2008 Woodie Awards
Will class ever be a part of our culture?
Jonathan Pearson
Issue date: 1/23/06 Section: Culture
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Some of us are innately born with it, others are brought up well by it and the rest don't have the slightest clue how it pertains to them.
I was in Dallas about a month ago watching the annual Christmas pageant my brother choreographs at our former church. This production is bigger than life with all the animals, costumes, choir and full orchestra. The church goes out of its way to put as much into it each year, and each year I'm amazed how they top the previous years' performances.
Suddenly, halfway through the performance, I start looking around at all the young adults my age, most of which I grew up with, and realize I'm the only one wearing a suit and tie.
My brother loves to point out that I'm a dork, nerd, what have you, but I have this long-standing rule that if there is an orchestra performing, you wear a suit and a tie, no matter what. If the ensemble is getting dressed up to play for my enjoyment, the least I can do is meet them halfway, right?
Maybe I appreciate all the hard work the musicians put into it because I am one myself. Or my brother could be right-who knows?
I sometimes feel I am the only person in my generation who cares to act like an adult or at least remembers to send my friends and family Christmas cards every year just like my grandparents do. Is it such a crime to follow tradition and do something nice?
Too often I see young people getting cell phones at 10, worrying about looking too fat at 13 and being either married or pregnant at 17.
The list doesn't stop there.
Unfortunately, this is our culture. We're all trying to keep a youthful appearance and refusing to act our age. We're trying to grow up too fast or regress to our childhoods.
Our society is obsessed with staying as young as possible, either with Botox or other forms of cosmetic surgery. Years ago, 50 was "old," then 40 was "over the hill," and now, once you hit 30, you're "too old" to have kids and begin your "mid-life crisis."
I turn 20 this fall. Does this mean I have only 10 more years before I'm checking into the retirement home and driving a Buick?
Or better yet, I'll be sore with restless leg syndrome, overactive bladder and senility, and possibly using Viagra. Let's hope not.
I've been persecuted for having too much class. "Stop trying to act like the adult all the time" or "just enjoy being a kid." If I hear that one more time, I'm sure to explode.
Instead of trying to recapture our youth, why don't we allow ourselves to mature and enjoy today instead of worrying about tomorrow? My definition of class doesn't constitute best-dressed or most well-read, but pushing through barriers that society imposes on us; barriers which constrict us to be something that we're not.
Look around: we're always pretending to be something else.
Are we ever going to get it right?
jpearson@unews.com
