Last year I was chatting with a member of my congregation over bagels with our Tot Shabbat families. She mentioned a mutual friend who has a photo of himself with Robert Redford on his wall. Having been a big fan of Redford as a young adult, that is – years ago – I was tickled. But in this conversation I noticed that another young woman who was standing with us at that time had a blank look on her face. I asked her if she knew who Robert Redford was, and she said, “no.” Oh, did I feel old!
Last week I saw an interview of Crosby, Stills and Nash on a morning TV show. You know Crosby, Stills and Nash, right? They were (and still are) a folk rock supergroup of the sixties, seventies, and beyond. “Teach Your Children” is one very famous song they contributed to the American musical lexicon. I still listen to their music regularly for its beauty, power and social justice themes. I wish the folk rock music of that era was still the cultural currency of our day!
So imagine my surprise when I sat at a table in a very crowded Apple Store in NJ and noticed a very familiar looking man standing next to me, talking with some companions. I know I could be wrong, but I was thought it was David Crosby. I was so excited; I opened his Wikipedia page to check the photo while he walked away. At that moment the Apple Store technician, clearly 25+ years my junior , came over to assist me. I was all excited — “Hey, he was just standing here!” I said as I pointed at the picture. The technician gave a cursory look at the web page and said, “oh”, “now how can I help you?” I was frantic to find someone in the store who had noticed the (apparent) celebrity, so I searched the faces of the crowd. No one seemed to have noticed. Young, almost all a generation younger than my own, they were oblivious.
Ok, I really feel old now. But I am still firmly in middle age! As my own children are finishing college, I have become very reflective of the meaning of this time in which we live and culture of the next generation. The mantle has been passed and their cultural icons that are now emerging are shaping our world. It doesn’t help to pine away for the loss of the passion of the sixties and its voices. This generation owns it now.
Our family recently celebrated my daughter’s graduation from college, and to my initial disappointment, she didn’t want to attend the big university commencement. She and her friends had no interest in hearing a commencement speaker who was a corporate CEO. Their boycott made a strong impression on me. So I have been thinking a lot about what a desirable commencement address would be. I’ve listened to many, and most are bland are predictable.
If I had a chance to give a commencement address I’d want to reflect on the enormous challenges of our day and urge the next generation to ignite passion in social change. I’d honor the Occupy movement for its grassroots, counter-culture courage, and the next wave of 60’s style activism. I’d encourage more and more engagement in changing our country’s political priorities through as many means as possible, including non-violent, passionate protest to address the disgusting political culture of our current federal government.
I’d ask them to teach me their music and introduce me to their cultural icons. I’d want to know who to look for the next time I stand waiting in the Apple store, following along as the heads turn. My generation will best help by supporting and collaborating; the next generation will need us to both step back and stand ready. “Teach your children well” – I pray.
Shabbat
Pronounced: shuh-BAHT or shah-BAHT, Origin: Hebrew, the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
