A Look at America's Future (People try to put us down...)

(...Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I'm going for a twofer tonight. I'm back to talk briefly about America's younger generation, my generation, now that I've got that Who song stuck in your head (ha ha ha). Anyway, I'd like to elaborate briefly on perceptions about my generation, and what I've come to realize. I wrote this past February about a new trend in activism among young, college-age people like me. And since then, I've come to realize a lot more about my peers.

I was in Borders yesterday, and I spotted this book with the title on the cover reading The Dumbest Generation. The subtitle said something about how our generation's tech-savviness would bring about the end of reading, but I forget the exact wording of it. It seems to me that to be disparaging about the younger generation is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser in certain circles. It seems safe to complain of the forgotten values of "our generation." It seems like one can use this line over and over and not encounter any resistance.

I bought into this idea myself. When I was younger, I thought that no one around me thought deeply about anything, that they were all preoccupied with themselves, that they couldn't appreciate anything non-tech, and a myriad of other concerns. I believed all this myself for a while. But reading those articles that I discussed with you really changed. In an ethics class I took this past spring, along with a poli sci class, I found people my age very engaged and in the know about the things I've talked about with you, the reeders.

Now, I still understand some skepticism of the younger generation. We are quite imperfect. I am quite imperfect. There are plenty of things we could be better about. But this sort of cynicism about us is just the new verse of an old song. That old song is wrong. Elders similarly complained of the Baby Boomers, even of the Greatest Generation. It is not surprising, then, that the Millenial Generation, as we've come to be known (people born in the 80's and early 90's, would be the subject of similar derision. I'd like to elaborate more on this, but it is now about 1 in the morning, so it will have to wait for another day.

One last thing I'd like to leave you with is this clip. In it, Fox News's Steve Doocy talks to young children, much younger than me, even, about governmental policy towards school. Whether or not you agree with what these kids have to say, you have to acknowledge that these kids are knowledgeable, and that they are engaged in the issues. Listen to the one girl. Listen to her answers, and then remember that she is 11 years old. If only I'd been that smart when I was 11...just think of where I'd be now. Oh well, I'm plenty bright as it is.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.

Some Thoughts on the Iranian Crisis

Hi Everyone,

Well, I'm sure you've all heard about what's going on in Iran. The election between the incumbent, the hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, and the moderate, somewhat pro-western Mir-Hossein Mousavi (His name's Hussein, too! Well, kinda). Ahmedinejad claimed a landslide victory, which seems very fishy. The people of Iran smelled fraud, and took to the streets in massive numbers. Iran's Revolutionary Guard, under Ahmedinejad's and the Iranian Ayatollah's direction, have attempted to put down the massive protests, and as a result, shots were fired, and eight people were killed. Today, the Guard has backed down, and even more people have come out in what Mousavi has decreed a "day of mourning" for those lost.

What has made this interesting is that technology has played a huge role in fueling the protester's efforts. Photos of the guards have been taken and sent to the outside world through Facebook, and updates sent out through Twitter. Finally, Twitter has come in handy. This is one of the good things technology can help you do. Another thing is the generational factor. Most of Iran's population is under 30. Middle-aged Iranians were largely lost in their war with Iraq in the 1980's.

Remember that election in Lebanon a week or two ago? The one where the radical, pro-Hezbollah faction was thrown out and the pro-Western party came in the day after the Cairo speech? Well, perhaps the leaders of Iran were worried about a similar thing happening in their country, so they pulled something fishy like this. I don't know that this is the case, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. Not that this Mousavi would be a huge change; technically, the Ayatollahs would still be calling the shots. But the hard-line element of Iranian leadership would be curtailed. This Mousavi told Ahmedinejad that his denial of the Holocaust was making Iran "a laughingstock."

Something interesting is definitely happening now. Remember the Revolution of 1979? That was the response to the brutal Shah that was installed by the West in 1953. This began the West's tense relationship with Iran. That was when the hard-line, anti-American Ayatollah was put in power. Now, it seems something similar is happening, only it's not working to the Ayatollah's benefit. Anyway, I found this one post here about the role of Iran's younger generation in this. It notes that the same kind of generational shift that fueled Barack Obama's rise in the United States may deliver change in Iran. And the people of Iran have shown their newfound commitment to a more democratic government (this is much more important to people who haven't had it).

If you ask me, which you are now, I'd say that whether the election results were legitimate or fraudulent, the leaders of Iran better pay attention to this trend, or suffer the consequences. Maybe we can say again the words I paraphrased last week,"Mr. Ahmedinejad, tear down these walls!" As this instability continues in Iran, my (and I hope yours, too) prayers are that the people of Iran may find a more peaceful, free and just country, the kind you and I take for granted. So be thankful, and keep your thoughts and prayers with Iran.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.