Chapter 16 My memory of the beginning
Chapter 16 My memory of the beginning
第十六章 最初的記憶
第十六章 最初的記憶
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16. My memory of the beginning
16. My memory of the beginning
I remember being two years old. I wouldn’t call this consciousness, however. This came to me much later when I was almost eighteen or twenty. Like so many of us, I was frustrated by the slow realization, a kind of fog lifting, that it was not going to be easy -- this thing called “life.” I was reticent to surrender my relative freedom as a spoiled and pampered male child, but surrendering it was apparently a necessity. A recent article on the BBC claims that many present post-Millennials,1 however, do not leave adolescence until they are twenty-four or more. Some would even question whether they eventually just become part of the herd that never become mature at all. The acceptance of the physical destruction of our Earth, for example, does not suggest a deeply concerned populace, nor a concerned youth, does it?
I remember being two years old. I wouldn’t call this consciousness, however. This came to me much later when I was almost eighteen or twenty. Like so many of us, I was frustrated by the slow realization, a kind of fog lifting, that it was not going to be easy -- this thing called “life.” I was reticent to surrender my relative freedom as a spoiled and pampered male child, but surrendering it was apparently a necessity. A recent article on the BBC claims that many present post-Millennials,1 however, do not leave adolescence until they are twenty-four or more. Some would even question whether they eventually just become part of the herd that never become mature at all. The acceptance of the physical destruction of our Earth, for example, does not suggest a deeply concerned populace, nor a concerned youth, does it?
“Young people continuing their education for longer, as well as delayed marriage and parenthood, has pushed back popular perceptions of when adulthood begins. Changing the definition is vital to ensure laws stay appropriate, (researchers) write in an opinion piece in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. ‘There are also biological arguments for why the definition of adolescence should be extended, including that the body continues to develop. For example, the brain continues to mature beyond the age of twenty, working faster and more efficiently. … Although many adult legal privileges start at age eighteen years, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later. … Delayed partnering, parenting and economic independence means the semi-dependency that characterizes adolescence has expanded.’”2
“Young people continuing their education for longer, as well as delayed marriage and parenthood, has pushed back popular perceptions of when adulthood begins. Changing the definition is vital to ensure laws stay appropriate, (researchers) write in an opinion piece in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. ‘There are also biological arguments for why the definition of adolescence should be extended, including that the body continues to develop. For example, the brain continues to mature beyond the age of twenty, working faster and more efficiently. … Although many adult legal privileges start at age eighteen years, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later. … Delayed partnering, parenting and economic independence means the semi-dependency that characterizes adolescence has expanded.’”2
This is apt testimony as to why this generation is so poorly understood. To put it in perspective for me, I was married when I was twenty-four. That being said: we all have the same essential desire to achieve something in the world, whether we acknowledge this or not. What cannot be allowed to happen here, nonetheless, is for young people to “get a pass”3 on becoming sensitive and productive members of our human family. The world is apparently riddled with disenfranchised young people (mostly young men) who can still justify their existence through anger and violence (the suicide bomber fueled by a perverted ideology, for instance).
This is apt testimony as to why this generation is so poorly understood. To put it in perspective for me, I was married when I was twenty-four. That being said: we all have the same essential desire to achieve something in the world, whether we acknowledge this or not. What cannot be allowed to happen here, nonetheless, is for young people to “get a pass”3 on becoming sensitive and productive members of our human family. The world is apparently riddled with disenfranchised young people (mostly young men) who can still justify their existence through anger and violence (the suicide bomber fueled by a perverted ideology, for instance).
Gandhi’s (1869-1948) message of satyagraha4 is still not being heard and acted upon. Why not? The answer, “in a nutshell,”5 is that any skill must be acquired; it is not innate. This is especially true when it comes to the area of thinking: critical thinking that is. You can continue to be an adolescent, but your mental acuity can be, and should be, ameliorated at any age. You don’t have to be very mature to realize that something is awry with our world. But, unless humanity is to be expunged from the planet, we still have a good chance to repair the damage and build a successful future for all.
Gandhi’s (1869-1948) message of satyagraha4 is still not being heard and acted upon. Why not? The answer, “in a nutshell,”5 is that any skill must be acquired; it is not innate. This is especially true when it comes to the area of thinking: critical thinking that is. You can continue to be an adolescent, but your mental acuity can be, and should be, ameliorated at any age. You don’t have to be very mature to realize that something is awry with our world. But, unless humanity is to be expunged from the planet, we still have a good chance to repair the damage and build a successful future for all.
This will require a re-education of the masses, away from capitalism and consumption to the Common Good: away from the sullen blindness of “me” to the scintillating sunlight of “we.” I know that we are “up” for the journey. Actor and political activist, Brian Whitford (b.1959) has a thought: “Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs honor your Creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen ... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”
This will require a re-education of the masses, away from capitalism and consumption to the Common Good: away from the sullen blindness of “me” to the scintillating sunlight of “we.” I know that we are “up” for the journey. Actor and political activist, Brian Whitford (b.1959) has a thought: “Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs honor your Creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen ... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”
One of the curious byproducts of post-millennial immaturity is pacifism. This is not a pacifism by choice, but simply by psychological inertia. The vast majority do not care about “your” war or any war for that matter. I cannot imagine the average nineteen-year-old of today rushing out to join a branch of the armed forces (Some, of course, do: governments are notoriously good at selling the ego-driven idea of masculinity and economic stability to young minds.) The average age of a soldier during World War One, by contrast, was nineteen and many were a lot younger.6 With a great deal of luck, the world will blunder into peace because “they gave a war and nobody came.” Religious fundamentalism, sadly, is filling this void. This is something that we must be aware of. Certainly, we want a God of love and peace, not one of war and proselytizing.
One of the curious byproducts of post-millennial immaturity is pacifism. This is not a pacifism by choice, but simply by psychological inertia. The vast majority do not care about “your” war or any war for that matter. I cannot imagine the average nineteen-year-old of today rushing out to join a branch of the armed forces (Some, of course, do: governments are notoriously good at selling the ego-driven idea of masculinity and economic stability to young minds.) The average age of a soldier during World War One, by contrast, was nineteen and many were a lot younger.6 With a great deal of luck, the world will blunder into peace because “they gave a war and nobody came.” Religious fundamentalism, sadly, is filling this void. This is something that we must be aware of. Certainly, we want a God of love and peace, not one of war and proselytizing.
16. 最初的記憶
16. 最初的記憶
我記得我兩歲時候的事，但我不會將之稱為意識，直到18或20歲的時候，我才意識到生命的存在。像很多人一樣，我對人生的理解很緩慢，就像是迷霧散去的速度，令人有種挫折感，這真的不是件容易的事。我小時候受父母寵愛與縱容，享有相對的自由，雖然不太情願，但放棄這種自由明顯是有必要的。最近英國BBC發表的一篇文章裡指出，現在很多千禧世代1的人，一直到24歲或更大一點才脫離青春期。有些人甚至會懷疑他們終將變成永遠不會成熟的一群人。舉個不成熟的例子來說明，若接受地球被破壞的事實而沒有作為，就意味著一般人以及年輕人並不是很關心這世界，不是嗎？
我記得我兩歲時候的事，但我不會將之稱為意識，直到18或20歲的時候，我才意識到生命的存在。像很多人一樣，我對人生的理解很緩慢，就像是迷霧散去的速度，令人有種挫折感，這真的不是件容易的事。我小時候受父母寵愛與縱容，享有相對的自由，雖然不太情願，但放棄這種自由明顯是有必要的。最近英國BBC發表的一篇文章裡指出，現在很多千禧世代1的人，一直到24歲或更大一點才脫離青春期。有些人甚至會懷疑他們終將變成永遠不會成熟的一群人。舉個不成熟的例子來說明，若接受地球被破壞的事實而沒有作為，就意味著一般人以及年輕人並不是很關心這世界，不是嗎？
「年輕人持續接受更長時間的教育，結婚還有養兒育女的時間也延後了，人們對成年從何時開始的看法隨之改變。修正成年的定義對於確保法律適切性而言是非常重要的。研究人員在《Lancet Child & Adolescent Health》期刊中寫道：『有生物學的論述可以解釋為什麼我們應該延長對青春期的定義，包括身體的持續成長。例如，大腦在20歲以後仍持續在進化、運作得更快且更有效率。……雖然許多成年的法律權始於18歲，成人的角色和責任通常發生在更大的年紀。……伴侶關係、養兒育女和經濟獨立的延遲，意味著青春期半依賴性的時間已經延長了。』」2
「年輕人持續接受更長時間的教育，結婚還有養兒育女的時間也延後了，人們對成年從何時開始的看法隨之改變。修正成年的定義對於確保法律適切性而言是非常重要的。研究人員在《Lancet Child & Adolescent Health》期刊中寫道：『有生物學的論述可以解釋為什麼我們應該延長對青春期的定義，包括身體的持續成長。例如，大腦在20歲以後仍持續在進化、運作得更快且更有效率。……雖然許多成年的法律權始於18歲，成人的角色和責任通常發生在更大的年紀。……伴侶關係、養兒育女和經濟獨立的延遲，意味著青春期半依賴性的時間已經延長了。』」2
這是這個世代多半不被充分理解的貼切證明。回顧人生，我24歲結婚，話雖如此，無論我們是否承認，每個人都有同樣的基本渴望，想取得世間的成就。我們不能讓年輕人「不負責任」3 ，在社會上成為缺乏敏感度與生產力的人。這個世界顯然有很多被孤立的年輕人（大多是年輕的男人），他們仍然透過憤怒和暴力為自己的存在找到正當性（例如：自殺炸彈客就是受到扭曲的意識形態所影響的。）
這是這個世代多半不被充分理解的貼切證明。回顧人生，我24歲結婚，話雖如此，無論我們是否承認，每個人都有同樣的基本渴望，想取得世間的成就。我們不能讓年輕人「不負責任」3 ，在社會上成為缺乏敏感度與生產力的人。這個世界顯然有很多被孤立的年輕人（大多是年輕的男人），他們仍然透過憤怒和暴力為自己的存在找到正當性（例如：自殺炸彈客就是受到扭曲的意識形態所影響的。）
甘地(1869-1948)「真理永恆」4 的反暴力信念至今仍未被世人所接納且採用。為什麼會這樣呢？ㄧ言以蔽之5，任何技能都必須藉由學習而習得的，它不是天生的，思考的領域更是如此，此處所指的就是批判性思考。你可以繼續當個年輕人，但你心智的敏銳度，不管你幾歲，都可以、也應該要提升。你不用很成熟就能知道這世界出了問題。但除非人們消失在這星球上，否則我們仍然有大好的機會修復這些傷害，並且為眾人建立一個成功的未來。
甘地(1869-1948)「真理永恆」4 的反暴力信念至今仍未被世人所接納且採用。為什麼會這樣呢？ㄧ言以蔽之5，任何技能都必須藉由學習而習得的，它不是天生的，思考的領域更是如此，此處所指的就是批判性思考。你可以繼續當個年輕人，但你心智的敏銳度，不管你幾歲，都可以、也應該要提升。你不用很成熟就能知道這世界出了問題。但除非人們消失在這星球上，否則我們仍然有大好的機會修復這些傷害，並且為眾人建立一個成功的未來。
要做到這件事，需要對社會大眾進行再教育，從資本主義和消費主義的價值觀轉向共同利益，從「我」的慍怒愚昧轉向到「我們」的閃亮光明。我知道我們已經準備好這趟旅程。演員兼政運人士布萊恩‧懷特福德(1959- )曾說：「為你的生命注入行動，不要被動的等待事情發生，用行動讓事情發生，創造自己的未來。擁抱你自己的希望。愛你所愛。無論你的信仰為何，用行動彰顯你的創造者，不要被動地等待恩典從天上降臨，而是盡你所能讓恩典發生……就在此時，就在此地。」
要做到這件事，需要對社會大眾進行再教育，從資本主義和消費主義的價值觀轉向共同利益，從「我」的慍怒愚昧轉向到「我們」的閃亮光明。我知道我們已經準備好這趟旅程。演員兼政運人士布萊恩‧懷特福德(1959- )曾說：「為你的生命注入行動，不要被動的等待事情發生，用行動讓事情發生，創造自己的未來。擁抱你自己的希望。愛你所愛。無論你的信仰為何，用行動彰顯你的創造者，不要被動地等待恩典從天上降臨，而是盡你所能讓恩典發生……就在此時，就在此地。」
後千禧年世代的不成熟表現造就了一項有趣的副產品--反戰主義。這不是一種經過抉擇的反戰主義，純粹只是心理的惰性。絕大多數人並不關心「你的」戰爭或其他任何的戰爭。我無法想像當今平均十九歲的人們會踴躍加入武裝部隊（當然，我知道還是有些人會去從軍，因為我們的政府非常擅長向年輕人推銷自我中心的男子氣概和經濟穩定的觀念）。相較之下，第一次世界大戰期間士兵的平均年齡是十九歲，而且很多人年紀還比這年輕許多。6由於很多的好運，世界將因為錯誤而維持和平的狀態，因為「他們發動了戰爭，卻沒有任何一個人上戰場。」不幸的是，宗教的基本教義派正在填補這一空缺，這是我們必須意識到的。當然，我們想要的是一位充滿愛與和平的上帝，而不是好戰和強迫人改變信仰的神。
後千禧年世代的不成熟表現造就了一項有趣的副產品--反戰主義。這不是一種經過抉擇的反戰主義，純粹只是心理的惰性。絕大多數人並不關心「你的」戰爭或其他任何的戰爭。我無法想像當今平均十九歲的人們會踴躍加入武裝部隊（當然，我知道還是有些人會去從軍，因為我們的政府非常擅長向年輕人推銷自我中心的男子氣概和經濟穩定的觀念）。相較之下，第一次世界大戰期間士兵的平均年齡是十九歲，而且很多人年紀還比這年輕許多。6由於很多的好運，世界將因為錯誤而維持和平的狀態，因為「他們發動了戰爭，卻沒有任何一個人上戰場。」不幸的是，宗教的基本教義派正在填補這一空缺，這是我們必須意識到的。當然，我們想要的是一位充滿愛與和平的上帝，而不是好戰和強迫人改變信仰的神。