A 20 year old high school dropout I know was talking to his mom the other day discussing the one class he would need to graduate. A simple credit that would allow him to attend college and somehow through education be a more productive adult citizen. A person who may make a bigger difference in the world someday. If nothing else he would have the opportunity to make more money and live a more comfortable life. His response was heartbreaking and somewhat predictable. Made me think a little. Why would a bright kid ask, “Whats The Use?”

Besides the pat answers of “lazy, unmotivated or too dumb” there are a lot of reasons I could come up with that would make the kids of today want to give up. I mean, look at the shit they are facing here. An illegal war in Iraq. Threats of more war in Iran. At least 2 of the front runners in the presidential race bowing up to the rest of the world with threats of nuking or somehow else destroying their nations. Promises from the Republicans to stay in Iraq at least 50 more years. Democratic candidates who are so sidetracked attacking each other that they can’t answer the important questions of how they would deal with the war and other problems that have been brought on by the present administration.

The fact that so far the DOD has a casualty list of at least 4058 US soldiers. The horror of knowing their peers who have lost life or limb in Iraq. The realization that the failed lying policies that our country used destroyed an entire nations infrastructure with no progress in rebuilding it. Knowing that at least a million are dead and even more millions have been displaced from their homes all in our name. The utter sense of hopelessness.

I guess that makes sense. If I were still that age I may feel the same.

Stumble it!