Today, I was dismayed to see a news article that was in the newspaper this morning: Families upset over 104 Tombstones Toppled in Mount Hope Cemetery. Unknown individuals toppled over tombstones in the cemetery late last night. It breaks my heart that someone would do something like this! However, after I read the article, and was reading some of the comments by outraged Brantfordians, I read one comment that really threw me off. It said:
"This generation of kids (low twenties & younger) is disgusting. I think it's a combination of the chemicals in our environment, and the pharmaceuticals being pushed on kids. 6+ year olds on depression or ADD meds? Yeah good luck with that. Aside from the documented side effects, these drugs are made & designed for adults, not children. This is a poisoned youth- in a way it's not their fault"
While it is totally heartbreaking that someone (we don't know their age, race, gender, medical history, state of mental health, or background) would do something like this, I refuse to accept this generalization as truth. MY GENERATION is a generation with potential. My generation has a purpose. My generation is NOT disgusting. I will stand against injustice. The choices I make are not based on pharmaceuticals or chemicals. I CHOOSE to make a difference. I choose to STAND UP for my beliefs. I choose, not be lumped into a generalization that says that because of my age I am disgusting, but to prove it wrong! I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made (Psalm 139:14) and I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do (Eph. 2:10). I have a purpose, a really good purpose, and I will not accept that my entire generation is awful!
Instead of labeling this generation as a lost cause, take time to get to know some of us, build up the leader that is within so many young people, call out their potential, take the time to mentor them! Giving negative labels only causes people to accept them, since they know it's all that's expected of them.
KINDNESS brings change, not condemnation!
