How does the writer like to treat young people? People are always talking about ‘the problem of youth’. If there is one – which I take leave to doubt – then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings – people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a splendid future behind him: and maybe that is where the rub is. When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain – that I was a new boy in a huge school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity, and that is one of the things the young are busily engaged in seeking.
I find young people exciting. They have an air of freedom, and they do not have a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort. They are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to material things. All this seems to me to link them with life, and the origins of things. It’s as if they were, in some sense, cosmic beings in violent and lovely contrast with us suburban creatures. All that is in my mind when I meet a young person. He may be conceited, ill-mannered, presumptuous or fatuous, but I do not turn for protection to dreary cliches about respect of elders – as if mere age were a reason for respect. I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with him, as an equal, if I think he is wrong.
From Out of the Air in The Listener by Fielden Hughes
Glossary
after all- used to say that something must be remembered or considered, because it helps to explain what you have just said
air- if someone or something has an air of confidence, mystery, etc., they seem confident, mysterious, etc.
ambition- a strong desire to achieve something
cliche- an idea or phrase that has been used so much that is not effective or does not have any meaning any longer
commitment- a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way
conceited- if you are conceited, you think that you are very clever, skilful, beautiful, etc.
devotion- the loyalty that you show towards a person, job, etc.
dreary- dull and making you feel sad and bored
engaged in- busy doing
fatuous- very silly and stupid; idiotic
fundamentals- the most important ideas, rules, etc. that something is based on
glorious- very beautiful or impressive; having or deserving fame, praise, and honour
ill-mannered- not polite and behaving badly in social situations
mere- used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is
presumptuous- doing something that you have no right to do and that seems rude
seek- to try to achieve or get something
social climber- someone who tries to get accepted int a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class
splendid- beautiful and impressive; magnificent
take leave- as for permission
the rub- the problem that is the reason why a situation is so difficult
Collocations
take leave to doubt
get down to fundamentals
difference between A and B
a glorious future
a splendid future
where the rub is
be pleased to be regarded as
be given a certain identity
be busily engaged in
find someone exciting
have an air of freedom
have a commitment to
a dreary commitment to
mean ambitions
love of comfort
anxious social climbers
have no devotion to
link A with B
in some sense
in (violent/lovely) contrast with
suburban creatures
turn to someone or something for protection
dreary cliches about
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