War of the Generations

Why is it, that among the young (us) and the older generations (our parents) there is a huge difference?

For example, belief system. Both are Muslim, both originate from the same place, yet the young and the old act differently to any given situation.

Why is it, that our interpretation of what is correct etiquette and their interpretation is two different things? I like to believe that my morals and beliefs are that of Islamic morals and beliefs with everything else being irrelevant.
Yet older people tend to take more into account 'What the neighbours will say?' than what is Islamicly correct?

I’m not sure how many people have had this experience. But a lot of the elder generation seems to be more concerned with what the local gossips will say than what they will be accountable for in the here-after.

Sometimes it also comes down to the case that we have to make a choice between what we clearly believe to be correct and our parent’s happiness?

I realise that the happiness of our parents should always come first, but even at the cost of being wrong? Even at the cost of doing something wrong?

Is that an equal trade-off?

Quote:
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Socrates, 2,400 years ago.

Another one:

Quote:
I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint
Hesiod, 300 years earlier.

"100" wrote:
Quote:
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Socrates, 2,400 years ago.

Another one:

Quote:
I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint
Hesiod, 300 years earlier.

A witty saying proves nothing.

Why is it that theres this misunderstanding?

Why is it that the old forget what its like to be young?

Are disrespectul youths a result of westernisation? As many youths from back home (Pakistan) would never dream of disrespecting their parents.

Or are we just putting this down to bad parenting. But by assuming its bad parenting do we automaticly place the blame with the parents, IMO youths can think for themselves no matter what they're parents say or have taught them as they grew up.

Certainly we may be educated more than our parents were, but does knowledge make us too ignorant to listen to the wisedom of our parents?

Back in BLACK

Quote:
A witty saying proves...
This one proves things aren't slipping, people just get sentimental and grumpy. At least since the Greeks and the Romans seems it's been like that. I'm sure there are good days and bad days. Just remember there were dickheads, for when we're older. There are dickheads, always. Be proud you're not one.

"100" wrote:
Quote:
A witty saying proves...
This one proves things aren't slipping, people just get sentimental and grumpy. At least since the Greeks and the Romans seems it's been like that. I'm sure there are good days and bad days. Just remember there were dickheads, for when we're older. There are dickheads, always. Be proud you're not one.

But does that not mean that we should strive to better ourselves from acting like such animals to become something far more pure and noble?

Simply becoz man-kinds past is in the muck doesn't mean we can not rise to benevolence.

Back in BLACK

Something like that, sure. Not a war of the generations.

Salam

Kids are rebellious by nature. Which is good. Thats how things improve.

Naturally, a lot of things also get knocked down.

If the little furball was not fiery, she would not desire change for the better.

Omrow

diff between parents and kids is cos of culture diff

I cant relate to dad cos he's been brought up back home

I can TOTALLY relate to mum cos she's been brought up here

only our generation will be able to overcome this gap

but I will say that "western" kids are more disrespectful then kids from back home-which is VERY bad

Lack of communication is the main reason behind the generation gap.

"MuslimSister" wrote:
Lack of communication is the main reason behind the generation gap.

That and theres not enough ice cream in the world.

Back in BLACK

One of my main issue with the older generation is that they think that just cos in their time they did something a certain way their children should follow in their footsteps.

They don't take into consideration the differences in time/culture etc.

Another issue I have is the way everyone likes to get involved in other people's personal issues.

If a decision is to be made regarding an individual, the entire extended family have to get involved and give their opinion on the matter.

Sometimes the older lot like to totally control the younger generation...

If an individual is an adult they should just let them be and stop trying to dictate their life for them.

my uncle in his early 30's has serious issues with the way evryone in the family tries to run his life

it makes me laugh-he's a GROWN man

Pakistani's do need to learn how to mind their own buisness

my sister has serious issues with this too

I like to do my own thing-I've never cared what others say

"MuslimSister" wrote:
One of my main issue with the older generation is that they think that just cos in their time they did something a certain way their children should follow in their footsteps.

They don't take into consideration the differences in time/culture etc.

Another issue I have is the way everyone likes to get involved in other people's personal issues.

If a decision is to be made regarding an individual, the entire extended family have to get involved and give their opinion on the matter.

Sometimes the older lot like to totally control the younger generation...

If an individual is an adult they should just let them be and stop trying to dictate their life for them.

I think that sometimes parents just want to steer their kids away from potiential problems or difficulties that they may hav faces when they wer young and want to save them the trouble of making any mistakes.

But i think alot of the time parents forget that people learn from their mistakes. Its one thing to be told the right way to do things, and its another to discover it on your own accord (trial and error). Personally i dont think people learn a lesson as well as they should until they make the mistakes.

But not in all cases, sometimes prevention is better than cure. IMO alot of the older generation forget what its like to be young, energetic and stupid. But thats only coz they're guilty of careing too much.

Has anyone ever come across mothers who smother they're kids a little too much and wont let them go off and do their own thing?

Back in BLACK

I agree with the points above. It is best that people learn from their own mistakes and that is something wrong with the elder generation, they expected the youngster to learn from their mistake, which IMO isn't possible. But saying that i do think that the youngster do take for granted, what the elder generation had too do and see, the new generation is very selfish IMO, but that because they been spoil.

The nswer lies with the following hadith IMO. It a rather simple solution, but with the current crop of people much harder to implement

The Prophet said: He does not belong to us who does not show mercy to our young ones and respect to our old ones (Tirmidhi).

"A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity."

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