Generation Delta
I am friends with a remarkable man by the name of Dick Jacobs. Dick has traveled the world many times over and publishes a wonderful blog by the name of The Global Naturalist about his travels and thoughts that I highly suggest. Those of you who are long time readers of my blog might recognize Dick’s name as a Guest Blogger here in the past and, in addition to having an amazing perspective on the important topics of our time, Dick is also one of the nicest people that I’ve ever met.
He has become a trusted mentor and is a passionate supporter of my work and concerns. He possess more energy and ideas than just about anyone I know and given my respect for him, I was humbled this weekend when he asked me if he could re-publish my recent blog Step Aside, It’s Our Turn to Fix What’s Wrong. As humbled as I was that Dick would ask that question, I was and am equally humbled that so many of his readers took the time to respond and post a comment of their own. One of those comments, just below, led me to write today’s blog:
I immediately thought of our grandkids, Rebecca 15 and Will 17 and sent a copy of Delaney’s blog to my daughter, Jennifer, their mom. She responded, “That is beautifully written. Thanks for sharing. This generation is a force! I think I read last year a proposal to call these (basically) post-911 kids Generation Delta, as in the mathematical symbol for change. They have an entirely different view on what is possible. I do really, really hope they can fix all this mess we’re leaving for them!” Also, thanks Dick for mentoring and sharing with these young people. Donna
I’ve never heard the term Generation Delta but I have to say that I very much like it given that it symbolizes change. And while I’d not heard of it in context for my generation I have heard it with regards to my studies in math (I love calculus) and science so the idea of putting those two fields together with my generation’s zeal to change things makes great sense to me. I sure hope that Generation Delta catches on and that we are already on our way to making the changes our world needs.
As if one needed an example of why it’s so important for my generation to step up and make the changes that our society needs rather than rely on some of the adults who are or have been in charge, you need to only read former two time Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s comments related to the recent Parkland Shooting in response to young people subsequently calling for sensible gun laws following that tragedy. Mr. Rick Santorum, in all of his multi-decades long ‘adult’ wisdom had the audacity to recently suggest that rather than demand change to our gun laws kids should take a CPR class to be prepared to help people the next time their friends or family are shot.
“How About kids instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations that when there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that.”
Former Pennsylvania Senator and two-time Presidential candidate (2012 and 2016) Rick Santorum
Wait.
What?
CPR classes?
Seriously?
In over a month of often insensitive, ignorant statements by ‘adult leaders’ from the White House to just about every corner of America, his comment just might be the worst of them all. How insulting to those who died, those who lived and are forever impacted, much less the rest of us who care to not see this bloodshed continue. I am waiting for the NRA to claim his comment was their idea like ISIS claims one terror attack after another. His comments are along the same line of thinking that leads a President to hold up a sign announcing ‘TRUMP Digs Coal’ or to not follow the rest of the world into a sustainable future by supporting the Paris Accord or by looking to relax pollution laws that car makers, oil companies and other carbon polluters whose products are raising sea levels in ways that will destroy much of South Florida.
But Mr. Santorum’s comments are also wonderful in a weird way as they, yet again, paint a vivid picture of why our country so desperately needs transformational change and why my generation, Generation Delta if you will, is well equipped to be the Agents of Change to make that happen. Whether the topics are guns, our climate crisis, gender equality, race relations or one of the many other important issues that need our attention the time has come for Generation Delta to take control and force change.
So, thanks Dick, Jennifer and Donna for sharing that name and idea with me. Here’s to hoping it catches on as my generation continues to rise up and fix what’s wrong all around us.