Title : You, I & Them
Style : Short Essay
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It is most regrettable to notice the cultural values, have and has been transformed by a rising number of the younger generation in the developed countries, both in the East and West. This sad disturbing trend is also unknowingly been affecting in our wounded country and spreading cancerously. When one walks along the echelons of mankind history, and of the different far away countries and lands, without doubt, we notice that the upkeep of family well being is crucial. Maintaining and defending this cherished castle against all odds are evidenced on chiseled walls and inked in history books. This downfall of one’s cultural values was not so prevalent during the Post-War Cohorts, Baby Boomers or Generation X. However the cultural norms waivered and charted its own course, more so, from Generation Y to Generation Z. There is every-likelihood that this regrettable new trend will continue onwards for the foreseeable future and beyond unless properly addressed timely.
I do recall our grandparents would defend to keep the families together and united, all three generations under one roof, come what may. This would continue religiously during my father’s time and embraced by myself also. The incomes would be pooled and at all costs shared for the upkeep the clan to stay united. This also hold true for low-income workers, where they would do all within their powers to cross subsidize within own relatives to keep their bonds as one. Even today, in some countries housing grants are subsidized by the government to ensure families live close by to each other estates: social cultures are such that, bonding and minding out for each other, and looking after the aged parents are encouraged. This being our eastern ways since days gone by and social culture: somewhat differs from our brothers and sisters from the West. I being of the opinion that this social bonding of culture is a good thing that became lost or blurred in the West when incomes became regretfully limited there. It does not apply that financially, in no ways, the incomes were sound in the East. However, family ties were much more stronger and social values upheld at all costs. Those were the days. Yes, those were the lost days of bygone.
However, I am saddened to notice that some of the parents were tendering their children to make good their lodging financially in the West, which also up to an extent infected our Eastern cultures too: maybe this due to money woes that became regretfully a culture there. After some time, it sort of became a norm and children raise questions and adapted that were more beneficial for them, making it in the outside world alone against paying lodging fees at home. Soon this type of actions lead for the children to be more alienated with their parents, not a healthy sign at all. How can a county be united we stand when unions were thinking of ‘you and I’, instead of ‘us’. Soon, from ‘you and I’, selfishness crept in and ‘I’ alone became the main criteria. The sense of values cannot be amended overnight and would take decades to rectify if we are lucky. Somehow, the latter generations seem to be all out for themselves like no tomorrow and we are experiencing break up of unions more than enough, not a healthy sign in any book. While I do agree the fault lies on both sides, it is not positive for mankind or the country as a whole in my humble view.
Before matters turn out for the worst, it is my sincere belief that people in the position of authority, influential parties and the medias ought to address the situation that bonds us more for the betterment of all. Selfishness and the whole process of constructive thinking and attitudes need to be voiced and penned more liberally so that our young ones do not fall into the pits.
The more time elapses, ‘them and you’ seems to disappear with ‘I’ topping the bill. The medium of money is important, no denying on that, however our social cultures and mind set are more important.
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By/- Myo Thant
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