YOUNGER GENERATION VS OLDER GENERATION
Dear old
folks,
We came,
innocent and devoid of violence.
We came, fragile and naive.
We came clueless - knowing not right from left.
Our minds were blank and couldn’t filter through before absorption.
We had no idea where to put our steps when we got here than where you showed us by your lifestyles.
We submitted into your arms as our forerunners to lead us.
And in some ways, you led us astray.
Why now do you blame us for what you made of us?
We came, fragile and naive.
We came clueless - knowing not right from left.
Our minds were blank and couldn’t filter through before absorption.
We had no idea where to put our steps when we got here than where you showed us by your lifestyles.
We submitted into your arms as our forerunners to lead us.
And in some ways, you led us astray.
Why now do you blame us for what you made of us?
We had no import what liquor is until you sent us one.
We had known not cigarette until we saw you smoking it.
We had no understanding about lying and deception until we found it in you.
We didn’t know the way of corruption until you led us through.
In schools, you demanded for sex from our girls and money from the guys as an exchange for pass mark.
Now our life is in no way different from yours.
Why then do you blame us for what you made of us?
We had no understanding about lying and deception until we found it in you.
We didn’t know the way of corruption until you led us through.
In schools, you demanded for sex from our girls and money from the guys as an exchange for pass mark.
Now our life is in no way different from yours.
Why then do you blame us for what you made of us?
Instead of teaching
us diligence you led us through shortcuts.
How many a parent hires another to write exams for their wards.
Now we are not accustomed to taking responsibilities.
But have mastered cutting the askew corners very short to get things done illegitimately.
You spared us the rod of correction when we needed it most to prevent us from exhibiting deeds of devil.
And you expected us to emerge shinning ever brighter without scolding us unto uprightness.
To withhold the rod when needful for proper molding of a child is not an expression of love.
It is an evil so grievous.
How many a parent hires another to write exams for their wards.
Now we are not accustomed to taking responsibilities.
But have mastered cutting the askew corners very short to get things done illegitimately.
You spared us the rod of correction when we needed it most to prevent us from exhibiting deeds of devil.
And you expected us to emerge shinning ever brighter without scolding us unto uprightness.
To withhold the rod when needful for proper molding of a child is not an expression of love.
It is an evil so grievous.
You offer us
realities shows that rob us of dignity and morality yet it is called youth
empowerment.
The spirit of indiscipline, frivolity, violence and aimless socializing has taken over our souls due to circulation of music, movies and comedies that defile sound mind.
This entertainment is no longer entertaining - it corrupts people’s right thinking.
How can the choice songs in children’s parties be the ones with vulgar/ immoral utterances and those little kids are made to dance like wild beasts for a prize?
Why expose us to a world too hard to handle?
The spirit of indiscipline, frivolity, violence and aimless socializing has taken over our souls due to circulation of music, movies and comedies that defile sound mind.
This entertainment is no longer entertaining - it corrupts people’s right thinking.
How can the choice songs in children’s parties be the ones with vulgar/ immoral utterances and those little kids are made to dance like wild beasts for a prize?
Why expose us to a world too hard to handle?
Every other
night, our girls are made to parade themselves naked to satisfy your lustful
eyes and afterwards, warm your bed for a penny.
Meanwhile, our guys are the ones usually engaged to source for those girls at a tip.
He knew not brothel until you took him there and led him to a prostitute at a tender age. Now he has grown up with it.
She had seen you changed men like clothes often, now you call her harlot.
Or have you forgotten this Yoruba saying: “eshin iwaju ni ti eyin n wo sa ere”, loosely interpreted as; “the one coming behind take a clue from those in front”?
Don’t you know that young people quickly take after older people’s actions than their instructions?
Which way are you leading us old fellows?
Meanwhile, our guys are the ones usually engaged to source for those girls at a tip.
He knew not brothel until you took him there and led him to a prostitute at a tender age. Now he has grown up with it.
She had seen you changed men like clothes often, now you call her harlot.
Or have you forgotten this Yoruba saying: “eshin iwaju ni ti eyin n wo sa ere”, loosely interpreted as; “the one coming behind take a clue from those in front”?
Don’t you know that young people quickly take after older people’s actions than their instructions?
Which way are you leading us old fellows?
We often got
hired to cause commotion for you to reign.
At the promise of a raise, we were made to sing your praise.
Violently chanting your hail unknowing we were just a play.
Until it was clear we had been used and quickly abandoned.
Your leadership style is unimpressive.
What a bad example it is to us.
At the promise of a raise, we were made to sing your praise.
Violently chanting your hail unknowing we were just a play.
Until it was clear we had been used and quickly abandoned.
Your leadership style is unimpressive.
What a bad example it is to us.
You thought
us losing our minds is required to win in this struggle.
You built a platform for youth to exert themselves on substance.
Where many have lost their humanity - smoking cannabis, cocaine, heroin and marijuana to a hilt.
We wouldn’t have known the way of the underworld if there were none before we came.
Various secret movements that are now thorns in our flesh.
Numberless is the departed souls due to numerous fraternity clashes on our campuses and streets.
See how what you made has made us?
You built a platform for youth to exert themselves on substance.
Where many have lost their humanity - smoking cannabis, cocaine, heroin and marijuana to a hilt.
We wouldn’t have known the way of the underworld if there were none before we came.
Various secret movements that are now thorns in our flesh.
Numberless is the departed souls due to numerous fraternity clashes on our campuses and streets.
See how what you made has made us?
Though we
take full responsibilities for what we are.
And upon ourselves, we put the blame.
But for you, it is to your shame.
We could have been better off if your life is thorough.
You could have molded us rightly if you have mastered rightful living.
Since excellence and substance were not your way, you couldn’t impact it in us.
If you have it, you would have taught us early on the right way we should plough and your neck would be free of this shame.
And upon ourselves, we put the blame.
But for you, it is to your shame.
We could have been better off if your life is thorough.
You could have molded us rightly if you have mastered rightful living.
Since excellence and substance were not your way, you couldn’t impact it in us.
If you have it, you would have taught us early on the right way we should plough and your neck would be free of this shame.
Is it
possible for a pig to give birth to a rabbit or raise a monkey?
A Yoruba adage
says; “agba kii wa ni oja ki ori omo tuntun wo” – loosely interpreted as; “it
is impossible for the younger generation to lose their right senses or go
astray or miss the right way when they have elders”. But this can only happen
where the elders themselves are still with sound minds and walking the right
path. When the elders have gone off-course their divine destiny, the younger
people are on their own.
For to
train up a child in the right path he should go requires that the trainer must
have taken to the right path he should go. How can a person who is not on the
right way lead someone else through it? Don't you know that whatever any new born baby will become
cannot be different from what is already operating in the world before the baby
is born?
If you are reading this piece, consider the
legacy you are laying down for those coming behind to build on.
Our world is
just as it is (considering the prevailing negative issues which are unnecessary)
because some of those who had come and gone failed to give their best shot to
life and living when they were; either by giving themselves to what they ought not to do or by refusing to
do what they ought to have done. Just exactly the same thing many among the
living are also doing which is highly disheartening.
For our
children not to grow up to know corruption, robbery, prostitution, injustice,
moral decadence, unnatural practices, ungodliness, racism/tribalism, bad leadership,
religion crisis, insecurity, poverty, epileptic power supply, inadequate social
amenities, family failure and divorce, communal disputes, international
disputes and war; we should start giving diligently to the course of a world
that is free of such human invented barriers.
But if we
fail to correct ourselves in any way we have erred, it would be to our shame by
tomorrow if our children should suffer the same things we suffered, err the
same way we erred, master wrongful living or live in a world that is full of
insecurity and every other prevailing global challenges.
