We keep hearing of the “lost” generation referring to the young people unable to find work, caught up in the harsh recession and deprived of hope. And this not only here in Greece, but all over southern Europe and in Britain too. Large numbers of young qualified people are emigrating to the Americas (predominantly South America) and Australia.
This is both sad and lamentable, and when you consider that Europe’s is an aging population, it is positively disastrous that the young are having to abandon ship.
However, what does a “lost” generation mean? The previous generations of Yuppies and hedge fund managers and Greed is Good ethics are the ones who created this global catastrophe, for their personal gratification and not for any lofty ideals. Yet it has been inculcated into the young at Business Schools, in common culture, as a matter of course that, as was once famously put by an infamous Lady, that “There Is No Alternative!”
But there is an alternative. And I do believe that it is this so called “lost” generation that will find it and implement it. Greed is not good. The self is not more important than the whole and, yes, I’m sorry Maggie, but there IS such a thing as Society.
In fact, the lost generation was the previous one in my opinion. This new generation, I believe, will be the one that finds itself.