Chapter 6 Andre's chat with friends online

Lu: Last night, a friend was still talking to me, saying that our generation seems to be very lost, and we don’t know how to define ourselves.The 20's and 30's were the "lost generation", the 40's were the war generation, the 50's were beatniks, the 60's were hippies, the 70's were funkies, the 80's It's punk (rebellion), there's hip-hop, it's rap (rap music) in the 90s, and what are we? Ann: I don't think it's possible for me to define myself.But the lack of rebellion and the lack of adventure in our generation is true.Most of us grew up in comfortable, well-bred homes, with no real pain, no real disasters... Life was too easy for us to find anything to rebel, to risk-

Lu: How do we see ourselves—or is the media shaping how we see ourselves?Is the lack of rebellion and risk-taking also because the mainstream media only report the mainstream values ​​of no rebellion and no risk?The American media are all controlled by big consortiums. Ann: But what on earth can we rebel or rebel against?You Americans may have someone - you have Bush, we don't have much here. Lu: But we have to find our own identity.Where there is no conflict, there is no identification. Ann: Do you need approval? Lu: Of course. Ann: Why? Lu: Because... psychologists say so. Ann: I want to know what you say.

Lu: I think it is very important. Ann: Why? Lu: For example, I know a mulatto. She is stuck between two races and cultures, and she is at a loss.Many young people, in order to have a sense of belonging, join a criminal group; even if it is a criminal group, he must belong. Ann: The bad thing is that society often forces you to choose sides. Lu: Yes.Let me ask you, is it tiring to be a German? Ann: Not long ago I went to watch an international football match.Germany scored a goal, and the crowd jumped up and sang and yelled, and I heard them chant, "Germans, stand up! Germans, stand up!" I was startled.It's too strange.In fact, what they sang was completely cheering songs during ordinary games. For example, when Berlin faced Frankfurt, you might sing "Berliners, stand up!" In international competitions, it would naturally become "Germans, stand up", but I But at the moment, I feel, wow, I'm not used to it, I feel uncomfortable.it's wired.

Lu: You immediately thought of the Nazis? Ann: Exactly. Lu: You teach a lot about the history of the Nazis in school? An: I have taught since elementary school, and I have taught and taught.Let me ask you, what do you think when fifty Americans walk by on the road after the game, shouting "America First" and "Long Live America"? Lu: I would think, huh, typical American.So do the British, though. Ann: Yes.What if it was the Germans who came over like this? Lu: I understand what you mean. Ann: If fifty Germans sing "Germany First" and "Long Live Germany", it will scare people to death.

Lu: Understood. Ann: What makes you an "American"? Lu: This is too difficult to answer.Actually, I don't like Americans. Ann: So what do you identify with? Lu: I identify with my contemporaries. Ann: So what makes your generation "American"?How does a young man from the most powerful country in the world understand himself and his relationship with the world? Lu: I am actually very alienated from American culture.Few of my peers care about politics.They say they're against Bush, when in fact they say that just to show they're "cool."Anti-Bush is popular.Young people are against everyone, unless you are a Christian or a militant.

Ann: You mean, young people don't know what values ​​to identify with? Lu: We are in a rich and strong country. Being rich and strong means that young people can be completely naive and ignorant of the political, economic and international situation. Anyway, he can afford it and let others think for him.This is the tragedy of American youth. We are completely indifferent to the world and only care about our own little circle. Ann: This is probably a common feature of all rich countries.