Where have all the heroes gone?

Our Generation...

This Generation...

Don't get me wrong, I am the first to respect good literature, but you have to see the difference a few years can make. The kids growing up today may turn out better than we did. Who knows I have just been noticing the differences between the people I looked up to and the people that today's adolescents idolize. I guess one of the most glaring differences that I have seen lately was when I walked into subway to get the usual (i came here to be healthy, but damn that chicken breast, pepperoni, cheese, and bacon looks so much better without vegetables). Everyone knows Jared. He has been the face of one of the most successful advertising campaigns in recent history, and I must admit he makes me want to eat a sandwich. Now think back a few years. When I was younger, what was the one thing that I wanted to eat. Slim Jim! Macho Man Randy Savage was the biggest badass on the planet and he made me think that if I ate that beef jerky I wouldn't be such a p****. Then Randy Savage was replaced by Carrot Top, Carrot Top got canned and got on steroids and now Jared is the face of food advertising. I don't really know where I am going with this post but times have changed. Have they changed for better or for worse. Now instead of camping outside of the Monroe Civic Center to get front row WCW Monday Night Nitro Tickets, kids are camping outside of Barnes and Noble to find out what new spells the Hogwarts are casting. The Ultimate Warrior and Sting v. Harry Potter and Brody Jenner? Zack Morris v. Spencer? The Hardy Boys v. Twilight? American Gladiator v. American Idol? Legends of the Hidden Temple v. Survivor? I choose the former in all of those.

I am not saying that kids will turn out like their childhood heroes. If that were the case, then I would shed the capris pants for tassles, steroids, and facepaint. But who you look up to goes a long way in your development. For many years I thought I was a badass and if anyone messed with me they would fall victim to the "figure 4" or the "lion tamer." That feeling set the stage for my life lessons of humilty after I found out that wrestling moves didn't work on real bullies and my best bet was to hide my head under the bleachers as the 16 yr old 6th grader whooped my overconfident tail. I am not sure what is going to happen to a kid when he tries to pull some hocus pocus shit on the class bully. Maybe he will learn the same lessons I did. I can't wait to see if the differences between generations actually turn into something. Our parents probably looked at the things we watched and did growing up and scoffed just as I am, but damn I sure would like to see a tag team battle between the Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) and the Freedom Fighters (Sting and The Ultimate Warrior) on TV instead of a reality TV show with a bunch of west coast trust fund babies.

You Choose....


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