The two Jack Russells were strutting their stuff on the sidewalk - one in purple and the other in a pink polka dot blanket. The yipping began when they spotted Buddy, nose immersed in a snow bank hoping for a sniff of, well, anything. You'd thought they were 100 pounds of Rottweiler or Pit Bull. But no, just two scrawny wannabees disturbing the peace. But Bud doesn't return barks, just tail wags and strong interest. At five years old he's content to observe but not lead. Yet its clear that the young dogs rule the walk and the field. Old dogs just fade away. Not much different than society.
Young dogs ruled when Obama became president and when Mubarek became the un-president. The future of everything belongs to youth. And why not? That which they want will be that which they will have to deal with. The Grammys - awards given to best new song, album and group are all about the now and the future. Oh yeah, Bob Dylan got two minutes to mumble something about the unfairness of society but was drowned out by Lady Gaga, Eminem and Justin Bieber - average age 19 - all singing about hoped-for relationships.
The most powerful force on Earth is neither gravity nor compound interest (sorry Albert Einstein). It's Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging, cell phones and IPads! Phone calls and letters are as obsolete as emails and barks. Folks past 40 don't get the significance of social networking. To them its cruising the crowd at a singles bar or the drive-inn hamburger joint. Real social networking is much more than sharing photos of little Ryan - precious as he is - but it is to declare winners and losers among world leaders, authors, designers, styles, videos, singers, chefs, restaurants, cars, gadgets and . . . . . . yes, friends.
The digital world is brutally cruel, yet honest. Survival of the fittest and, somewhere, Charles Darwin must be smiling. Yet it is also inherently fair. It is the future. Those who have denied the future are destined not to participate in it. Anyone who doubts and ignores this is destined to oblivion. It's not the Anti-Christ or even the devil. While the elders complain and object, young religious leaders deftly manipulate IPads with vastly more information than floppy Bibles every could. Followers, faithful or not, have access to daily inspiration for action: to organize, to follow, to oust, to install, to inspire, to buy, to sell to like and not to like.
It's information and . . . information is power. Those who transit in the dark and the depths will, eventually, be exposed like frauds on Wikipedia. This is also the power to devastate or at least de-friend. Friends on a bright sunny day become alien outcasts on another bright sunny day. You can't take it personally. In the world of telephones and letters, unfriending was, well, awkward and impolite. Today it's just business.
Whoever said that "youth is wasted on the young." was someone who wasted her youth and now wants to get in on the game. The game of youth is energy and passion and doing today what you won't and can't do tomorrow. To have the whole future of the world laying before you is like having your lover in your arms as you lay out your life together. Passion, love, commitment and singleness of purpose are vowed. While at once sacred and beautiful more often it becomes the path not taken. The vow not kept as the passion is doused with reality.
Yes, young dogs rule until the yet younger dogs appear. Those young dogs of today will be the sotten and defeated dogs of tomorrow. Dogs have the instincts to know when a new ruler comes on the scene. The pecking order of the pack is ... well . . . . . impeccable. There is little, if any, dissent. Yesterday's youth shuffle to the rear content to support the youthful leader. Why is it so hard for us? To dream events that seem impossible is to inspire the pack forward toward achievement. Yet, old dogs can neither create nor capture a vision of the future. This is best left to young dogs. After all, we trained them. What is there to fear?
Buddy and Friend (for now)
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