http://digitalemerson.wsulibs.wsu.edu/exhibits/show/text/the-american-scholar
Dear
Scholars of the 21st Century:
It
has come to my attention recently that the scholars of this
generation are swimming in a sea of information composed by the
scholars of yesterday. We have accepted it as truth, stored it in our
minds as precious and at yet seem to have forgotten that it is our
job to not only remember that of our intellectual ancestors, but also
to build upon those words so that we may create the building blocks
for the scholars who choose to follow our words. It is useless to be
content with the work that was created for us instead of by us as our
generation is one of a kind and we must document it to the best of
our abilities. Why do we sit idly by while this catastrophe or that
alters our society?. The words of the past can not help us get
through these events, as they have happened to us, not them. When the
towers fell who did we have to turn to? The tragedy left us all
alone, there was no sense to be made out of it, no words of wisdom to
lead us out of the darkness. So, now it is our job to lead our
generation through these tragedies and to create art that represents
our lives so we may pass these tribulations and joys on for the next
group of scholars to learn from.
I
have often wondered why so many of us let our thoughts go unnoticed.
We become recluses in our own minds and assume that our inner
knowledge will
do
others no good. It is time to put an end to this meaningless
behavior. We must do all we can to contribute to the humanity we all
feed from. Now we must step away from our little circles of friends
and step out into the mainstream of humanity. The comments you spread
in private should be made available to the general public, so that we
all may feed upon the ideas of one and build onto them so the idea
is constructive rather than hidden away in the secret prison of one’s
own mind. Sometimes, it seems as if we have forgotten that we are
all, in one way or another, a part of the same being. The individual
is but a piece of the world and like the body if a piece does not do
it’s part then there is every chance the body can fail.
This
generation seems to have no concept of themselves, or the natural
world they are meant to thrive in. We spend most of our lives in a
hurry and rarely stop to think. Technology dictates our lives and our
thoughts. We all believe that with this gadget we can complete work
faster and with this one we can completely remove our self from
society. The real problem here is not the technology but the fact
that we engross ourselves in it and can not find the ability to step
away from the convenience. How many of us actually know ourselves or
have a grasp on the thoughts we possess without a gadget reminding
us? Rarely do we turn these machines off and take a look at the world
around and within us. Planet Earth is dying and here we are the
generation meant to solve the problem and we do not even take the
time to know ourselves!. A lot of pressure has been put upon us with
global warming, war and an economy that has left so many in need
so how are we to solve it when so many bad things have been said
about this generation? It is up to us to prove all those people who
see us as lazy and ungrateful wrong. We must learn to live without
the machines and step into the world that we originated. Mother
Nature has stood by us, provided for us and now it is up to us to
look deep into ourselves and our society to find a way to accomplish
that which will preserve life on this planet.
So,
here we are at a stand point. Do we continue living through the words
of fathers who have, without doubt, taught us incredible lessons or
do we tackle what has never been asked of a generation before? For
all of those who must look around them to see which of your fellow
human beings have considered and accepted the task: why do you not
look within yourself for the answer? It seems common to us to follow
what those around us do, but what I am saying now is to close your
eyes and find the answer within yourself, find your own reason, your
own intuition and take these gifts as your legacy for you, all of
you, are the future, the present and the past. This legacy within all
of us is no good if we hide it from one another. We do not need one
leader, for this has caused us problems in the past, but many leaders
all willing to remain open to his fellow man or woman so that we may
collaborate without fear and find a solution for the mess we have
been borne into.
My
fellow scholars, we are here to show our generation that there is
hope out of this catastrophe. With our soldiers dying abroad, or
returning home in an unfit mental state, it seems as if our
generation is ruined. Most of us have been
affected
in some way or another by the military actions that have occurred In
the past 8 years. Some of us are angered, others depressed, while
even others proud but despite our initial feeling we must bring our
people out of the rut we seem stuck in. The war will one day be over,
the economy will improve and the politics and hatred of today will
change, so it is our job to remind our peers that we have overcome
such afflictions before and that it is our turn to shine in this
world. We must seize the day and give to society all we have, for
today is dismal but tomorrow may brighten through our leadership.
Choose today, my scholarly peers, for the sooner we begin to step out
of this chaotic world and rediscover our natural selves the sooner we
may bring our fellow Americans back into the world in which they may
find a hopeful future. Go forth and find in yourself the ability to
bring your legacy out into the world, for today is ours.
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