And the times, they are a' changin'

Remember when the youth of America were the primary catalysts for change? They were none too shy about crying loud and long for us to fix all of the world's ills. Challenging authority was second nature to those who saw it as their duty as future leaders to expose injustice and unfairness.

Well, apparently today's youth not only don't think it's their duty, but believe that they shouldn't have the right to question authority. Again, it appears we are well on our way towards IngSoc values.

The results of a study conducted by the University of Connecticut involving more than 100,000 high school students reveal that more than half of them believe that newspapers should have to get government approval of their stories. A third believe that our constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech goes overboard. Fully three quarters of respondents believe that flag burning is against the law (which, although deplorable, is not illegal).

Not only do I remember American youth as our primary challengers of authority, but I vividly remember contrasting them to the youth of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, who were not only forbidden from questioning authority, but were required to monitor their parents for dissident activities and behavior, and report them like good loyal citizens should. Now it seems that we're but a few steps away from that culture ourselves.

But what else can you expect from our youth? These past few years they've been raised amidst hate, fear, intolerance and ignorance. They're merely reflecting the values that are demonstrated to them. Hate breeds hate. Fear breeds contempt. And ignorance breeds far too often. It's up to us to lead them back towards the light. Question authority yourselves, and don't take what anyone says at face value, including yours truly. Ask questions, look up the answers.

Information can be a valuable tool, and the truth a powerful weapon.