Column

Is the younger generation lost in a gloomy mental-spiritual jungle?

Are they assaulted (and too often persuaded) by hateful “anti-every-thing” downers with the idea that ideals most Americans have considered good are actually bad? You know, hard work, independence, respect for law, ability to disagree without going ballistic?

I’m writing today about two recent occurrences I didn’t experience personally. I wasn’t there, but people whose judgement I trust were.

First, I know all of you are as upset as I am by the shootings at the Catholic church in Minneapolis, the young woman who was killed on a NYC bus, the murder of a Minnesota congresswoman and her husband and the murder of Charlie Kirk. I don’t use the expression, “My thoughts and prayers are with you,” but I’m astounded by those who say, “Forget thoughts and prayers. We need action to stop these senseless killings.”

Actions grow out of thoughts, and religion can be one of the most powerful influences on our thoughts. In the church shooting, why did older children immediately protect the youngsters with their own bodies? Could it be their Christian religion kicking in? I’m Protestant, but I’m sure those Catholic children have been taught at school, church and home to “love one another,” just as I’ve been. Thoughts and prayers convinced them to risk their own lives to protect others. Is that a bad thing?

Recently a Neponset couple told me about a local event that showed a side of some under-20 youths we seldom see reported and pondered. This couple attended the livestock show and judging on the last day of the Bureau County Fair. Both man and wife had grown up close enough to the agricultural scene to know how much feeding, manure shoveling, currying and worrying it takes to raise show-worthy animals. They also know that animals have no bathroom manners; when they gotta go, they go. Anywhere. And one beautiful little heifer chose to let go about one minute before entering the show ring. All the sleek grooming gone in a splash? But no. The young lady showing her zipped right to the job and got the little bovine into the ring in good form.

I talked to the Neponset couple shortly after they’d returned from the fair. I noticed they seemed in a very good mood. The knowledge, energy and good humor with which the youngsters approached their challenges—hard work, respect for the animals, readiness to accept either winning or losing without losing their cool—had renewed my friends’ faith in the younger generation. Maybe we aren’t in the hand basket headed for Hell quite yet?

I see potential good citizens in my young neighbors and my many great-great nephews and nieces. They all participate in school and church activities. They respect their parents (and have the good sense to keep quiet about their occasional slips from grace). They laugh and play. They have not-so-good days when they see grotesque when they look in the mirror. They worry about whether they’re popular. Just like we did as kids.

Youngsters today live in a troubling mental and spiritual environment and a few of them who seem to be great kids now will go bad in the future. But we can help; we can live responsibly, defending high principles, but never hating those who don’t accept them. We can be modest—and kind. We can worship something (One) so much bigger than ourselves. No generation needs to be lost.

I go with my old sign-off: Keep the faith, stay strong, and—hang on!

Your friend, Carol