I am grateful for the ongoing debate regarding the advertisement entitled “A Generation Lost?”. Not for exposing
discussion on the politics that may or may not have been used to present the issue. Not for the level of debate it has
caused. What it has made me realise is that New Zealand is a country presently gripped with low self-esteem – precious
about its past achievements, precious about any perceived failures. When issues arise we seem to search exhaustively for
the best way to punish ourselves and blame others.
There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that New Zealand faces issues needing resolution. There is nothing wrong with
examining the range of possible reasons for why those issues have arisen. New Zealand is a nation that has always had
and always will face social issues because we are a society made up of rich variety of individuals with a broad range of
backgrounds and life experiences. Why do we not simply seek improvement and progress, rather than constantly bitch about
the past or present? Why not accept that solutions to problems may not always exist either here or overseas and instead
require new innovative thinking? What we seem to be lacking is a sense of national direction, a maturity to accept
problems when they occur and a culture that encourages us to challenge failure and build on success.
Who I am I? – I am a New Zealander who needs to look long and hard at how I as an individual can make a difference and
change the current attitude.
From: Anon NZ