nineteen-year-old of today rushing out to join a branch of the armed forces (Some, of course, do: governments are notoriously good at selling the ego-driven idea of masculinity and economic stability to young minds.) The average age of a soldier during World War One, by contrast, was nineteen and many were a lot younger. (6) With a great deal of luck, the world will blunder into peace because “they gave a war and nobody came.” Religious fundamentalism, sadly, is filling this void. This is something that we must be aware of. Certainly, we want a God of love and peace not one of war and proselytizing.
To sum up: This week we spoke about adolescents and how they are maturing at an increasingly later age. This puts them in immediate conflict with their society which matures, on average, in a much faster way. We also spoke about critical thinking and pacifism, and how it relates to adulthood. The members of, so-called Generation Z, are not warmongers like previous generations. This is more to do with a lack of awareness than intent.
A philosophical question: Why, when Christ’s message is one of love and peace, are Christian countries still fueling war? John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Just for fun: Ed Sheeran and Bocelli
This week, please reflect on what critical thinking and pacifism mean to you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: Life is an exceptional experience. It cannot be punctuated, though, with aggression and vexation if it is to grow and blossom
Footnotes:
1) Generation Z
2) ‘Adolescence now lasts from 10 to 24’
3) The meaning to not be responsible for an action.
4) Satyagraha
5) The meaning is a concise action.
6) How did Britain let 250,000 underage soldiers fight in WW1?