My generation failed to change the world. Who will?

brianlux

In an interview for the documentary "Classic Albums: The Who: Who's Next" Pete Townshend says this:

"For me, you know, that notion of teenage waste land- it is about waste. It's not about getting wasted, it's about waste. It's about wasted life, wasted opportunity, wasted years-- and I take full responsibility for the fact that my generation complained about the state of the planet and did nothing to change it."

I don't think Pete is saying he alone is responsible for my generation doing nothing to change things, but rather acknowledges his own individual responsibility. I'm of that generation and I totally understand what he's saying. We were going to change the world, we were going to "make the world a better place for you and me". We didn't. And to tell the truth, I never fell for any of that. I could see all the hypocrisy around me. So what did I do? I got wasted.

Today I try very hard to level my impact on the planet- use less, recycle, live more lightly on the earth. And I try to spread the word-- but it's easy to sit here and tap away on a key board and espouse all kinds of wonderful knowledge but at the end of the day, what have I done? Maybe- if I'm lucky- I'll break even in the end.

So what will we do? Can we make a difference? Do we really care or is it all just so much talk? Will there be a generation that takes action before it's too late?

lukins.lawyer

Things will change when the Earth forces it upon us.

gimmesometruth27

well brian, my generation is royally screwing things up too. we are trying, but the old people in charge are not so quick to allow change. the youth are the ones who are going to change the world.

Newch91

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

well brian, my generation is royally screwing things up too. we are trying, but the old people in charge are not so quick to allow change. the youth are the ones who are going to change the world.

Damn right we will!

hedonist

I think "change the world" sounds noble - IS a noble cause (although strikes me as egotistical as well) - yet we do what we can, where we can.

But really, this rock is resilient and we are just fleas on the ass of the universe.

hedonist

Also, I think just by being - no matter whose generation - we have an impact. Whether it's positive or negative in the longrun, who knows.

ONCE DEVIDED

brianlux wrote:

In an interview for the documentary "Classic Albums: The Who: Who's Next" Pete Townshend says this:

"For me, you know, that notion of teenage waste land- it is about waste. It's not about getting wasted, it's about waste. It's about wasted life, wasted opportunity, wasted years-- and I take full responsibility for the fact that my generation complained about the state of the planet and did nothing to change it."

I don't think Pete is saying he alone is responsible for my generation doing nothing to change things, but rather acknowledges his own individual responsibility. I'm of that generation and I totally understand what he's saying. We were going to change the world, we were going to "make the world a better place for you and me". We didn't. And to tell the truth, I never fell for any of that. I could see all the hypocrisy around me. So what did I do? I got wasted.

Today I try very hard to level my impact on the planet- use less, recycle, live more lightly on the earth. And I try to spread the word-- but it's easy to sit here and tap away on a key board and espouse all kinds of wonderful knowledge but at the end of the day, what have I done? Maybe- if I'm lucky- I'll break even in the end.

So what will we do? Can we make a difference? Do we really care or is it all just so much talk? Will there be a generation that takes action before it's too late?

Brian
Hmmmmm
Maybe individually we do not make a difference on this huge planet, but making an effort as you have said you do is such a wonderful thing that is an example for others around you to follow
Those that love and respect you will follow and hopefully effect more

And also just recently YOU HAD AN effect on me
You showed much kindness recently to me. And that did have an effect
From the other side of the world you and others stood beside me showed me support
you and those others improved my world, made a mark on it

I think that's what each of us can do, and the world is such a better place for it
Kindness

hedonist

ONCE DEVIDED wrote:

I think that's what each of us can do, and the world is such a better place for it
Kindness

Now this is sweet - a nice counter to my somewhat-cynical initial response

brianlux

hedonist wrote:

ONCE DEVIDED wrote:

I think that's what each of us can do, and the world is such a better place for it
Kindness

Now this is sweet - a nice counter to my somewhat-cynical initial response

It's a raw, tough, mangled and often cruel old world we humans have created, Hedonist. Your initial response is well understood. I often find myself fighting cynicism. That's when I have to remind myself to keep doing what makes sense- which is to try, as Once Devided suggests, to do what I can- no matter what the odds for or against making a difference.

I often recommend a book by Gorman Bechard called The Second Greatest Story Ever Told . Here's the publisher's description:

"The world has problems! And no one knows that better than God. (He sees everything, remember?) He decides it's time for that ultimate wake-up call. Only this go-round, the Big Man is giving his Daughter a shot. Her name is Ilona. She's 18, lives in the East Village, listens to alternative music, dates, drinks, and has no problem telling the Pope and the President that they better get their act together...pronto! But like every Savior, Ilona has a deadline. She needs to get her message (the 11th commandment: "Be Kind") across now. And what better way than through the media. She becomes a sensation, promoting her word on various talk shows, and from her vantage point on the cover of every magazine. Ilona is the new "It" girl, the messiah for the X-Generation: cool, quirky, and sexy. And as Jesus Christ's kid sister, she's not about to take any crap from the men who've been running the show. As with her Brother before her, there are the doubters amongst us. People who feel that God has no right rewriting the Bible and that Ilona is the black sheep of the Holy Family. But God is not about to stand by and watch as his little girl is "crucified." He's had enough of the hypocrisy, and takes out a little revenge on those who refuse to believe...opening the door for Ilona to work her divine magic. THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD is a comic gem of a tale, reminiscent of the work of Nick Hornby, Tom Perrotta, and Kurt Vonnegut, which the New York Times called "an irreverent look at the Second Coming" while the Los Angeles Times said it was "a very very funny book." Hip, enchanting and life affirming, like a female "The Catcher in the Rye," THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD tackles all the big issues: Good, Evil, and Rock 'n' Roll."

And as a bonus, Ilona is a big Paul Westerberg fan!

polaris_x

his generation did change the world ...


unfortunately it was for the worse ... :(

lukin2006

None...absolutely none...the world is made up of too many people who quite frankly don't care.

Godfather.

on a positive note...I have seen change for the better starting in 69 or 70 when recycling started on a public level,medical advances,lower emission cars and just an over all public awerness of the planet...I mean really..listen to all you folks espically the younger ones, those comments and thoughts will be the progress that our youth bring into their/our future, I realize it's hard to see the good that is happening when there is still so much to fix but each generation makes advancments in our lives for the better..,.maybe small steps but it's still a step in the right direction, Rome wassn't built over night.

Godfather.

pandora

What do we want to change?

War?

Famine?

Pollution?

Greed?

Hate?

I don't think a generation can change what humans are ...
maybe evolution can.

A second coming or even better could. We need a miracle ...
thank goodness we all have that in us.

brianlux

lukin2006 wrote:

None...absolutely none...the world is made up of too many people who quite frankly don't care.

That's why this forum and the band that this forum is centered around is important. Good things have happened here.

I understand your viewpoint, lukin2006, but I would hope we can remember Vaclav Havel's idea that hope is not the expectation that things will turn out well but rather hope is doing what makes sense no matter how things turn out. We might go down in flames with the rest of the world while trying to make a little difference but it makes sense for us to try anyway.

battan1120

I'm thinking it was his generation that got us to this point....fucking World Wide Suicide his generation should commit,then things could possibly get better

Meg8686

I will

brianlux

battan1120 wrote:

I'm thinking it was his generation that got us to this point....fucking World Wide Suicide his generation should commit,then things could possibly get better

:(

Like I said, I'm part of that generation. Believe it or not, we're not all the bad guys. Sorry you feel that way.

Rather than be so crass, why not tell us what you're doing to make things better. I'd be interested to hear that.

fife

brianlux wrote:

battan1120 wrote:

I'm thinking it was his generation that got us to this point....fucking World Wide Suicide his generation should commit,then things could possibly get better

:(

Like I said, I'm part of that generation. Believe it or not, we're not all the bad guys. Sorry you feel that way.

Rather than be so crass, why not tell us what you're doing to make things better. I'd be interested to hear that.

to answer the question of who will? i think we all will. the young and the old we just do it differently. I try to change the world in many ways for the better either from what I do on my personal time and what I do in my work life.

at the same time I know that I do change the world in bad ways also i.e. I drive to work everyday and hardly take the public transportation.

hedonist

Do you think it balances out?

As in, you driving to work (could be considered "bad" but not necessarily so) vs the work you do.

So much gray and trying to figure out a tit-for-tat. I'm just not sure it works that way.

fife

hedonist wrote:

Do you think it balances out?

As in, you driving to work (could be considered "bad" but not necessarily so) vs the work you do.

So much gray and trying to figure out a tit-for-tat. I'm just not sure it works that way.

I am not sure that it balances out but I think I try to do everything that I can to make the world better. I would like to not drive to work but its not possible for me most of the time to be honest.

Jeanwah

Surround yourself with the right people who DO make a difference in the world, and all you see is progress, Brian.

Perception is everything.

brianlux

Jeanwah wrote:

Surround yourself with the right people who DO make a difference in the world, and all you see is progress, Brian.

Perception is everything.

Nicely said, Jeanwah!

catefrances

change will come when it becomes profitable or when we have no choice... whichever comes first.

chadwick

catefrances wrote:

change will come when it becomes profitable or when we have no choice... whichever comes first.

both at the same time

catefrances

chadwick wrote:

catefrances wrote:

change will come when it becomes profitable or when we have no choice... whichever comes first.

both at the same time

how do you figure?? cause i believe sustainability can be profitable way sooner than 'when we have no choice'. why must we always be forced into change?

Jason P

You can choose to work in fields that everyone here complains about making the pollution and work from the inside to affect sustainability.

I roll hills and flatten them out, but how I choose to do it can offset my can recycling if I lived for 10,000 years.

catefrances

Jason P wrote:

You can choose to work in fields that everyone here complains about making the pollution and work from the inside to affect sustainability.

I roll hills and flatten them out, but how I choose to do it can offset my can recycling if I lived for 10,000 years.

you roll hills and flatten them out??? why for??

Jason P

catefrances wrote:

Jason P wrote:

You can choose to work in fields that everyone here complains about making the pollution and work from the inside to affect sustainability.

I roll hills and flatten them out, but how I choose to do it can offset my can recycling if I lived for 10,000 years.

you roll hills and flatten them out??? why for??

They get in my way.

redrock

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

well brian, my generation is royally screwing things up too. we are trying, but the old people in charge are not so quick to allow change. the youth are the ones who are going to change the world.

I think every generation says/thinks the same! Then, before one knows it, one is no longer 'the youth' but are part of the 'old people'!

brianlux

catefrances wrote:

change will come when it becomes profitable or when we have no choice... whichever comes first.

My idealistic self would like to think we could work to reverse environmental degradation because it's the right thing to do but my logical self knows that the two choices you mentioned are the most likely by far. And doing so for profit would be the better choice than waiting for the "no choice" option which may be the most likely of all. I think you hit the nail on the head, Cate.