A Generation without Memories to Remember

We don’t have any. We are lucky for that, but not necessarily better for it. Throughout all of the recent military conflicts, the only uniform effect on the civilian population is that the oil companies have gouged us in gas prices. Other than that, there has been no defining drive to remember those who have died for our freedom. That sucks for us.

Our parents and grandparents had countless wars and political revolutions that helped define them as a generation. We, on the other hand, have been defined by our rebellion against the system set up by our elders.

As Memorial Day is upon us, as a 20 year old from a middle class up-bringing, I have no political or ideological definition through strife. The Gulf War was like watching the big mouthed fat kid get his ass kicked by the captain of the football team. The military actions in Rwanda and Bosnia meant nothing to most mainstream Americans. The most recent incarnation of the Gulf War that was supposedly won years ago has supposedly spun into our generation’s Vietnam, but I don’t think we really feel it. Rather, we are so wrapped up in telling Bush how crappy he is doing that we are not interested in the solution.

Does anyone REALLY think pulling our military out of the Middle East is the answer? Sadly, any mediocre news analyst will tell you that it will only create a larger breeding group of hostility in a region that has already exploded with anti-US sentiments. So, we all agreed we are screwed either way – but what is the answer? In the past, the youth of America always sought out cultural dialog and world peace. Now, we just want free national wi-fi and an application that will connect to all of our social-networks.

If we want an America to be proud of, we need to start creating memories of our own strife. Memorial Day is meant to be a day to reflect on all that others gave so that we can be so flippant with our freedom. Please take this day to ponder how we can all take a stand to take advantage of that freedom.