Much like a lot of Gen X, some of the older Millennials in my life (particularly the white working professionals) are parroting the age old mantra of "I don't care about passing my skills on to the younger generations or helping those in need, no one ever helped me in my life.". My response is always "That's not a good thing!" because I never know what to say. Debate is not my strength.
My working class grandparents were never like this. They lived through the great depression and two wars and never wanted anyone to suffer as much as they did. I miss them and their kindness dearly. It's only from boomers and younger that I've seen this attitude. Capitalism is crushing our instincts as a social species. If we can't stand on the shoulders of giants... well then we will stop advancing as a species. We will stagnate and go extinct because the challenges we face now need all of us. It goes against everything that is human to be this alienated and antagonistic to one another. Particularly frightening is the hatred and contempt modern society has towards children.
This is not going to end well.
I appreciate all the people here, whether you're 20 or 60, for not becoming the thing that hurt you. We need people with a soul more than ever.
That's the part of being a teacher I miss the most: the kids are mostly all right. It's inspiring, even rejuvenating, being around people with new minds open to new ideas, even if they make mistakes and can do terrible things because they don't have the wisdom to know better and are impressionable (fuck "influencers" forever).
If there wasn't so many other fucked up things about being a teacher that are top-down decisions made by ghoulish school boards and the like, I wouldn't have retired so early.
I used to work at the Boys and Girls Club and it was such a fun job
I miss being able to run around with the kids, but it didn't pay enough for me to live off of
Which is absolutely fucked when you think about it
I was responsible for educating, playing with and ensuring the safety of 20+ kids and they were paying 50 cents over minimum wage
It broke my heart to tell them that I was leaving, but it was either that or be trapped in debt and end up being buried in a pauper's grave
One of the most unjust things about capitalism is that the more important and good for society the work is, the less it is likely to pay.
Hedge fund managers are a steep net negative to society and are paid the very most of any salaried position.
Oh that reminds me of the last quote from Das Kapital Vol. 3 Chapter 23