An old curmudgeon I know is always going on about "these kids today." They don't have any respect, they don't have any work ethic, all they care about is the latest gadget, their language is filthy ... whatever. We've had a long-running argument because I think differently. I'm constantly impressed by what young people are accomplishing, what they are saying, what they are thinking ... by who they are. Not that there aren't a few bad apples, but there always are anyway.
My faith in young people was reinforced in a mighty way Tuesday when I went to the Community High School here in Brattleboro to catch a workshop by M.U.G.A.B.E.E. — Carlton and Maurice Turner — with the students there. Things were going on well enough, the Turners' messages of love, harmony, empowerment and personal responsibility were going over well, and then they blew it, or so I thought.
The Turners stopped their program of music and message and asked the students to do a writing exercise. I thought they were nuts. Here we were, hanging out outside, basking in the glorious sun, chilling to some music and you want us to do WHAT? A writing exercise?
As it turned out, the students rose to the challenge beautifully, spinning in 10 minutes some truly beautiful, eloquent thoughts about themselves that came straight from the heart.
Some of those thoughts will be published on the Click page of Thursday's Ovation section of the Brattleboro Reformer.
I was really impressed. It's a testament to the Turner brothers who have a gift for moving people in gentle but powerful ways. But mostly it's a testament to a group of kids who probably have all felt at one time or another that nobody cares about them, who have made mistakes and who have felt marginalized and disrespected. They have responded by becoming stronger and more beautiful. My world was rocked.