During today's broadcast of the (horrible) Giants and Eagles game the announcers mentioned Plaxico Burress (who's absence, by the way was the cause of our defeat) as a member of the "me first" generation. While this is a term that I have not yet heard until now, it is a topic that comes up over and over again. I would like to begin to disect this idea since it is close to my heart for many reasons.
As I have investigated further, this idea of Generation ME is a combination of GenX and GenY (aprox. 18-35year olds). [we] have been taught to be more focused on our own self-esteem rather than achievement, thus more focused on ourselves. I do not want to argue for or against this at this point, rather investigate the idea and how it is relevant.
It has been well documented that the 1980's economic boom coupled with the start of the MTV era created a generation that was well off and desired instant gratification. The fast pace of music videos taught young people to not wait for the long drawn out boring parts, but just expect the fast action right away. Everything seems to be expected and owed to [us].
As cited in the book "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before" by Jean Twenge, discipline and achievement have been pushed aside for a stronger focus on self-esteem. Let Johnny play even if he sucks instead of letting him sit on the sidelines because he is not good enough for the team. To further this position in sports, one could compare the sport of baseball and how it is played in the United States to that in Japan. As we know, while we root for our favorite teams here in the U.S., we have a strong focus on individual players. Our athletes make millions of dollars and it is common place for a player to leave a team he has been on for a long time to follow the money with another team. The game is very different in Japan. There is nothing that comes before the team. Individuality takes a backseat to your team. The phrase "there is no I in team," is very true.
We hear story after story of these players. Plaxico Burress is one in a long list of players who supposedly acted foolishly off the field without a regard for how it would affect his team, teammates, fans, city, family, etc. These players normally are extremely skilled and on most occasion have grown up being told that they were the best and no one else compares to them.
This analogy can also be taken to Hiphop. As I have discussed over and over again, Hiphop is a microcosm to the larger urban culture as well as the larger pop American culture today. many of the issues that Hiphop faces we can find in the urban arena as well as in the U.S. as a whole. One prevelant theme is the "me first" mentality. One must gain respect for themselves and destroy other rappers (lyrically) to be number 1. It is all about who is better and how can I beat YOU.
This can also translate to the kids that I work with. Instead of always being thankful for the things that they are given at the school, they feel that they are owed these things and take it all for granted. What can we do for them, and how can they get the best of the system are over riding themes.
If this is all true, then what could be done, and what changes have taken place over the years to create this mentality? Is this mentality bad? Are we too consumed with ourselves that we tend not to care about others? Is that bad? What are the results of this attitude? If you have any thoughts, please feel free to post, I will continue this discussion attack this issue further at a later date...I'm getting sleepy...
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