Yo! Before you go on and read what I have to say here; I hope you have been lending your voice to the ongoing protest in Nigeria. If yes, welcome! If no, why? I genuinely want to know the cause of your apathy?
So, the recent protests have seen a lot of opinions flying around. Some of them, I like. Some, I’m indifferent about. Some, I repulse. Some, I learn from.
One of the opinions I can’t seem to wrap my head around that is beginning to take a hold on young people is the “the old generation failed us” narrative. To be honest, that narrative irks me.
Look, it is good that we are speaking up and all that but you see this talking down on your parents for whatnots has to stop. I do not say this from a place of blind respect or whatever you think it is, I am one of those children that also consistently try to break the norm.
I cannot shy away from the fact that our parents encourage some things that are unfathomable to our generation. But c’mon, welcome to change. I am pretty sure they also did what they could to break away from some things their own parents imposed on them.
The recent trend of discrediting our parents do not sit well with me. These people did what they could. And just as we have complacent young people now, so was it then.
I consider some of these rude statements as pride. The way we even glorify rudeness now is perturbing. A young person disrespects an older person and still dares to post it online for laughs. I cannot help the disgust I feel.
While I agree that we have a lot to enlighten our parents on, I strongly opine that this is done in love and respect. Yes, they can be a handful. They do not see things from your angle and all that. Continue to register your thoughts.
This generation that we want to crucify is also the product of a failed society. Nigeria failed our parents and; they did what they could. The presence of Twitter does not invalidate their struggles and longings.
The ongoing protests are strange to our parents (just like our children will do strange things too), but many of them are starting to understand where this is coming from.
As such, before you disregard your parents because you taught them how to change their profile image on WhatsApp, note that they taught you how to use a spoon (one of the Easiest devices in the world).
There is a thin line between communicating your hurts and throwing caution in the wind.
A lady recently gave out her Daddy’s phone number on Twitter because he was against the demonstrations. LMAOOOO! It is funny how we want to correct years of deep-seated ideologies with one demonstration. Take it or not, this demonstration is not worth damaging your relationship with your parents over.
I believe so much in the Nigerian Youth Protests, and I fully believe that this is a new dawn. I believe firmly in a better Nigeria. I know and; I am sure this is the beginning of something new.
And the good thing is, the apathetic attitude of one or two persons will not stop this. A lot of us are awake. Let us stay awake.
