Writer's block again?
There are so many things I want to write about, but yet, once my fingers land on the keyboard, my mind seems to quickly fizzle.
To help snap out of whatever is deflating my drive to write, I have decided to borrow Barbara's blogging style and ask my readers a few questions and solicit audience participation. I am turning to you for inspiration.
The following quote from Bob Dylan's Masters of War caught my attention a few weeks back and it has been on my mind since. It will serve as a prelude to one of the posts that have been swirling around in my head, if I ever get to finish it, that is.
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Apart from the war debate which is what the song is about, how do the words above resonate with you, if at all? What do your generational clashes with those older and/or younger look like?
Speaking of Bob Dylan, I love this clip showing his interview with a Time magazine reporter. It never fails to crack me up.
"You got a lot of nerve asking me a question like that." Hahaha. Go get'em Bob!
posted by David Cho @ 3/06/2007
20 comments
20 Comments:
My oldest son has taught me a lot and most of it has been through our clashes. I had grown old in my thinking and he has challenged me to rethink some things - especially the idea that we can change the world. I used to chide him for being so idealistic. I didn't thin he really "knew" what he was talking about. Now I've joined him.
Since I started teaching young (20s and early 30s) singles my outlook has changed. The biggest clash seems to be over worship styles more than anything else, and as Amber said, the idea that we can change the world.
Hope your writer's black goes away soon; I so know the feeling.
B~
I find that generational clash to be most striking within myself. Parts of my innerself war against each other - the parent, the child, the adult - struggling to find balance one with another. It can be quite annoying.
First of all, thanks for the mention, it's always a shock to read a blog and stumble across myself :)
Wow, excellent question. I can relate to both of the Buriff comments, and also with Bruce. I had the awesome opportunity to work for a ministry within CCC called "Emerging Generations". 95% of our team were in their 20's (I was the oldest one - there purely to organize their ambitious ideas and make sure stuff got done).
Anyhow - I used to think that youth was idealistic and even somewhat arrogant in their opinions simply because they hadn't been around long enough to gain credibility. But the group I worked with showed me that I was wrong - and the opposite was often true, it's the older people who are stuck in their ways and not willing to explore new ideas that are arrogant.
I still love hanging out with young people and often feel more in tune with them than old fogies my age (present company excluded of course - you people are all so hip I can barely stand it)
I feel more old than young, because I pity the young folk-teenagers-who think they know everything. I have developed some friendships with older folks, and it is amazing how alike we are . . . similar spiritual struggles, not understanding people, etc. What first came to mind were the verses in Timothy where Paul encourages him not to let the older people look down on him, but to be an example. Right now, older people look to younger people for help on the computer, or ordering things over the internet, but we younger ones need the wisdom and encouragement of older people in the essential areas of life . . . God, prayer, marriage, kids, singleness, friendship, dating . . . . . .
@amber
Idealism is what I am trying to cover. It seems that it is not as prominent as it used to be, and certainly not nearly as it was in the 60's. I am reacting to this study that depicts today's young people as the most narcissistic ever.
@bruce
Is there anything else other than style? How about ideology?
@brian
Talking to yourself again? J/K. That is quite interesting, and not being a family man myself, I guess it is a bit hard for me to relate. But that is an interesting thought.
@barbara
You ask very good questions, so I said to myself..why not?
I tend to think that older people are more arrogant than young people. It is not necessarily a young/old thing, but it does tend to manifest itself differently depending on one's age.
merster - very well stated. Amen. As I said to Barbara, I don't think arrogance is a age specific trait.
Yeah, I suppose there are a lot of other things. As far as ideology goes, I'm finding myself lining up more with their's than making them line up with mine. More of the two greatest commandments than all of the other rules and regulations I've followed for years. And years.
I agree with Bar (see, that happens too Bar) - I enjoy hanging with the "kids" more than people my age - they can be a lot more fun.
B~
I'm not answering your question just yet, but I'm really really really happy to see you quoting Dylan. :-D
Korean culture as you know is all about this. In previous generations we were expected to accept without question everything our elders said. Things are changing though. I think I can debate with my parents should it be necessary, but my wife is still very traditional and finds it hard to question anything. It's frustrating for me! My father-in-law in particular is very set in his ways and it is difficult for me to restrain myself. But for the sake of the family I am very good :)
PS I think Dylan is the worst singer in the world. However, I think his lyrics are magic :)
WHAT?
Dude, wash your keyboard with soap.
NEVER! Dylan would lose a singing contest to William Hung!
Hey, William is my hero too. So what are you saying about William?
That he is a better singer than Dylan :P
Dylan is in a league by himself in every aspect possible.
His songwriting and his singing. You just cannot compare with others and say he is better or worse.
I am a lover of folk music from all different cultures. I love Korean folk songs. Dylan's voice from his early days remind me of how Koreans sing folk songs - how he hits high notes with a fade away whiny tone. Check this out as an example. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm sorry. You are just not Korean enough.
Ha ha, I have to bow to your superior passion. You win David, do you hear me? You win! ;P
Dylan is the greatest musician and singer of all time!
not
You should stop now before I unleash some Dylan fans who go back to the early 60's.
They are truly nasty people.
I will be nice and pretend your last comment never happened. You owe me one for this.
As usual, you were able to add a bit of humor in this post which I always like.
Since Sharon was a 50-year-old bald guy -- who was David?
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