~ Israel, apparently (the platoon) ~

I think it's a combination of two things: one the internet has surfaced, blossomed, exploded and fire-worked, since I was a teenager in high school. Two, I've simply ahem, aged. The result: stumbling upon some pretty amazing teenagers who express themselves in extremely creative and articulate ways. Awesome kids have existed forever, but growing up, the seclusion of my small town didn't necessarily foster that kind of voice - that I am aware. Nor did we have the chance to explore kid's activities in Japan, or Israel or England because the window of internet wasn't yet prominent.  Nor was there a place to foster ideas through blogs, music sharing etc... not to mention the access to Al Jeezera English. Old thoughts by now, but still something to think about...

And this has nothing to do with plants, ps.

Last night, I read a letter to the editor of Good magazine, by an 18 year-old, who simply nailed in 100 words or less, the state of our generation's distress in relation to the big question: So, what do you want to do? 

Dear GOOD,

I am an 18-year-old high school graduate who was accepted to several top-rated universities Instead, I decided to move to Israel and enlist in the Israeli Army (though I have no Israeli ancestry and don't even speak Hebrew). Why? Because I was so disheartened by the prospect of completing a degree or several degrees and then working at McDonald's. I am quite disappointed that my attitude toward work isn't in line with what GOOD is projecting in the Work issue.

Much of the Work Issue suggests that we find work that matches out interests, pays us well, and makes us happy. While this is a great dream, might it not be more important to find work that makes us step out of our comfort zone, pays enough to support us, and makes us happy to go to bed each evening, tired? I think it is the downfall of America that we are raised to believe that we are also owed. Why don't more Americans pursue a skill in addition to an education? What is so bad about getting your hands dirty? Where is the harm in doing something that you don't particularly enjoy so that you can make ends meet? Of doing something that you do enjoy instead of being pressured to get a liber-arts degree that you cannot use? America is one of very few countries where this sort of talk is heard. And we, the socially aware, who perceive ourselves as the world-changers and philanthropists, don't even find ourselves a little bit spoiled?

Tomorrow, I am going to wake up at 4:30 in the morning to clean a bathroom. the toilets will be overflowing and mud will be caked on the walls. I don't think anyone wants to clean bathrooms, but I do what I have to do so that my platoon can eat breakfast on time. What is to terrible about doing work that means that I will eat breakfast on time?

Elyse Weissberger

Kibbutz Kinneret, Israel

(previously from Los Angeles, California