*warning…start of rant*
There’s a video that’s being shared talking about the problem with “millennials”. It talks about the fact of how entitled/lazy the younger generation is and continues to go on about other overly broad stereotypes.
I’ve seen this video getting shared around lately and while it has some points to it (it really does), I’m really bothered by this constant “millennial bashing” bandwagon that everyone is seemingly jumping aboard on. While I love some of the thoughts that were shared, I disagree with the overall idea that Millennials are basically a worthless generation that adds no value to society. This constant attack on the younger generation has to stop and it really irks me how acceptable it has become for us to lump anyone younger than the age of 30 into this narrowly defined box.
Older generations have always had a tendency to bash on the younger generation. It happened back in the 1800’s, Vietnam era and continues to this day. I imagine that the current Millennial group will continue the practice when they become the older generation in 10-20 years as well.
Are there selfish, lazy unmotivated young people in the world? Absolutely! But there are countless examples of those who are not as well. As was stated in another piece, “Replace the word ‘millennial’ with ’60 year old’ in most pieces discussing their various faults, and you can see how ridiculous it is to generalize an entire age group.”
I’ve seen millennials who are shell shocked when they have to face the “real world” and enter the workforce. But I also see those who are absolutely crushing it, who are taking risks and who are adding value to society like no other generation before them. They are creating products/companies/ideas that are transforming our society and are being infused in our daily lives.
What do you think the impact of constantly telling the youth how lazy they are will be? It sure isn’t going to be pretty. As Joey Castonguay points out, “Why do older generations feel as though they can just treat younger people whichever way they want, talk to them however way they want, and beat them down however much they want without them fighting back? I am all for the notion of respect being earned and not given, but after a certain point people have to give us a chance.
No one can be perfect, and the previous generations certainly were not. So how can they all of a sudden hold us to a higher standard?”
President Nelson recently remarked on this whole Millennial bashing:
“Many people refer to you as Millennials. I’ll admit that when researchers refer to you by that word and describe what their studies reveal about you—your likes and dislikes, your feelings and inclinations, your strengths and weaknesses—I’m uncomfortable. There is something about the way they use the term Millennial that bothers me. And frankly, I am less interested in what the experts have to say about you than what the Lord has told me about you.
When I pray about you and ask the Lord how He feels about you, I feel something far different from what the researchers say. Spiritual impressions I’ve received about you lead me to believe that the term Millennial may actually be perfect for you. But for a much different reason than the experts may ever understand.
The term Millennial is perfect for you if that term reminds you of who you really are and what your purpose in life really is. A True Millennial is one who was taught and did teach the gospel of Jesus Christ premortally and who made covenants with our Heavenly Father there about courageous things—even morally courageous things—that you would do while here on earth.
A True Millennial is a man or woman whom God trusted enough to send to earth during the most compelling dispensation in the history of this world. A True Millennial is a man or woman who lives now to help prepare the people of this world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His millennial reign. Make no mistake about it—you were born to be a True Millennial.”
In general, I think this group of “Millennials” are doing some fantastic and amazing things in the world and if we keep on focusing on all of the things some of them are not doing, we’re going to miss everything that they are doing. They are the future generation just as we were the younger generation not that long ago. Every generation has their challenges but through those challenges, you see many remarkable individuals doing some remarkable things in this world especially when they have the Lord’s help in doing so.
*end of rant*
