Future: a cultural change

A number of current writers, predominately in the field of psychology, sociology, philosophy, and humanities, lament about the values that generations of the twenty first century have. The emphasis on the big me was never a bad thing, until it turns people into terrorists, narcissists, or on a less extreme level, just plain brats. With the millions of books published on self help, self improvement, I guess the newly found value that emphasizes on oneself still does not improve humanity.

People occasionally ponder, Why did some celebrities, with money and fame that everyone wants, turn from innocence to degenerates? Why do people update non-stop on Facebook and twitter? Why did Instagram and snapchat took off within a whim? Some even ask those questions, I'm afraid, with senses of jealousy, as if having more than thousands of followers on twitter or instagram were a success. That leaves the rest of civilization on this planet-- not successful? But I'm sure most people would agree with me that there are many problems with the teen, 20, and 30 years olds in this world: insecurity, constant grasp for attention, and loneliness. But why would you be lonely if you have thousands of followers on Instagram and fifty likes on your newest photo upload on Facebook?

Apparently, we have taken off the value of the big me way too far. When the idea of the big me first came, it was there to jumpstart the post World War II gloom. It was an idea that people no longer have to suffer together for the adrenaline we get from patriotism. The big me was there to help people with a social transition from community to individuality. But in the twenty first century, we have cycled three generations from the baby-boomers, we don't need those ideas anymore. World War II, cold war, is now history that we can learn from, not social anxiety we have to deal with. But we fail to understand that. Our grand parents suffer from the stress of not having enough food back in their days, stress the importance of having money. Our parents saw childhood classmates make a fortunate with nothing but passion (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, etc.), firmly believe that we can, too. What results is a society where money and fame diggers struggling to find a replacement for the parental love we are so used to receiving.

I would like to see one day, that the horrendous scream for self-grandiouse will die down. That one day when people drop their sense of pride, ego, and reputation. One day when all of us focus on what is truly meaningful for each and everyone of us. And one day when we focus on giving to other people. The day when people value community, meaning, love, and forgiveness, is a day that all are smiling and satisified.