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Are things better or worse, compared to what? My generation was probably the most financially successful, ever in history. We went from a nation of poor in the pre-World War II era to the most powerful and most financially successful country on earth; while we promoted nuclear proliferation, squandered the respect that could have served us much better if we had respected others more, polluted our water and air, and exported fast food, immediate gratification, and rap and rock music to the world. I hope for better for the next generation.

I recently read a story of a young man saying that the older generation didn't have the internet, cell phones, instant communication, and weren't capable of functioning well in today's society. The older man answered, "No, we didn't have those things, so we invented them."

Hopefully, the next generation will do many things better, and sadly, will do many poorly; it is the nature of humankind. How they accept the responsibilities of their lives, their decisions, and their commitment to improving will determine if things will get better for their generation, or deteriorate to lack of social conscience, lack of commitment to higher principles, and lack of desire to excel in noble causes.

In life, there is no reality, only perception. As with the economy, perception is reality. If they perceive that things will get better and work toward that goal, that becomes their reality. If they perceive that the future is bleak, and not worth the effort to improve, that will become their reality.

The young people have a lot of our messes to clean up, and I wish them well. They have dropped most of the racism and intolerance of our generations, and I am pleased. Many of them seem to embrace many false and shallow icons, but weren't we a bit shallow and had to learn for ourselves what was important? As they make decisions, which will impact their children's futures, I hope they do better, and have better futures than the debt, the lack of world respect, and the pollution that we are leaving behind for them.

Learn more about this author, Will Kester.
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