Gratitude

 

Generation-X were not well dressed, because there was no reason to dress smartly. 

They were not career-minded, for there was no reason to pursue the corporate dream. 

They were seen largely as apathetic, 

but it was an apathy born of a logical assessment of the options rather than just innate laziness. 

They were often well-educated and creative, 

and were usually portrayed as being talkative and self-obsessed. 

If they had A Mission, of sorts, it was 

To Work Out How to Move Forward

from Where They Were. 

“One of the things that’s really struck me hard about the disintegration and corruption of the universities is the absolute ingratitude that goes along with that. 

Criticism, as I said, is a fine thing, if it’s done in a proper spirit, and that’s the spirit of separating the wheat from the chaff. 

But it needs to be accompanied by gratitude, and it does seem to me that anyone who lives in a Western culture at this time and place in history, and who isn’t simultaneously grateful for that, is half blind, at least. 

It’s never been better than this, and it could be so much worse — and it’s highly likely that it will be so much worse, because, for most of human history, so much worse is the norm. 

Then there’s this little story that crops up, that seems, in some ways, unrelated to everything that’s gone before it. But I think it’s also an extremely profound little story. It took me a long time to figure it out. 

It’s The Tower of Babel.

My Generation asked me to read this:

"We're not good friends. 

Most of us never found the time to get to know you, 

but that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you. 

We don't talk about it much, but it's no secret that Sunnydale High isn't really like other high schools. 

A lot of weird stuff happens here."

The Chorus :

Zombies! 

Hyena-People! 

Snyder! (laughter) 

"But, whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, 

you seemed to show up and stop it. 

Most of the people here have been Saved by you, 

or helped by you at one time or another. 

We're proud to say that the Class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. 

(applause from the crowd) 

And we know at least part of that is because of you.  

So the senior class, offers its thanks, and gives you, uh, this —

  Jonathan produces a multicolored, glittering, miniature umbrella with a small metal plaque attached to the shaft. 

It's from all of us, and it has written here : -

' Joss Whedon —

Class Protector '