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Why does everyone place so much hope in the *next* generation? The idea that the youth of the world are finally going to save the world is prevalent in every ideology that I have come into contact with. I can’t quite decide how much of it is a propagandist call to join whichever movement, and how much is attempting to draw energy from the concept that youth is inherently full of vigor.

It is definitely worthwhile to try to pass on wisdom and helpful knowledge to each generation. After all, soon enough the previous generation will be gone, beyond reach except for what has been written down. Nothing is new that has not been built on what has been learned from someone who learned something previously. The more that can be learned from those with the most experience, the more potential there is for wonderful inventions. However, this may hold true more for the physical use of the world, but not really the philosophical evaluation of life.

It is my observation that while there is an expertise in many concrete subjects that each subsequent generation can build on, there are thought processes about life that each individual has to conquer by themselves. They can learn from ideas discussed, but the philosophies of life are not built on the same way that, say, knowledge is built on to invent computers. These ideas about what life is, or should be, tend to be recirculated with each generation, since the abstract nitty-gritty concepts of life, like love, cooperation, and purpose, never change.

If a young person has relationship with someone of wisdom, they may start out in adulthood better equipped to answer these questions about our existence. This may enable them to make sounder decisions, have a happier perspective, and filter out the twisted logic of others. Yet, throughout history in each generation there have been many people who disdain wisdom. They are only too willing to listen to the empty promises of manipulators. They have no desire to be any more responsible than absolutely necessary. In short, they will try to get away with whatever they can to make other people do their bidding, and don’t mind at all using force to do so.

A review of written wisdom shows me that there have been men and women of high character and deep wisdom in each generation. There have always been voices for what is good and right, both in how we should treat others and how we should pursue diligence. Some may say that technology makes passing on that information easier, and it appears so. But it is also easier to spread lies and misinformation. There is still the propensity of human nature to be careless in evaluation, or the demands of life making it hard to have time to knowledgeably evaluate everything.

On top of that, consider that when anyone is learning new things, it takes more effort to apply them to life. When I was first learning to make bread, I had to concentrate very hard, paying attention not only to the instructions, but to the results of how I was applying them. Now that I have made bread for nearly 35 years,