Despite being the generation responsible for raising and educating Gen Z, Generation X has failed in their duties, fostering a culture of overindulgence, neglect, and indoctrination. This has resulted in universitarios ill-prepared for life and universities filled with self-loathing and Marxist indoctrination.
In the wake of recent protests and violence on college campuses, one cannot help but question the whereabouts of the adults in the room. The onus falls upon boards, administrators, faculty, staff, and parents to ensure the well-being and proper upbringing of our youth. However, it is Generation X, the gap generation between Boomers and Millennials, that deserves scrutiny.
As Gen Xers, we missed out on the formative experiences of Watergate and Vietnam, instead growing up in the booming '80s and '90s. We were the first to embrace the internet and hailed ourselves as possessing the best music ever created. Yet, while we fought to protect our country after 9/11 and weathered the Great Recession, we neglected our roles as parents and educators.
Gen X pioneered helicopter parenting, siding with our children against their teachers, parachuting in to save them from any discomfort or challenge. We paved the way for overbearing parents who value happiness and convenience over discipline and character development.
Our inattention extended to the classroom, where we failed to monitor the erosion of classical literature and the distorted teaching of American history. We were blindsided by the indoctrination of our children, as online learning revealed the extent to which they were being taught to become social justice activists rather than learners.
As Gen X parents now serve as professors and administrators in academia, they have embraced every trend in critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They have facilitated drag queen story hours and gamified education, all while prioritizing activism over learning.
The consequences of our failures are evident in the current crop of college students. Many are living at home, unprepared for life after graduating. Our international ranking for education has stagnated. Young people suffer from anxiety, low self-esteem, and a sense of entitlement. Universities have become bureaucratic morasses of self-loathing and Marxist indoctrination.
It is not solely Gen X's fault for the campus unrest, but we must acknowledge our responsibility. Instead of blaming Gen Z for acting as we have taught them, perhaps we should take a cue from Michael Jackson's "The Man in the Mirror" and start with ourselves.
