Young people in the 21st Century need to reevaluate their ethics; David McCullough is helping them understand that by explaining that they need to be honest with themselves and their reality. His scathing criticism of them and their culture, philosophies, and ideologies, is justified and insightful; teens in the United States allows special to become a meaningless term, prefers to win instead of achieving, and cares too much about superficial accomplishments instead of internal growth. McCullough makes a point throughout his speech to say that being special is not just given to you; teenagers are not special by default. In the speech, while he is explaining why young people should look forward to more than just being special or different, in …show more content…
They do not care if it is earned, or if they even did well; as long as there is something to brag about, it does not matter. Teens should take time to enjoy life to grow into mature, experienced individuals and actually go places and do things because that is what they enjoy, not because they think it will be another thing to brag about Youth fails to see what life is about; they need to understand, growing from failure is better than learning nothing from winning. McCullough, towards the end, emphasizes that “Generation Z” should not just experience life to brag about it, but to grow by saying, “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly… And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself.” (McCullough