TOPICS OF THE DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20718, 31 January 1939, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Prerogative of Youth “There is much written to-day from the unsympathetic point of view about the irresponsibility and egotism of youth,” says Dr. Henry Gow in his book, The Upland Path. We are told that youth is irreverent and self-absorbed, rebellious against restraint and determined to live on its own lines without regard to traditional principles. That criticism which youth, from age to age, passes on tile actual in comparison with the ideal, is a salutary one. We need not fear or deprecate this passionate impatience of those who see visions; the only criticism to be condemned is the criticism of those who have no vision, and that criticism more often comes from the middle-aged and old. To criticise the conventional morality, to criticise civilisation, to criticise the traditional God. to be rebels against the familiar, the commonplace, the established; this belongs to the nature of free youth in every age, and it is of great value to the age, if they have vision. It is well and right that youth should be severe with the poor achievements of the world, right that it should question everything, right- that it should stand on its own feet, right that it should deny much, if only it affirms something. There must be something that you care for, something you believe in.”