Eenhana – Charles Dickens’s book, A Tale of Two Cities describes the times of our generation as the best ever.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way………”
The young generation has been often termed as a lucky generation thanks to timing. We came into existence at a time when numerous advantages like freedom and technological advancements were not for a chosen few. But at times, we have not been able to use the advantages to our benefit, rather than making us better, the advantages have brought us to our knees unknowingly.
We have big dreams and bigger expectations. But we are not willing to wait for our dreams and plans to materialise. We are not willing to take one stair at a time. We want to get to the top by any means. We want to get to the top even if it means stepping on colleagues. We want to get to the top even it means “sleeping” our way there. Our desperation to immediately get what we want mostly, if not always, comes at a costly price, at times as costly as our lives.
Our urge to be socially correct consumes us wholly. We move like one mighty being. Trends and fashion statements dictate to most of us what to do, where to go and what to wear. Those who are not with us are locked out. We do not let them protect their uniqueness and creativity. The urge to be socially correct and move with trends, at times leads some to engage in crime or what the older generation call “immorality”. We push ourselves to fit in and adjust. At times we embarrass ourselves in the process.
We figure you only live once. Probably that’s why at times we over indulge. Promiscuous sex, substance abuse, alcoholism and compulsive shopping are the stories of our lives. We over experiment, we self destruct. We live fast and die young. While having fun, we have no limits. While having fun, we are rarely in control of anything, not even the steering wheel. We do not care to preserve our names for future titles. We have privileges without responsibility.
We are learned and informed, we dislike blue collar jobs, and we despise those who engage in them. We do not respect them or their work. We see ourselves better than them even though we are jobless. We see ourselves better even though we need their services.
Despite our education and intelligence, our priorities are upside down. We make poor choices and decisions over and over. We get loans from the Namibian government to pay for our luxury gadgets like expensive phones and tablets for show off to our girlfriends in various schools and colleges. Not even the rain deters us from swinging from one shebeen to another bar ,anxious to pour our salaries and college allowances down our throats rapidly with as much laughter and shouting as possible. Come morning we cannot wait to compare stories on who spent how much as if it’s a competition. We show off our extravagance and wastefulness.Sadly we consider it heroism!
By Clemence Tashaya