ENGLISH PAPER 1 NOTES
Ours is a Caring Generation
Marketing companies are rarely given recognition for their uncanny
knowledge of the alphabet. But fresh
from their triumph recognising and packaging Generation X, these advertising
whiz kids have now unveiled their latest target audience – Generation Y2K. So named because we are the generation of
young people who will come of age, begin to vote and make our first tentative steps
into the big world of decision making in the year 2000. According to these advertising executives
we, the new important target group are ambitious and materialistic, ruthless
and self-centred. Brand names and wealth
matter. Apathy, the Generation X main-trait is out. Status is in. it would
follow logically from this that ours is
very definitely not a caring generation.
Certainly media hype would have us believe this. But is this really the case or just the
usual “young people nowadays...” scenario?
To decide which is the case it is best to investigate which
traits and characteristics define a caring generation. The most obvious would be involvement in
charitable organisations, environmental awareness, treatment of others and so
on.
Surprisingly our generation’s PR image with regard to these
areas is good. Continuing on with the
good example set strives to be more environmentally aware, supporting the
removal of plastic shopping bags from supermarket checkouts. With others, our generation also acts in a
caring manner. This can be seen in the
fact that, although the arrival of large numbers of immigrants in Ireland has
revealed hostility which pervades all generations, intimidation of minorities,
a crime often committed by younger generations is thankfully rare. As well as this schools encourage us young
people to be caring to others through charitable work with the old, the sick
and the lonely.
However the way we treat ourselves is a completely different story. Amongst our generation alcohol and drug abuse is rife. Smoking is the norm. Suicide rates have risen dramatically. All the thoughtful, considerate actions of our generation are nullified by our flippant, thoughtless, inconsiderate treatment of ourselves. A particular instance of this is the widespread use of ecstasy despite recent reporting on its horrendous effects. It can kill within hours inflicting pain and suffering on its victims and yet so many young people are willing to use it, not caring about the effect it will possibly have.
Which leaves an interesting paradox. The generation that is seen to be selfish
and self-centred cares about others but not about ourselves. Is ours a caring
generation? Yes, definitely. No, definitely not.
