“To me, it brings a feeling of pity and concern when I interact with families who experience the ‘tyranny of freedom,’ in which children can do everything: They scream, write on walls, threaten guests, because of the complacent authority of parents who actually think of themselves as champions of freedom.” – Paulo Freire
There are young people today who care less about changing their own lives, let alone the world. They feel disconnected and dis-concerned about the society they live, belong to and benefit from. Growing up, they are surrounded by the opulence of consumption and the facade of success, allowing them to grow comfortable, complacent and disconnected from the world they live in.
We have to provide opportunities for these youth to connect to others in meaningful, substantive and real ways. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not name-calling here: the inability these young people have to relate to the realities of the world they live in with the rest of us is not reflective of narcissism insomuch as it’s reflective of a society-wide malaise fostered by generations of crass consumerism, social alienation and growing antipathy towards social responsibility.
This is a call for those who care to invest in those who apparently don’t; these is a request for those who act to take action for those who won’t; this is a hope that we can engage, create, critically examine and re-construct the world we live in – together. The “tyranny of freedom” is that it’s not free at all; it’s that no one is free until everyone is free; it’s that freedom isn’t free – everyone of us pays the price everyday, consciously or unconsciously. Let’s wake up and get it together.
Written by Adam Fletcher, this article was originally posted to http://commonaction.blogspot.com. Learn more at adamfletcher.net!
Adam F.C. Fletcher 
I’m with you all the way, Adam. Been investing in youth and will keep investing until I stop breathing…and then the legacy I leave will help the next wave of investors. Anything less is unacceptable. Great post! 🙂
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