I've heard it called many names
It's called The Divide, the Rift
The 'Generation Conflict'
It's the new Cold War
A war whose victims are often labeled as initiators
A war whose victims' pain is often dismissed as tantrums
I've seen the damage that's being done
And became convinced it's time
Someone said 'Enough is enough'
Whatever happened to 'Lead by Example?'
Or maybe it's because you do?
You wonder why your boys walk around with colts
When they grow up watching Boyz N the Hood
And violence is glamorized by Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood, Hillywood and a few other "Woods"?
You wonder how they got to rehab when you were never around
And the only 'real talk' they got
Was with their homies, smoking pot
Should you call your kids sluts
When you've legalized pornography?
When you teach them 'safe sex'
And cast aside chastity
And the pride in virginity?
Should you blame your daughters
For their early pregnancy when you've made sure
They can go for abortion
Or give the child up for adoption?
Would you sit back and consider for a moment
That maybe, just maybe, you've been doing things wrong?
Would you come down from your high places
And realize we're not that different
That this conflict's been going on for ages
And you were once part of it
Coz I'm pretty sure your parents weren't fans
Of the moonwalk
I'm sure they didn't appreciate you buying
That Walkman
And I'll bet my lunch they wished
They'd killed the nigga who got the guts
To create disco.
So again
Would you come down from your high places
And realize we're not that different
Coz if you look more closely, Y'all didn't turn out fine.
You too got drunkards and crack addicts
You too got criminals and gang members
Isn't it high time you changed the strategy
And adopted one that guarantees synergy?
How about you educate and not just teach us
How about you mentor and not just preach us
How about you guide and not just command us
How about, instead of frowning on us
For not reaching up as high as you,
You come down and show us how?
Dear Elders,
Please understand I address myself to you
Not as the typical angry millennial
Looking to undermine your authority
But simply as someone who believes
That even the best of us sometimes
Need to be reminded of how best
To do things
Yours truly,