SPECIAL ISSUE #3
THERE IS HOPE AFTER ALL
I was and still am seriously worried that young people, children, and teenagers were for the most part a lost cause. I have been on several walks (this is what we have to call it in Germany) in Munich and I was always astonished to see so very few young people taking to the streets. It was more my generation (born in 1967) plus minus 20 years that you see walking for the rights of everyone. On one of my walks, I went into a store to buy something and the young woman at the cash desk was annoyed that the city was so crowded and people were so loud and noisy, shouting “peace” and “liberty” and was complaining to me, asking what the hell these people were doing there. I just looked at her and told her very calmly that these people were fighting for HER rights. I knew I had wasted my breath but I suppose someone had to tell her anyway.
On the one hand, this surprised me and on the other hand, I can understand why it is more my generation that sees the injustice, the wrongdoings, and the madness that is happening all around us and the youth seems compliant to a point where I can only shake my head in wonder. It is simply a different generation, a generation that was born into a form of abundance that has made them take most things for granted. I am not blaming this generation for anything as it is my generation that raised them and perhaps just wanted to give them all we did not have, or pave their way and make things as easy as possible. I am not sure we did them a favor with that.
If I just take the Friday’s For Future movement, which I think of with disdain, I know that most kids that took part in those demonstrations did it to get a day off school. These kids that were “fighting” for the climate and the environment simply dropped all their garbage where they stood and did not even consider picking up after themselves - there are people doing it for them. These are the children that are growing up with amazing technology and an overabundance, which they take for granted - a smartphone is a right not a privilege, etc., and very few waste a single thought on what influence all that may have on the environment. Again, they are not at fault. It is simply a different generation that has not had to really fight for anything and has a myriad of distractions to keep them busy at all times, making it sometimes difficult to focus just on one thing at a time.
But my headline promised hope and I am getting to that. I am a loyal reader of El Gato’s newsletter bad cattitude, which I admire and love to read and can only recommend. In his issue, the kids have had enough of this masquerade he gives some wonderful examples of children waking up and taking a stand that truly gives hope that the governments of this world cannot do all they want without resistance from all generations.
My favorite part of this newsletter:
the most important civics lesson you will learn this year are:
no one is coming to save you (nor should you want or trust them to)
those in power are often stupid, venal, and oppressive
compliance to tyranny only begets more tyranny
you will get to keep only those rights that you are willing to fight for
these are lessons for a lifetime.
they have taken enough of your youth from you.
go do it properly.
go be alright.
In Europe more and more countries are waking up and dropping the useless measures that have been imposed for much too long on the people with horrific consequences and collateral damage, and I believe that it will be, it must a domino effect and others will follow. Unfortunately, Germany will most likely be one of the last countries to come to its senses but I am convinced that even here it will have to happen sooner or later - hopefully sooner.
🎶My Song of the Day
📚My Poem of the Day
Is one by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
Of Old Sat Freedom on the Heights
Of old sat freedom on the heights,
The thunders breaking at her feet;
Above her shook the starry lights;
She heard the torrents meet.
There in her place she did rejoice,
Self-gather’d in her prophet-mind,
But fragments of her mighty voice
Came rolling on the wind.
Then stepped she down thro’ town and field
To mingle with the human race,
And part by part to men reveal’d
The fullness of her face—
Grave mother of majestic works,
From her isle-altar gazing down,
Who, God-like, grasps the triple forks,
and, King-like, wears the crown:
Her open eyes desire the truth.
The wisdom of a thousand years
Is in them. May perpetual youth
Keep dry their light from tears;
That her fair form may stand and shine,
Make bright our days and light our dreams,
Turning to scorn with lips divine
The falsehood of extremes!
👀Impressions
Another amazing view from my balcony
Wishing you a happy evening!
Yours
Tanja 🤗