The Numb Generation...12/29/99

Immediately after the Columbine shooting, I reprinted "'Millennium
Children' & their 'End-Times' Counterparts", which first appeared the
previous Spring in e-digest "Earth-Changes Weekly". This reprint garnered
emails, many from worried parents, so I felt it necessary to write a
followup piece that showed that both "Millies" and "End-Timers" were only
smaller sub-groups in what I've dubbed today's youth, the "Numb
Generation". Herein is that new piece "A Numb Generation", followed by the
original "Mill. Vs. End-Time" article (which, if not familiar with, read
first, then scroll back to "Numb...") Lastly, a CDC report of school
violence concludes this ECWeekly 'special report'.

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A 'Numb Generation' - The Whys & Why-Nots of so-called Generation Y

*An Overview of Generations Past & Present*

by Peter Petrisko (ptp@primenet.com)

The 'Beat Generation' was beaten before the current one was born. It
drowned in its own blood in the Fall of '69, among the twilight comforts
of a stiff drink and the quiet seclusion afforded by a mother's arms.

The 'Love Generation' loved life, loved love, left love, and left the Left
behind. From levitating the Pentagon and raising social awareness to
innocently singing and chanting its way into the faceless boardrooms of
America. Trading its Woodstock for corporate stock. Selling its peace of
mind for a piece of the profit.

The 'Blank Generation' snarled, "No future!" as a whole, following through
individually by overdosing or reluctantly settling into the nine-to-five
routine, complete with generic spouse and twenty-year mortgage.
For 'Generation X', alienation became a fashion statement. Dressing in
black. Wearing peace symbols crafted into earrings, necklaces, and other
accessories. Saying "anarchy" enough times to effectively turn the
philosophy into just another meaningless pop culture buzzword. Pretending
the word "alternative" in alternative music wasn't just a shorter way to
say, "another preprogrammed Top-40 format." Never taking up the slack,
thinking those before them had already done so.

Now comes the latest generation, alphabetically dubbed 'Y' by
grammatically challenged media-types. But neither 'Y' nor mere echoes of
those who went 'boom' before them - and here's why not. Actions speak
louder than words - or letters - so it is only fitting that the youth of
today be called the "Numb Generation". Viewing the world by remote,
forgetting somebody else put the batteries in the remote control. Doing
deeds as seen on TV, just to know "what it feels like". Whether it be
stealing a candy bar from the local store or shooting down a classmate in
cold blood. Ironically, then feeling nothing - neither the high of
excitement nor the lows of depression or remorse. Dressing in a
cross-cultural mix of oversized clothes, aesthetically turning the old
phrase, "It's no longer a black or white world" on its ear. They're tuning
out, logging in, dropping dead. Theirs is a self-medicated generation.
Theirs is a government regulated generation. Theirs is an over-stimulated
generation. Theirs is a computer simulated generation. Theirs is a numb
generation whose rallying cry is, "I don't care!"

-30-

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REPRINT:

'Millennium Children' And Their 'End Times' Counterparts

by Peter Petrisko (ptp@primenet.com)

Within the last decade or so, a growing number of children have been born
that appear to be more intuitive and more creative than older generations
were at that age, take to computers like a fish takes to water, have a
natural understanding of technology in general that can border on the
uncanny and, in some cases, may be natural healers. An understanding of
the spiritual beyond their years and a matter-of-fact attitude toward the
paranormal are often attributed to these youngsters.

These bright and gifted youngsters were dubbed "Millennium Children" in
the book of the same name by Caryl Dennis and Parker Whitman, published
in 1998.

However, as with many things, there is the other side of the same coin, a
yin to the extraordinary yang of these "Millennium Children", not yet
discussed in books or New Age circles.

These others are the "End-Times Children", living amongst us, just as
their inspiring counterparts do, and also making their presence known in
extraordinary ways. In towns like Pearl, Mississippi; Jonesboro, Arkansas;
Springfield, Oregon; and perhaps most notably, in Colorado's Columbine
High School.

Whereas "Millennium Children" represent humankind's best, its hope at the
turn of the century, the "End-Times Children" are the embodiment of our
fears, our uncertainties, as we face both a spiritual and historical
turning point. Two parts of a larger "Numb Generation".

As with their millennial counterparts, "End-timers" are, for the most
part, quite intelligent and creative. They, too, have a natural
understanding of technology. But it's the technology of destruction - such
as bombs, firearms or other weapons - that interests them. Or an uncanny
ability to manipulate, and destroy, technology - like in the case of a
gifted hacker who breaks into official files, wantonly wreaking havoc.
They appear to lack the intuitive compassion of their opposites, instead
focusing inward, their feelings short-circuited or merely keep tightly
underwraps until the day it bursts forth in an unstoppable rage. After
which, they become numb once again, stoic, blankfaced, and unable to
explain - and perhaps even comprehend - why they did what they did.

While some are quick to blame the usual boogeymen - TV violence,
sports, lack of parental discipline or involvement - these alleged
"triggers" seemingly have to be shoehorned in when it comes to many of
these, and less extreme, cases.

In many cases, it is revealed the parents were fair and supportive.
That sports and TV weren't big interests. The usual suspects don't ring
true.

Perhaps because they are no more than superficial flotsam, obscuring the
truth.

If a schism has occurred, that is spiritual in nature and may even be
evolutionary in scope, giving us the enlightened "Millennium Children", it
goes without saying that quite the opposite could just as easily occur.

And, if a cosmic balance is to remain, the opposite must be true.

Both once removed from the older generations, both not easily understood
nor accepted. One, natural healers - whether it be on a spiritual or, in
some cases, physical level. The other, bringing emotional or spiritual
pain to those they touch and, in some cases, being natural killers.

These are the two paths to our future.

These are our children.

(REPRINTED 12/29/99, first published in Spring '98 in "Earth-Changes
Weekly")

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[] C.D.C. REPORTS MULTIPLE VICTIM SCHOOL VIOLENCE RISING

Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in
Atlanta on Wednesday, one day after 15 people were killed by gunmen at a
school in Denver, show that the number of violent events at US schools
involving multiple victims appears to have increased between 1995 and
1998.

"During the past three school years, August 1995 through June 1998, there
were an average of five multiple victim events per year. This is compared
to an average of one multiple victim event per year in the three years
from August 1992 through July 1995," according to a CDC statement.

But it is premature to label any one factor as responsible for the rise in
multiple victim homicides at schools, Dr. Rodney Hammond of the CDC's
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control told Reuters Health.

"I would be hesitant to name any one factor, because although many have
been suggested in the general public discourse, I'm afraid if we don't
take the time to look at this very carefully and closely compare it to
others we have seen over the last three years, we could make the mistake
of oversimplifying this issue," Hammond said. (Reuters, Apr. 21 1999)