A letter to young thinkers and writers

Dear Generation Z,

It’s always easy to think of one’s own generation as the defining one—to presuppose that your cohorts are a perfect mean between the conservatism of the Old and the frivolousness of the Young. As a millennial, however, I always had to recalibrate my sense of generational pride. To be sure, I’m proud of the ruthless dynamism, globe-trotting free-spiritedness, and all-conquering passion, which have made countless millennials industry leaders and creative pioneers. It goes without saying, however, that the very term “millennial” has also assumed a derogatory connotation. I have lost count of the number of (older) folks berating my generation for its purported lack of grit and sedulousness.

Judgy, much!? Let me provide some big-picture context. Thanks to disruptive technological innovation, and massive shifts in the global economy, many millennials have been forced to give up on what earlier generations took for granted: Stable jobs, long-term romantic partners, and property ownership. In the United States, for instance, the millennials are considered the “poorest” or the “brokest generation.” After all, my cohorts entered the labor market in the late-2000s, precisely when the Great Recession, mainly sparked by Gen X and Boomer financiers in the Wall Street, decimated the global economy.

And just when some of the older millennials finally decided to build their own family—having finally settled student loan debts, and saving the bare minimum for a dignified life in an era of rapidly rising costs—the COVID-19 pandemic triggered another existential crisis.

Tens of millions of millennials have had to endure a “precariat” existence: a wrenching combination of precarity and proletariat living standards, best defined by the so-called “gig economy.” The upshot is a generation that has had enough leisure to enjoy online dating and indulge in career-shopping, but often lacks the resources for and the incentive of long-term commitment.

So, I wonder about Generation Z, which has been completely drenched in the digital world. As a university lecturer, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in recent years, I have had the privilege of having students across generations. And Generation Z students always impressed me with their intellectual curiosity, digital acumen, and creative thinking patterns.

Now, let me talk straight to you, dear reader!

What has even impressed me more about your generation is the unwillingness to put up with hackneyed ideologies, tired slogans, and all forms of oppressive order. Across the world, from China, Thailand, and Myanmar to Pakistan, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, Generation Z activists are courageously challenging authoritarian systems unlike any of their predecessors.

More than a century ago, the Bohemian poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer, Franz Kappus, who aspired for a literary career. Initially, Rilke maintained: “Nobody can advise you and help you, nobody. There is only one way. Go into yourself.” Yet, he eventually relented and, accordingly, offered, based on his own tumultuous experiences, heartfelt advice to the young man. So here is my own humble advice to Generation Z, especially budding thinkers, writers, and journalists, who are entering a brave new world:

Speaking truth to power is often a painfully thankless job, if not a dizzyingly perilous vocation: The “trapos” will despise you, the trolls will swarm you, and, at times—against the grain of misinformation, and in the thick of confusion—the general public might ignore or even deride you for challenging the well-oiled narrative of the mighty and the powerful. Sadly, it can even get worse. To be an original thinker and a truly independent writer is not a vocation for the faint-hearted. Bearing witness to Truth is often a lonely path. But, you must remain steadfast, keep calm under pressure, and take pride in your courage of conviction—or there is nothing as soulfully enriching as sticking to your core principles, in graceful bliss, against the torrent of willful calumny and callous demagoguery. And have Faith in the eternal wisdom that History ultimately vindicates Truth—and that the arc of human struggle bends toward the will of the tenacious and courageous! March on, young women and men—for the future is yours! And, along the way, continue to inspire us all with your indomitable spirit.

Sincerely yours

Chad

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