Millennials Aren't Spoiled | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Millennials Aren't Spoiled

They work harder than you ever had to to make the world a better place.

30
Millennials Aren't Spoiled
Zero Hedge

"That'll be $0.89 cents."

I was at the post office. I took out my card to pay for the stamped envelope.

"Why do you people need to pay for a card for everything?!" the woman screeched at me. "It's only 89 cents!"

I stared at her. Swiped my card. And left.

I'm a 23-year-old white recent college grad. I live in an area with a lot of universities. This woman was probably in her mid-fifties and was clearly over me and the direction America's youth was headed.

But why would I have cash? Why would I carry change around? All of my money is in the bank. I keep all my money in one place so I know how much money I have. What's so complicated about that?

There's been a building tension between the older generation and the new. Millennials are just entitled. They protest in the streets and demand things they don't deserve. They "pussify" America with their political correctness. They cry like babies for their "safe spaces."

Really?

Most of the people I know my age are working three jobs. I just had coffee with a friend who's working six, three of which involve teaching English as a second language at three different schools.

She's white and is constantly aware of her position as a white person teaching English to largely Puerto Rican and Black students.

She's also an activist. She works to educate herself as to why when she walks into a coffee shop in Northampton, she often sees only wealthier white bodies but when she goes to work in Holyoke or Springfield, that population is drastically replaced by underprivileged, underserved, underrepresented Black and Brown bodies.

It's no accident that the majority of the incarcerated in America are people of color. She works to understand why that is instead of vilifying the bodies in the street, shouting "Black lives matter."

She's not a special snowflake. She gets shit done. She knows these things are important.

Our generation is becoming more aware of gender, race and sexuality as we grow older. We learn not to say the word "retarded" because it's ableist.

So what? Why is that bad? Are we becoming less tough?

No. We are becoming more inclusive.

People want safe spaces not because they need to feel special - they need to know they are going to have support if they come out as trans or need to talk about their experience with sexual assault.

They know the rest of the world isn't kind. They've experienced it first hand. That's the point of safe spaces.

It's not about being sheltered or not "accepting the way things are." It's about physical and mental safety. It's about support. It's about teaching what is okay and what isn't.

What's wrong with that?

The millennial generation is inheriting millions of dollars of debt while getting some of the best education in the country. They are aware of the way the world works and they are demanding that it change for the better. That's not entitlement – that's progress.

Don't we want to be more inclusive? Don't we want everyone to afford to live and breathe and go to school and have the same opportunities that everyone else has?

We're not raising a generation of pussies – we're raising a generation of people who are trying to make the world put its money where its mouth is.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
I'm serious

There are tons of unisex names that are popular: Taylor, Alex, Bailey, etc. There are also numerous names that are used for both sexes, but they’re not seen as “unisex” yet. People are slowly becoming accustomed to the dual use of these names, but for the most part, in their minds they associate certain names with certain sexes. And that leaves those of us with these names in many awkward situations.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

16 Secrets Anthropology Majors Never Admit To

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

5731
cave
CSU

I'm an anthropology major, and I love every minute of it. I couldn't tell you why, but I guess there's just something about studying different lifestyles that absolutely fascinates me. But anthropology majors definitely have our weird sides, especially when you go to a school that is filled with mostly Business and Bio majors. But us weirdos definitely have a lot in common, specifically these 16 things.

Keep Reading...Show less
pale girl

Everyone has insecurities, that's just a fact. You didn't ask to be born this way. You didn't ask to inherit the one trait no one else in your family has. And you definitely didn't ask to be this ghostly white. But as soon as you've learned to live with it for a while (less wrinkles later on in life, right? right???) someone has to ruin it for you. They have to flaunt they're perfectly tanned body from Spring Break and hold their sun-kissed skin against yours. But I've had enough... here are the things that perpetually pale individuals are tired of hearing.

Keep Reading...Show less
music sheet

Being a music major is not all kicks and giggles. In fact, there are days when I question my sanity and doubt myself as a musician. I know I am not the only one going through the struggle, and so here are 13 GIFs that I know my fellow music majors can relate to...

Keep Reading...Show less
Bob's Burgers
Flickr

1. The witty burger names.

Blue is the warmest cheese burger

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments