After reading the report on “Generation Z,” the next thought that came to mind was, “what about the next generation?”
This is especially relevant to me as my son, Ronan Justice, was born this morning.
Ronan is the newest addition to the clan and is joining his young sister, Piper Liberty (pictured above), as members of what is being called, “Generation Alpha.”
While the youth that are emerging and already influencing the nation as “Gen Z” are pleasant, trusting and community focused, the nation will be placed in a dangerous position if their collective nature is not balanced by decisiveness, depth and a healthy dose of rebellion against authority.
Gen Z, the first truly “wired” generation has taken on the personality of Facebook: optimistic, affable and filled with surface information.
They’re wicked smart and there is no doubt that this generation will make incredible advances as they mature . . .
. . . but only if they’re protected until a more forceful generation emerges.
Falling outside of generational influence is the cold, hard reality of the Government Establishment.
Decade after decade, the Establishment has remained unchanged and growing like a tumor . . . a tumor that feeds off of money and power regardless of party brand of the moment.
The Establishment is something Americans cannot avoid. We have to choose to join, tolerate, or challenge it.
As a reader of this publication, I assume you take no issue with standing up to authority when warranted.
You may also be a lot like me: I don’t stand up to authority . . . I was never sitting down.
Although that comes across as half-cocked bravado, it is oh-so-very real for many of us. It’s a matter of containing the anti-Establishment inferno burning inside by focusing on meaningful action.
One such action may be right in front of you.
They’re your children, grandchildren or possibly a younger brother or sister.
You know them . . . their smiles, beauty and intelligence.
If a young man or woman from Gen Z is in your life, I’m sure you have looked at them and thanked God for his gift.
You also may have noticed that an unusual number of these youth are benevolent . . . an admirable trait that’s now a large part of societal design.
But it’s a trait that’s easily manipulated by authority.
The growth of Nationalism in Pre-WWII Japan started with cultural benevolence and evolved to blind subservience.
A convincing personality taking advantage of a group’s strong sense of community, kindness and intelligence would wield a shockingly powerful tool.
Take Hope and Change in ’08 applied to Gen Z, throw in heaping spoonfuls of fear and duty and an extra shot of hero-worship and your recipe starts to smells a lot like North Korea.
But that’s not going to happen.
Why?
Because you’re breathing.
On top of all of the other obligations we share, there’s a duty to protect this emerging generation from the Establishment.
Hopefully we can do a better job protecting them than we did protecting ourselves.
When government attempts to take another freedom or just move . . . one . . . tiny . . . inch down the field, we have to be prepared to knock them flat on their ass . . . like a crazy-eyed Brian Bosworth in an Orange Bowl play.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a Republican or Democrat attempting to grasp another wisp of power, in the end the result is the same . . . the Establishment grows.
After 20 years, we can take a break and, while no one can predict the personality traits of the next generation, if I do my job as a father, I’ll have at least few reinforcements on the way.
