I have been feeling more than a little embarassed and guilty about having
inadvertently triggered a minor flare-up on the list with an ill-conceived
and off-handed comment about the "me" generation. I apologize to any whom
I may have offended with the comment. My intent was to express hope for the
future based on the behavior of the current student generation, not to cast
aspersions on those who have gone before. I really only wanted to point out
that Putnam's data and analysis do not take into consideration the hundreds
of thousands of students who are connecting with communities through campus
community service. This is new and I think quite exciting though, as Garry
Hesser points out, service by itself is not enough to guarantee a future of
civic-mindedness and caring.
I heartily concur that characterizing generations is misleading and
dangerous and regret having fallen into that simplistic trap.
Dr. Gary R. Miller
Office of the Chaplain
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042
610-250-5320
millerg@lafayette.edu
http://www.lafayette.edu/millerg/outreach.html
http://www.lafayette.edu/millerg/rellife.html
http://www.lafayette.edu/millerg/fyshome.html