Contrary to popular belief, the new generations of American society—millennials, Generation X, and so on—are not ruining the future of our country. Just like every generation in the past, these people are growing up and learning from the failures of older generations and their own experiences to create contemporary societal values that encompass these new views. Baby boomers are blaming an entire generation for the issues that bring about the collapse of unity in our society. But the truth is, millennials are not destroying America—they’re saving it.
Societal changes are what keeps us advancing into the future. People pushing the boundaries of what society deemed as acceptable has led to many new discoveries and has improved the lives of people of all demographics. Change is inevitable, but if we were forced to keep outdated ideologies in our pursuit of the future, we would never grow and learn from our mistakes.
Although baby boomers pride themselves on how our country used to have a great sense of community during their time, there is a feeling of solidarity that still exists today. The difference is that it is more widespread welcoming to people of all walks of life. Millennials have grown up in a generation far more diverse than any other in the past, therefore, they are more educated on other people in general. Millennials have made history being America’s “largest and most diverse cohort” (Winograd, 2017). Because of this, millennials have redefined what diversity is today. Many believe that diversity can be defined as “the variety of experiences and perspectives that each individual brings to the table” (Deloitte, 2017). Baby boomers are unable to handle the fact that, in some ways, their beliefs about what makes America great is wrong and is exclusive to many people, which is a toxic factor that actually tears communities apart. As we are seeing in politics today, the pride we have for our past is dangerous and keeps us from educating ourselves on all the things that are happening in the world.
Unlike baby boomers believe, millennials do have values, they’re just different from those of Baby Boomers and more attuned to the new world that we live in. For example, one of the most important things to Millennials regarding society is inclusion. “Millennials tended to define diversity beyond demographic characteristics, viewing it more along the lines of cognitive diversity and the variety of experiences and perspectives that each individual brings to the table” (Deloitte, 2017). In a study done by Deloitte University, 80% of respondents felt inclusion was an important factor when finding an employer. Many of those people, 39%, reported that they would “leave their current organization for a more inclusive one” (Deloitte, 2017).
Millennials’ lives have been filled with nonstop news coverage on violation of human rights, pollution, and poverty, and they understand that the world is fragile. Being a generation that takes a stand, many are devoting their time and effort into addressing these issues. Baby Boomers see their drive to change these issues as being oversensitive, thinking that they’re only doing it to make their own lives easier. But what Baby Boomers don’t understand is that Millennials are more connected than ever, and they are more understanding of the people and world around them.
Because of all the damage Baby Boomers have done to America, Millennials and other future generation are left to suffer and attempt to pick up the pieces of our broken nation. With the United States’ national debt now exceeding $21 trillion (Amadeo, 2018), it is “larger for the first time in recent history than the size of our entire economy” (Marks, 2014). The millennials generation has grown up under the pressure of paying for the damages done by generations before them caused. Along with that, millennials are faced with financial burdens other generations never encountered, such as extensive student loans, self-funded retirement savings
Baby Boomers love to express how upset they are about Millennials “killing” things like marriage and homeownership, but don’t take into the fact that Millennials are riddled with debt they were pressured into acquiring to get a job that would still leave them living from paycheck to paycheck.
Although Baby Boomers are unhappy with the changes Millennials are making to our society, there is no way it could have been prevented. In this everchanging world, we have to be able to adapt and keep up with the unstoppable force of innovation. I believe it’s important for people to understand that with the continuous advancement being made and general changes in our society, we cannot sit back and let the rest of the world move past us. As Albert Einstein said, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”