Animal Farm Update No.2: “Rumours of a wonderful farm, where the human beings had been turned out…
And the animals managed their own affairs, continued to circulate in vague and distorted forms, and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside… Above all, the tune and even the words of ‘Beasts of England’ were known everywhere. It had spread with astonishing speed. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song, though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. They could not understand, they said, how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible rubbish. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. And yet the song was irrepressible.” (Orwell, p.25).
It’s a funny thing when the youth come to realize they have the power to bargain, thrash, and withhold their power of offer. More than enough times in the making of history, young people band together and say something that mattered. The world watched as the young people of China band together in the protest of 89’ for justice. The world changed as adolescents redefined the meaning of being informational via the Internet. Heck, Kurt Cobain himself is rumoured to have said “the duty of youth is to challenge corruption.” Let’s face it, the majority of adults just don’t realize that youth change the world every single day! I believe sometimes it seems youth have a certain something that leave adults in a state of rile. It seems adults think adolescents bring them so such contemptible rubbish, and use so many ploys to punish adolescents for singing their songs.
“And yet the song was irrepressible.”
I challenge young people to be a little bit above the tastey irritation of adults. I propose an attitude of tolerance. Tolerate adults at their misunderstanding of who youth express themselves to be. Promote a playful attitude of maturity that is based on inventiveness, creativity, respect, honour, and authenticity. Youth are who they are, and they won’t back down. But if you want to be anything, be immersed in an attitude of Love. Love is contagious, and adults will catch on to our brand of it. If they don’t buy it, let them wallow in their own lake of hate. Hopefully they’ll come around. Meanwhile, I say we dance, live, and esteem each other with bad jokes, good food, and an unwillingness to give up on adults. Just like how some of them didn’t give up on us when we were mere infants…
