The Perennial Gulf of Years
| Author | George Jaffa |
| Published date | 01 October 1984 |
| Date | 01 October 1984 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8405700411 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
GEORGE
JAFFA
THE PERENNIAL GULF OF
YEARS
When a young man abroad Iwrote one of my first pieces for a
newspaper and whenever Ithink about its contents my toes curl with
embarrassment. Not
that
it was insincere or wildly implausible. In
fact, it ventured ahypothesis, undoubtedly repeated by youth down
the ages, that because young people are so much nearer than their
elders to birth and therefore to the source of life, their aspirations and
motives are infinitely more pure. I was, of course, dipping into a
bran
tub
of assumptions that neither I nor anyone else could justify
and the exercise of worldly wisdom obviously never entered my head.
Fortunately, the editor was a worldly cultured man who probably
thought
that
a slice of light immaturity went some way to
counterbalancing the weight of war-time news. My hypothesis went
further. Iadvocated for the reasons advanced that young people
deserved a greater say in world affairs and that it should not be left to
dotards with little stake left in life to totally rule the fortunes or direct
the misfortunes of others. Somewhat harsh, I agree, but looking back
I recall quite clearly I harboured no animosity towards my elders but
aconsiderable amount of respect and even admiration.
Ignoringfor a moment motivational purity and youth's monopoly
of it, today's press castigates them in no uncertain terms for outright
hatred of the aged; even the Prince of Wales has publicly (according
to reports) condemned youthful brutality towards old folk and
contrasted Jewish and Asian respect for parents as laudable. Is, in
fact, the change over 40 years quite so dramatic? And, if so, must I for
one acknowledge the inadequacies of my original hypothesis and
admit that just maybe proximity to the source of life and birth in
some remote way be responsible?
In reality, of course, my youthful hypothesis need not be taken too
seriously.
That
there has been a radical change in attitudes no one
doubts and it matches to a large extent the changed circumstances of
our lives. Immediately following the last war youth returned waving
ablank cheque. Slates were to be wiped clean. Aspirations and
motives were on the whole exemplary. Youth had the chance to
rebuild in a manner never before given to society. Well, rebuild they
did but to a backcloth largely obscured by the euphoria of the day, of
an ominous black cloud which threatened not only mankind's
immediate security but in course of time violently changed the mood
of those who may have no future at all.
That
alone hardly suggests that round every corner lurks a
youngster high on drugs poised to attack every passing pensioner.
But it does suggest there is something in today's society
that
has an
388 October 1984
To continue reading
Request your trial