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And Yet We FlourishMusings of a Youthful Individual

By

Suraiya Ashraf Sisily.

We have to marvel at how advanced the world is today. Technology has made communication

perhaps the easiest task in our busy lives through emails, cell phones and video conferencing. Yet,

the funny fact remains that despite these multitude means of communication, perhaps the biggest

communication gap still exists between the two major generations all throughout the world the

Youth Generation and the Senior Generation. And this is a gap which has lasted through millennia

even from the times of Socrates and Plato.

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect

for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their

households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatterbefore company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

- Attributed to Socrates by Plato.

Socrates and Plato are both classical Greek philosophers of ancient times. The quote above, if the

source was not acknowledged, could easily apply to our modern times and our current culture. Even

classical philosophers from ancient times had misgivings about the youth and younger generation they

were dealing with. Its a common theme that has probably been in existence since the beginning of

time. Every generation complains about the following generation, and how they themselves were

considerate, respectful and well behaved with their preceding generation. The above quote can beattributed to sometime between 469 347 B.C.

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for

certainly all youth is reckless beyond words When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and

respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

- Hesiod, 8th Century B.C.

The words may be different but the transmitted message remains the same, in spite of the fact that

centuries have elapsed between the time of the first quote and the second quote. Its enough to make

us wonder what changes were brought forward to address the original misgivings and grievances that

were present, and how effectively they brought about results. Ask any parent of a normal adolescent

their views and perspectives, and it is guaranteed that they completely agree with the views of Hesiod

above. They would probably be able to give you a list of supporting reasons which would stretch a

mile long. In funny that although science and modern technology has globalized the world to such an

enormous extent, were still facing problems from the timeline when the general concept of the people

was that the Earth was flat. Weve managed to invent the internet and travel to the Moon, but

somehow were still lamenting on the ever present conditions of todays Youth.

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I believe what really happens in history is this: the old man is always wrong; and the young people

are always wrong about what is wrong with him. The practical form it takes is this: that, while the old

man may stand by some stupid custom, the young man always attacks it with some theory that turns

out to be equally stupid.

-G. K. Chesterton.

The best summary of the situation is probably given by G. K. Chesterton above. At the end of the day,

it is a battle of wills between the older and the younger generation, without either side ready to give

up. The fact remains that we dont ever completely grow up, we just delve into routines, traditions

and culture, whilst adhering to the strict norms set by society for us. Maybe a part of us will also envy

the freedom granted to the Youth by virtue of age and innocence, the freedom whose taste once

experienced can never be forgotten. I suppose at the end of the day we can stop lamenting about the

state of todays Youth; in spite of the misgivings which seem to have existed since the beginning of

time we seem to have fared pretty well, would one agree?