The ‘lost generation’

By “lost generation” I am not referring to Gertrude Stein’s famous description of the generation that grew up during and after World War I in America and Europe.

I am borrowing the term to describe the current, sad, state of our young people, in Jordan and the Arab world at large.

I do not subscribe at all to the various stereotypes about Jordanian and Arab youth by members of previous generations, including mine, who think that “our” generation was better than “this” generation.

We were tougher, they would tell you, more responsible, more constructive, more loyal to our heritage, more involved, etc.

This is not true, and I only understand such sweeping statements as either part of a romantic nostalgia for the past, which is a universal human trend, or a result of viewing matters from a very narrow angle.

All generations tend to be critical of their present, but when they grow older and become more attached to their past, they start glorifying their past and criticising the present of others.

While this is both human and understandable, and while one’s attachment to one’s past is not necessarily a bad thing, it becomes bad when one succumbs to skewed logic and starts drawing false comparisons and denigrating others.

No generation is worse or better than any other, and no times are worse or better than any other. Each generation, each epoch has its blessings and curses, joys and sorrows, strengths and weaknesses, as we have learned from Charles Dickins’ memorable opening in “A Tale of Two Cities”.

This generation is blessed in so many ways and impressive in so many others, but they are also disadvantaged and unlucky in other ways.

They are quick, smart, practical, creative, precise, curious regarding what they care about, independent when given the chance, reliable when they need to, respectful in their own way, loving without exaggeration, eager to improve themselves, loyal to their families and society, etc.

Of course, you will find exceptions, as in any generation and society.

What they lack is attention and opportunity, which is our responsibility.

Several things are wrong in the world they live in at present, for no fault of theirs: the almost unprecedented instability in the region, the tough economic situation, the disorderly culture, the absence of the principles of equity and access, deficit in freedoms, mediaeval patriarchal systems, the bad quality of public space, cramped apartment buildings and slums, poor urban planning, inadequate public cleanliness, archaic transportation systems, etc. 

We have let them down in so many ways. Two are crucial.

The first is the largely obsolete education system, at both school and university levels — both public and private, by the way — which has overall failed miserably in providing the rich, relevant and healthy environment in which the youth can grow and achieve their potential.

The second has to do with the irrelevance and absence of the roles of the various youth organisations, councils and institutions that are supposed to take care of young people physically, intellectually, culturally, emotionally and spiritually.

Aside from some small sparks and candles here and there, our culture with all of its institutions, from the family to the workplace, has failed our youth.

The fault is not in our youth: it is in us and in the culture we have created for them.

And if they are “lost”, in a sense, it is because we have “lost” them.

Rather than blame them or ourselves, however, we need to get our act together and start living up to our responsibility and obligation, and improve the environment in which most youth are stuck, no matter how small what we can do may seem.