Gen Z: A manifesto

Older generations believe they know us like the back of their hands. They think because they have raised us as either their kids or grand-kids, that they understand us, but is that even accurate? We barely even know ourselves, so how can anyone single-handedly dissect another generation without even being a part of it?

They believe that we are selfish. That we are helpless without the guidance of adults. We are a spoiled, technology-obsessed generation that will be lucky to even make it to the next five years without the guidance of our older compatriots.

For some of us, this is true, but that has nothing to do with our generation, but the way that we are raised. A child isn't born spoiled, we aren't attached to technology straight out of the womb; we were given it as a way to coax us into malleability, so we no longer scream and cry, but instead stare at a fluorescent screen, lulled into an ulterior planet.

Here's a word of advice to all of the generations before and after Generation Z: stop assuming and take the time to ask us, "What makes Generation Z, generation z?"

Gen Z is revolutionary. We are an innovative, liberal, empathetic, bold group of people who seek change from the centuries of ancient traditions. We are the generation of change. We are the generation to make changes.

We as a generation are open-minded. We believe in gender, racial, and sexual equality. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect despite their alternative views. We understand that it's impossible to make everyone happy, but the least they deserve is respect.

We understand and accept new discoveries. We join and fight against global discoveries that are bringing harm to a group of people or even the world. Whether it be something as big as the Black Lives Matter Movement, #METOO, the Climate Strike, or small things like starting a compost bin at school; my generation is "woke". When we see that something needs to change, we do whatever we need to to ensure the world knows that we need to do something to make the world better and its inhabitants happier.

We aim for an environmental symphony. To create some type of symbiotic relationship where everyone on Earth benefits. Contrary to what Gen X believes, we aren't mindless, insolent children; we understand concepts that many of their narrow minds fail to even acknowledge. We ACTUALLY understand climate change, we know that if we don't stop depending on fossil fuels for our energy source, then we will no longer have a remotely functioning society, nor will we even have an Earth to live on.

So think again, Boomers. Are we really the ones that you need to pray for, because the last time I checked, you guys are the same people that promoted segregation, the Ku Klux Klan, and even the Jim Crow laws? You guys enforced unrealistic gender roles that kept women complacent in society. And look at us now. Trying to reverse their decades of oppression and the destruction of our ozone layer.

Honestly, there is no real point in pointing out each generation's flaws because, like humans, we all have them. But, instead of just sitting there complaining about the problems we put on ourselves, let's do something to fix it.

That's the difference that sets us apart from all other generations. We actually do something to fix our mistakes, whether it be deleting or backspacing a comment on instagram or twitter. We at least try to right our wrongs.

To put things simply all my generation wants is to be heard, understood, and taken seriously. We want social harmony. We want everyone on this Earth to understand the dire need to nurture the planet we call home. We understand it's impossible for everyone to agree with each other, but understanding that our views and values will always be contradicting, and embracing this fact allows for innovating and development of change.

We are the embodiment of transformation.