The Angst-less Generation

My children are of the Gen Y, or Millennial, Generation. This past week has been full of proof.

The Millennials tend to exhibit great familiarity and comfort with digital technology, media, and communications. They are also beginning to exhibit, on the whole, a marked increase in a neoliberal view of the world - including social issues, politics, and the economy. Basically, that means they believe the world is small and connected, that people should make as much money as they can, and that they should believe in whatever they want - as long as their actions are responsible, fair, respectful, and green. And they can do it all right from their keyboard, remote control, or cell phone.

On Monday and Tuesday combined, I spent about 6 or 7 hours trying to set up Webcam chat capability so we would be able to 'be there' in Morocco with my husband's family.

Now, I consider myself to be pretty computer savvy...I can restore a computer's system to a previous date, I am comfortable with most Office programs to the degree that many people as me for assistance when they are 'stuck,' I can selectively delete cookies, and I have even completely reformatted a hard drive or two. I was frustrated and utterly dismayed that I was unable to set up the chat. Every piece of advice I received online or from friends instructed me to click on links I couldn't even find. Bizarre.

My daughter happened to walk in the room as I was about to use the computer's cord as a noose, and I jokingly suggested she fix the problem. She shrugged, and said, "Ok." She walked over, tappety-tapped on the keyboard for about 20 seconds - and the screen filled with a working Webcam chat screen, and the speakers echoed me squawking, "How did you do that???!"

"It's not rocket science," she replied. Indeed.

My son and I have been conversing off and on all week on the topic of his generation and the fact that they have seemingly developed no discernable 'style' of their own. We all know what the styles of the 50's, 60's, and 70's looked, sounded, and even smelled like. The 80's absolutely had a style, a sound, and a feeling recognizeable on sight. What other decade has produced a definable genre lable like "The 80's Movies?"

The almost-seventeen-year-old wants to know what his generation will be remembered for. Dress styles are a mish-mash of previous decades. The best music is old music - or new music 'in the style of' the past. He said, "Are we really going to use something from Britney or Justin Bieber as our generation's anthem? Really?" This came up last night as we were settled in front of the TV, having enjoyed the season premier of Real Time with Bill Maher (a standing weekly "date" we share during the show's season), and were now watching Nirvana: Live at Reading on DVD.

We were doing the usual music-video conversation stuff; you know, the "Oh, that song is one of my favorites," comments, foot-tapping, and belting out the odd lyric. I mentioned that I couldn't even imagine sitting down and thoroughly enjoying a concert with my parents, and that I'm pretty sure they wouldn't enjoy sharing their music with someone from my grandparent's generation, either.

Thus, the discussion regarding Gen Y's lack of artistic distinction. Exploring the subject, I asked him what the theme of Nirvana, U2 and other alternative-grunge-ska-rock-punk greats from the 80's and 90's was. What makes us respond to them, feel with them, and call them the Real Thing? And, conversely, what are Bieber and his ilk missing?

In a word, Angst.

Gen X was the latch-key kid; Gen Y is driven door-to-door everywhere they go. I don't remember having Game Night with my parents....but it is a common happening in our house now. Broken homes for the Gen X'er meant you never saw the 'other' parent...Gen Y spends equal time with both parents. Millennials were born into child-proofed environments, have 24/7 entertainment, and have been encouraged to think for themselves and speak up. Kids from Generation X learned not to touch the hot stove by getting burnt the first time...

My son said, "See?! It's our parent's fault we have no soul....You made our lives too easy! People like Kurt Cobain baecame who they were because of their struggles!" So, it is always the parent's fault, isn't it? Oh, my....

So, I make an open apology to the new generation: "I am sorry we made you feel safe. I am sorry you weren't left alone. I apologize that we worked so hard to not punish you for our mistakes, that we sucked up our own feelings and made sure your self-image wasn't damaged when we fell out of love with your other parent. But, you don't really want to end up like Kurt, Hendrix, or MJ, do you?

"You see, I disagree that we took your soul. We have allowed you to find a new voice; one that doesn't require sex, drugs, and rock and roll to express. One that sees the world as a smaller place. One that sees all people as equal; with equal rights and responsibilities. You do have an opportunity to make a mark on history. You have a unique perspective of a new millennium, a century that you can shape any way you choose. It needn't be defined by how wide or narrow your jeans legs are, how straight or curly your hair is, or by the pain in your music lyrics.

"Gen Y can define the world by making the previous generation's dreams come true...Equality. Tolerance. Justice. Responsibility. Health. Peace. You understand the importance of these things; perhaps more clearly than any previous generation.

"You can end hunger and war. You can open dialog that will enhance cultural understanding and respect. You can save the environment. You can find balance in the economy.

"And you can do all of it with just a few tappity-taps of your keyboard. This is true art, and nobility of soul."

After all, it's not rocket science.