“I”zation: Ignoring the “Civil” in Civilization

Among the African American community for example, the position of “don”t tell’ has become the way of life for many. Other ethnic communities have similar practices. In other words people will witness others being robbed, beaten, raped, and murdered and will say nothing about it to the authorities because it is what is expected. Some will actually watch their own family members lives destroyed, but will say nothing to those whom may be most capable of rendering them some form of justice.

The generations growing before us and within our society are destined to maintain our future. What will that be if they are self-absorbed, narcissistic, and insensitive. Many of them do not understand and therefore ignore what the “Civil” in Civilization means. Their focus is on the “I”, thus their society may create an “I”zation.

What view these selfish individuals hold is of grave concern because as the dominant era “the Baby Boomers” dwindle in control and become the elderly what shall these newer generations impose upon our society? Shall they segregate the elderly into their own communities; shall they send them to colonize the Moon? Shall they euphonize whoever they feel useless?

But, we can not blame them for what they may have become. Our society allowed this to happen. We begot this dilemma when we pressed forward with our technology and forgot about how it would affect our children. We also ignored the values which establish a civilization. We zoomed ahead into the future with disregard for the foundations of our past. We were too busy ourselves trampling the dust made up of the bones of our ancestors, to realize there were reasons why they taught us to cherish the importance of family, spend time with our children and socialize with others. We were in a rush to build a better world, but we forgot it begins by supporting our neighbors.

We have to fix this dysfunctional state which has seeded among the younger generations before it becomes a cruel reality. Though some among them may understand what civilization is all about, we must implore as many of the others to also understand. We have to help these other generations develop social skills, to learn to become civil again.

Parents and relatives have to pull their children from enclosed rooms and spend time to talk and socialize with them. Parents should insist on time to sit at a family table to eat a meal together and talk. They also have to take their children out into the world to intermingle with others and instruct them on how to behave and respect others.

We as a society have to teach the following generations how humanity has arrived to this point of our existence because of the contributions of many and not just individuals. We must help them to understand their world exists because of those whom hoped so much for a better world for them and following generations to come whom so often sacrificed their lives. We must also admonish them there is no place for injustice and it will not be tolerated for very long. We must teach them there is no such word as “I”zation.