One of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Henry Rollins: Young People.
There’s no better time than now to have a moral and civic backbone, to have a moral and civic true north—this is a tremendous opportunity for you to be heroic. Morally-upstanding. Helpful. Almost boy scout-like. Presidential. Altruistic.
You must never lower yourself to be a person you don’t like.
Not a trustafarian? We’ll get stronger climbing up than riding in the ski lift.
This video covers it all, for me. As a poor child, with a valiant hard-working much-loving single momma, I wish I’d seen this many years ago.
I’ve still never traveled. I never skiied, as a boy, because we couldn’t afford it and couldn’t afford an injury. But I got good grades ’cause my mom cared enough about my education to transfer me not once, not twice, but three times to schools with teachers worthy her cherished son. She taught me I was intelligent, and to expect much of myself.
So I argued with teachers when I got an A-, and more often than not, nerd that I was, I proved myself right. I went to a good school, one of the best for journalism in the US, and I worked the whole while. I got out of college and worked. Nowadays, with twitter and facebook and blogging, my intended career path—writing for a living—is almost too easy.
This is an entrepreneurial age. A whole generation, empowered by laptops—what Steve Jobs called a bicycle for the mind—is able to walk out the door and leave the cubicles behind, and leave the sitcom-watching get-fat and settle life along with it.
Monastic obsession, as Henry Rollins puts it, above. Find what you love. Follow your bliss…with an almost monastic focus.
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PS: elephant turns ten in June.
> Another of my favorite videos ever, along a similar theme.
> Another bonus, via Henry Rollins:
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Henry Rollins – Young Person Video notes:
This video is not meant to promote any particular political view. All material is cited below.
Visit www.bigthink.com or their YouTube channel for interviews from today’s top minds in philosophy, science, and more.
Narration:
Henry Rollins’ Letter to a Young American – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbnFJVgBcw0Henry Rollins’ Letter to a Young American (Part 2) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdHAtvlpeRs&feature=plcp
Music
Apparat – Sweet Unrest
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-devils-walk/id459432273Video:
Time Lapse School – Test – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKpylHCcD2AOr Yarok – Road Safety Commercial. Empty School. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLDdkR6PT4
Snow Falling at Night 1080P HD Kodak Zi8 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7TMlfBHCK0
Fraud Bernie Madoff Pushed by Photographer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jESY1YReUrQ
London Riots Motorcycle Jacked – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttdGHwrF8GI
Savage beating, robbery caught on tape – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rEl8fpMVEI&feature=plcp
LONDON RIOTS: Horrific scenes the media didn’t show last night! – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed0QJJL9sYQ&feature=related
HDR Time Lapse – Sunset Over Train Tracks – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45BYfiCPkBw
Running on Empty – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OouOM3ChmIY
Nice long cirrus clouds passing timelapse HD V08896 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udzp3ZDbCww
GOD HATES FAGS!!! – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEQuW2v6U2o
AP Top Stories – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkCvgcbU3Ik&feature=plcp
Norway Killer Tells Court He’d Do It Again – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp5wJZeTBfI&feature=plcp
The Early Show – Teen bullying victim dead in apparent suicide – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SePNW5nlC4M&feature=plcp
Security an Issue As Somalia Aid Ramps Up – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrmC6gFiSCc&feature=relmfu
Muslim Woman Beaten to Death in Possible Hate Crime (California) – She Died on March 24th 2012 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrnMYg62boM
Vancouver Riots – Man Attempting to Stop Looters Gets Beaten – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7dcgcdWVBI
Massive Dust Storm July 18, 2011…. 2 angles – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPxmnTwNHIw
Time lapse Dandelion flower to seed head – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ_QqtXoyQw
HD Autumn Scene – Clouds Passing Over a Golden Mountain – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZqbS8W9wc0
Arn (7 years 9 months) practising cello – May 2010 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Za9-cV6IU
Ballet Pointe Shoe Practice – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uegAeHlG22w
Columbus State Community College Autumn Graduation 2010 HD Version – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUMR5Iy7sgo
Security checks anger Arizona Latinos – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqVopgJgRw
beautiful nature scenery 2 (1080p HD) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtZ4uvaeK68
Muhammad Ali training for his rematch against Joe Frazier – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_rt2iM9NSI
Albert Einstein (01) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-1Z2wi2uSA
Salvador Dali – Mike Wallace interview 1958 – Part 1/2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhyHlKHIeZY
Frank Lloyd Wright – War and Religion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ZHOnmZ7T0
Franklin Roosevelt – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJyCAkKUOWE
Into the Universe With Stephen Hawking -Season 1 Full – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GcmbFb8afQ
Carl Sagan 1981 Saturn Interview Part 1/2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEYJoTSnolY
Waiting for “Superman” – http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Superman-Geoffrey-Canada/dp/B003Q6D28C
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All copyrighted materials contained herein belong to their respective copyright holders, I do not claim ownership over any of these materials. I realize no profit, monetary or otherwise, from the exhibition of these videos.
~
More:
“You’ll find in your life that sometimes your great ambitions will be momentarily stymied, thwarted, marginalized by those who were perhaps luckier; come from money; had more doors opened; where college was a given, not a student loan; it was something that dad paid for; where an ease and confidence in life was almost a birthright. Where for you, it was a very hard climb. … That happens all the time.
Just because you come from nothing, you must not let that be something that holds you back.”
Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Or do you want to write for Elephant?
Waylon Lewis, founder of elephant magazine, now elephantjournal.com & host of Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis, is a 1st generation American Buddhist “Dharma Brat." Voted #1 in U.S. on twitter for #green two years running, Changemaker & Eco Ambassador by Treehugger, Green Hero by Discovery’s Planet Green, Best (!) Shameless Self-Promoter at Westword's Web Awards, Prominent Buddhist by Shambhala Sun, & 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness 2011 by "Greatist", Waylon is a mediocre climber, lazy yogi, 365-day bicycle commuter & best friend to Redford (his rescue hound). His aim: to bring the good news re: "the mindful life" beyond the choir & to all those who didn't know they gave a care. elephantjournal.com | facebook.com/elephantjournal | twitter.com/elephantjournal | facebook.com/waylonhlewis | twitter.com/waylonlewis | Google+ For more: publisherelephantjournalcom
Truly wonderful post. Love it.
Work and love is what it's all about – Life. Love, and work.
Thank you Waylon.
time. time we spend with those we love . . . time we spend with those who love us . . . and the contributions we make to others without expecting something in return. these are the only two things that matter. at any age. work or no work. period.
I'm young, but not so young as those to whom this is addressed.
I feel blessed to follow my dream — with a monastic obsession for sure. I spent several hours in the offices today — hours that I didn't need to spend just because I like being there. Weird, I know. My son was there, too, and my husband, and several practitioners and over 50 clients today. Just beautiful to watch this grow, to cultivate it like a little garden.
But, over the last few days, my younger friends have really struggled. They are so driven, so fresh faced, and so hopeful. They work so hard. They try. And they are good. They are just so very, very good.
I want everything for them. They deserve a good life. They deserve to have a place to make their way. Times are tougher for them than they were for us — for those of us who entered the work force in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
Every day, I think about how I can help them. What can I do to help them? How can I aid them in their process of making the world that they dream of creating?
Because, you know, it's going to be a damn good world.
Yes! This is one to watch weekly and send to friends who are pursuing their dream. I'm not that young either, but digging in, single-mindedly to do what I love. Thanks for this!
How inspirational that this kind of information is available for our young people! It is presented in such a way that hearts will be opened and lives both young and old will be changed! With much gratitude Wendy Bottrell
Poignant words to kickstart a young life, and amp us older folk up a bit =P Much love for this and Mr. Rollins <3 Way to BE it, and preach it, Waylon Lewis.
Inspiring just wish you had some images of famous women in there somewhere…
Amen! The editor of the video is not Henry Rollins: we could list many amazing amazing women who follow their bliss in service of the greater good. Who comes to mind, for you? Let's list a few! I'd say off the top of my head
Ann Cooper
Alice Waters
Eleanor Roosevelt
Jane Goodall
Esperanza Spalding
Beryl Markum
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Vanessa Redgrave
Nina Simone
Gloria Steinem
(this would be endless)
This video may be inspirational to many but as a child of a man who did very well for himself I felt that this video knocked me for simply being fortunate. My father came from nothing and worked very hard so that I didn’t have to pay for college. I understand where that money came from. Just because I was purely lucky to be born to loving parents that made sure they could provide for their children doesn’t make me any less appreciative of my college education. I very much realize I had it much easier than others but that doesn’t make me a bad person!
Amen. Many of my good friends, growing up, were well-off and have done amazing things with their life. As you say, it's all about appreciation. On the other hand, I know many trustafarians who drift…who don't have the direction or motivation that rent and reality can force upon would-be wayward youth (like yours truly). ~ Waylon
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I agree with Amanda. I like parts of the video, but I feel like there is a divisive quality to it. Rollins seems to be influencing the kids who are of lower-economic status feel resentful toward the kids who are middle class, or the middle class kids resentful of the kids who are upper class. He's always had a huge chip on his shoulder about economic class. Someone could just as easily make a video with the same rhetoric, except about race. In that video, Rollins would be one of the white people who has it easier in our society. We all have good and bad cards dealt to us. It's the human condition. Money doesn't make you happy… contentment does. I've known rich people who were anything but happy or content.
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