The Irresponsible Youth Of Today
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Send to a friend by YMAuthor: Andrea Stephenson
Older generations and the media regularly describe young people as irresponsible. Out to make trouble. A reckless menace to society. I disagree.
Older generations and the media regularly describe young people as irresponsible. Out to make trouble. A reckless menace to society.
Of course, from the lofty age of twenty-six I am going to disagree with them. But to illustrate my point let me tell you a story.
Yesterday I was walking to the gym and discovered a homeless man collapsed on the pavement. He was lying next to a bus stop on a busy road, drifting in and out of consciousness with a serious head injury. Like any responsible person I stopped to offer help… to the group of teenagers attempting who were calling an ambulance, practicing first aid and doing the best they could to make him secure and comfortable. They did not care that he had been drinking, or about the smell from his clothes: just that he was someone who was hurt and therefore needed what help they could give.
Whilst, all the while, dozens of others my age and above just walked on by. The elderly women at the bus stop, the business-men in suits, even a street cleaner… in the ten minutes till an ambulance came, not one offered their help. What is more, in our group which numbered six or more, only two of which knew each other: individuals connected by concern alone.
An isolated act? Hardly. Despite the criticism of their elders, in my experience a young person is far more likely to step in if a crime is taking place or give to the homeless. They do not think charity means a direct debit to a long established organisation or selling cakes at the church bake sale. They might not have the time to sign up for regular activity in charity shops or hospices, but they regularly campaign to save endangered species, go on marches and sign petitions. What is more, they possess a refreshing innocence of those who are still young enough to care.
The end results of these actions may not be perfect, but at least young people still have the drive to go out there and try. It is not because of religion or social standing, but just because it is right. There are exceptions, just as sooner or later there would have been an elderly good Samaritan, but they are just that: the exception, not the rule.
As one girl said, “He was on the ground when I got there. No one had stopped. They just kept walking on by. How wrong is that?”
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