The decline of the USA as a major challenge for young adults

Decline of the U.S.

The Decline of the Modern American Generation

Every generation must face difficult challenges; some of these may be the same challenges every generation before them, others may be new obstacles that have arrived on the scene unknown to previous eras. The problem that is holding this generation back most, is one that has proven difficult to get over in the past, but has morphed into a new form which is much more difficult to overcome. Young Americans have continually shown their lack of interest in learning about their own country, and most importantly themselves. Many have ignored lessons essential to exploring their own lives beyond what they are wearing to school the next day. This idea of youthful ignorance is quite sad, for as the great Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living.

Throughout history, generations have forgotten the hard-learned lessons of the eras which came before them. If one were to look at current U.S. Foreign Policy in our war against terror, one can see that the lessons of the past mean nothing to our plans for the future. Has this current administration forgotten the failures of both Napoleon and Hitler? Both dictators chose to fight a war on two fronts, believing that they were powerful enough to overcome two foes on opposite sides; however, both were defeated and disgraced. Does this lesson mean nothing in modern day politics? To once again hearken back to the great Greek philosopher, rather than ignoring lessons of the past, we must "Employ [our] time by improving [ourselves] in other men's writings, so that [we] shall easily gain what others have labored hard for."