In 1964, psychologist Yang Kuo-chu did a survey of university students in Taiwan. Do you know what he found? At that time, the most desirable lifestyle for university students involved: (a) fitting in to social norms and upholding positive traditions; (b) self-control, self-cultivation, and a friendly attitude toward others; and (c) combining action, enjoyment, and dreams appropriately under the principles of moderation and tolerance. As for the least desirable lifestyle, they rejected a life of egocentric freewheeling pleasure without regard for the opinions of others or of society.
Digging that survey out of an old box after 40 years, virtually anyone would find it funny. It is remarkable what an enormous gap there is between the young people of today and their parents' generation!
In a survey of the dreams of youth taken by Sinorama in December among 19 to 30-year-olds, nearly half (46.7%) included "live as I please, free and unrestrained" as one of their life dreams, far beyond the second most popular choice of "a happy family life" (29.8%) and the third of "a stable job" (26.6%).
In other words, the attractions of family and career lag far behind those of "living free and easy" for this generation of young people. The generation before them, people born in the 1950s and '60s, who now find themselves carrying heavy burdens and social pressures and are deeply worried about political and social developments in Taiwan, will certainly find themselves even more worried upon seeing these results. It seems that if the older group hopes the younger generation will be willing to become the main pillars of family and state by the time they turn 30, those hopes are going to be sorely disappointed.
Soochow University psychology professor Wang Chung-kwei offers a more upbeat interpretation of the results: They show that contemporary society is much wealthier than in the past, and most young people do not have to support their parents; most are also unwilling to lock themselves into marriage too early, so they have the necessary conditions-money, free time, single status-to enjoy freedom to pursue their dreams.
From still another angle, is the desire to live free not a kind of silent protest against the older generation? When young people see so many failed marriages and extramarital affairs among their elders, can they really be expected to aspire to wedded bliss? When they see so many "successful" people acting in unscrupulous and unprincipled ways, or when they see that the amount of effort required for success is so disproportionate to the rewards, naturally their passion for career success is cooled.
It is important to remember that Taiwan's economy has reached a plateau in recent years, and there are now few miracle success stories among young people. In addition, long life is no longer a novelty, and careers can start at 30 and peak in the mid-50s. With middle-aged people still working as hard as ever, if young people in their 20s are unwilling to accept the slow accumulation of skills in wait for the day when they will be able to show their stuff, naturally they will turn away and just chill out for a while.
It is said that it is dreams that make mankind great. With social structures imploding in the age of postmodernism, there are no longer any role models or moral standards to follow. Anyone who appears to be a great teacher or leader now is quickly undermined by competitors who find their weak points or who tar their images, and no one talks anymore about the need to "worry before others worry, and be happy only after others are happy," so that young people have no role models from whom to learn tolerance and a broader perspective. All they are left with is a kind of obscure anxiety and frustration. Young people are extremely satisfied with their own selves, but feel dissatisfied and powerless toward the larger political and economic environment. These feelings are all substantially reflected in our survey.
No generation is an island, and each inherits much from those that precede it. But perhaps every generation has its special dreams that arise out of its era, and other generations can only express understanding and respect. What's important is that after all a very high percentage of young people said in the survey that they are confident they can improve themselves and realize their personal dreams. If this self-confidence can be linked to somewhat more practical foundations, then the future looks bright.
By the time you read this, we will already be in the New Year. Looking to 2004, there will be elections for president and the parliament, and it will certainly be an unsettling year for Taiwanese society. We express our best wishes for the New Year and the hope that it will be a prosperous and peaceful one. We hope that the older generation will act to deserve the trust of the younger generation, will set them a good example, and will create for them a setting to which they can entrust their dreams.
