42 - Wednesday, July 17, 1991 - North Shore News

WELCOME TO Soler Energy. Zap’s! newest youth column written by Rod Solar.
a 20-year-old UBC Arts student who lives in Deep Cove. Rod says he intends his
column to be an “in-depth analysis of what it means to be a youth today, by critical
inquity and examination of social values that pertain to youth and their relations
with adults."” Watch for Solar Energy weekly in Wednesday's Zap!

CANADIAN YOUTH:

WHO ARE WE, REALLY?

Our Incomplete Identity

All the above societies share similar
problems of ethnic and racial diversity.
except for China, whose problems re-
main mostly political.

Identity is a difficult issue, one that
the people of the world have been strug-
gling with fer centuries. it is our nature
to categorize, and we enjoy nothing
more than to label each other. Perhaps
we should ask ourselves who we are, at
some point, try to accept it and find
ways to profit from this knowledge.

No one can understand exterior points
of view of race, politics, and ethics
without having something to relate them
to. Our beliefs are tremendous indicators
of who we are, and without sound con-
victions, being is merely existing, but not
living.

As the youth of thiscountry, theques-
tion of cur identity is mostly half-
answered. Globally, we understand that
we live quite comfortably compared with
the rest of the world. But we don’t share
the chronic materialism and relative ig-
norance of our more affluent neighbors
in the U.S.

Canadian youth seem to think of
themselves as above their American
counterparts. We can live with each
other. we care about the environment,
we accept our parents, etc. ... We have
not undergone the stresses of modern
society with the intensity experienced
in such melting pots as Los Angeles or
New York.

Vancouverites have had it fairly easy
so far, and the youth of this society
should feel blessed with their com-
parative goodies. Right? Why are we
then, complaining so much inside?

Could it be we are not alt as blessed
as we appear? “vho are those runaways
that show up on your doorstep with no
other place to go?

Who are these jurikies on the corner?
Who are the gun-slingers. the knife-
wielders, the rapists, the murderers?
Who are these alcoholic children who
drive like maniacs ftike there’s 10
tomorrow?

Maybe, for many of them, there is no
clear tomorrow. We're not as conser-
vative as we appear. Those are just the
people who care to answer polls — a
significant minority.

Most youth are desperately seeking

something to cling to. Whether it be
atcohol, drugs, sex, the environment, or
simply rest. Rest from the expectations
of their parents and peers. Rest from the
stresses of life.

{always hear it after the “hello, how
are you?,”” the unavoidable response:
“Fm so tired. | haven't slept a wink ...
so, so tired. | think Fil have another drink
...”’ Wards from a popular Beatles song
that still ring true today.

The escapism is clear, everyone needs
a course. We're not ail the ‘Athletes in
Focus’ or the schotarship winner, or the
world traveller at 17

The question of youth identity can't
begin to be tackled in the short space
| have here. Like no other generation
before us, we are unclassifiable. There
is no home big enough, accepting
enough, to house us all.

We lack the rebellious spirit of our
bretheren of the ‘60s. theself-indulgence
of the 70s. and the monetary idealisrn
of the ‘80s.

We have grown out of a fear of
nuclear war that seems out of sty!e to-
day, already replaced by new fears of
AIDS, ecological disaster and stepped-on
dreams. We have been raised by televi-
sion, teachers and friends. less and less
by our parents.

Our future is uncertain: will our water
turn bitter, will the trees disappear. can
we survive in a world of ever dwindling
Opportunity?

The half-answer to the question of
identity is this: “We know what we are,
but know not what we may be.”

By taking a couple of moments to real-
ly think about ourselves and our place
in this world, we'll get the first part. Un-
fortunately, perhaps only the psychic
lady on Robson Street knows the answer
to the second part

Even though the question of our iden-
tty remains half-answered. it is im-
perative for us to realize this identity.
however diverse and complicated it may
be. if we are to face the future on solid
ground to stand on.

Let’s not he to ourselves It's tume for
all of us to wake up and realize that it’s
not all a bed of roses out there And if
it is, then most of us are feeling the
thorns.

~- Rod Solar

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