Youth

I have fallen behind reading my Lapham's Quarterly resulting in my just getting to the summer edition called Youth.  Also, to be honest, I was reluctant to start reading it.  I was a bit concerned that I might find too many examples of the elderly reproaching the young.  In direct contrast to my belief in the next generation addressing the problems of the day, there are far too many people on TV, radio and in print that see only laziness, non-persistence, selfishness, even immorality in everything that is today's young.  Even some young people, that would be people in their late 20's and early 30's to me, seem to consider those 21 and under as spoiled, unmotivated.  Of course, I was also concerned that I might encounter just the opposite.  A veneration of all that is young to the point of abhorring those in the more mature age categories.   

Still, I began reading Youth last week.  Immediately, I was immersed in Lapham's opening essay.  True, he did lament over the seemingly never ending bombardment of new and improved marketing strategies.  And he certainly expressed some longing for his youth.  But his attack on youth was not about the young but more directed to the culture which worships youth as it denigrates age.  In essence, he was rebuking those of his generation (over 70) and mine (50-65), who spend far too much time trying to avoid getting old.  Who somehow believe that Viagra and sports and home exercise equipment will keep us forever young while it is so much more about accepting, no relishing, life as a mature adult.

And then I came to Teddy Roosevelt's essay about what it takes to be a good boy, or rather how being a good boy leads to being a good man.  What struck me was Roosevelt's opinion of the bully, which might seem curious to someone who recalls the Rough Riders and "speak softly and carry a big stick".  In the essay I read, an excerpt from The American Boy, Roosevelt expresses a disdain for those who use their superior strength to gain advantage over others.  Yes, he often thought of himself as a defender of those being bullied, and perhaps did not always recognize when he himself may have been the bully, but he expresses a sincere belief that those possessing superior strength should use that advantage as much for the good of family and society, certainly not to simply gain personal advantage.  It gave me new insight into Roosevelt's anti-trust activity as president.  Like him or not, he maintained his values when he had the power to do so, working to enable the regular guy over the big company.

Which brings us to today, and the continued battles being waged to prevent more examples of "too big to fail" which contributed in part to the recent economic meltdown in 2008.  Where are the
anti-trust, or anti-monopoly forces today?  

Certainly not in the Republican party where any attempt to regulate business so they do not have free reign to pollute our environment and prostitute our labor force, are met with calls of anti-capitalism, as if capitalism was meant to produce limited competition and mega companies dominating all markets.  Not that democrats are much better when a company, like Comcast, pumps large sums of money into their campaigns.  When our elected officials rationalize cutting the benefits of those with the least rather than removing the tax advantages for those with the most, it seems that they prefer the bully to the victim.  Or, at least, prefer being friend to the bully in hopes to avoid being the victim.

So, I continue reading and enjoying Youth.  It helps me bite my tongue when I am tempted to rebuke today's young as was done by each generation since time immemorial.  Reading a diatribe about the "rabble" of today, and seeing BC after the year provides good perspective when thinking today's youth are the worst ever.  

Somehow, all those admonitions seem to be just one more example of envy.  I guess it is human nature to wish to be older until we wish we were young again.