An Elephant in the Room?

I'm posting this with a certain amount of trepidation. I'm hesitant about airing potential laundry in public but, from what I've been seeing, it's already out on the clothesline. I'm talking about the Young Greens of Canada's new slogan: "Your parents f*cked up the planet."

The blogosphere isn't completely exploding over this but there is certainly some commentary out there and much of it is, predictably, negative.

Mark Kersten posted a point by point criticism of the slogan:

"Updated: Young Greens Slogan: “Your Parents F*cked Up the Planet” – An Unnecessary Conversation Ender"

Mark took issue with the slogan on its abrasiveness, its divisiveness, its unfairness and its counterproductiveness.

Chris Rapson, co-chair of the Young Greens, responded to Mark's criticism. Several more people, including me, commented, as well. I'm recapping some of my own comment here but I encourage readers to go to Kersten's Kolumn and read and/or participate.

Camille Labchuk also blogged on the YGC's new website and slogan:

"Young Greens website makes waves"

Dave Bagler posted two items:

"Angry Conservative Tools"

"Real Outrage"

Saskatchewan rightwing blog Small Dead Animals garnered over 80 vitriolic comments:

Elizabeth May Is F*cking Up Your Kid

My Google News Alert for "Elizabeth May" delivered up this one from Thunder Bay:

Green Leader Leader Elizabeth May F*cks Up

So, did the YGC f*ck up? Elizabeth? The Official Agent for the Green Party of Canada? Anyone?

As I said in my comment at Mark Kersten's blog, I find the slogan to be quite divisive. I'm a grumpy old fart, though, so maybe I'm off base. I came here to the main GPC blogs thinking there would likely be some discussion of this issue but there wasn't so I'm attempting to see what others think.

My biggest problems with the slogan are the divisiveness and the generalized blame of an entire demographic. Even though I am mildly offended by the colourful language, I accept that as edgy and apparently attractive to youth. No big deal. It's the message that bothers me.

The reference to the elephant in the room applies not just to the lack of discussion here on the main party blogs. The newly redesigned GPC site (kudos for new look, btw) has no link to the new YGC site. At least, none that I can find. I could be mistaken but I think the old site included some prominent links to the Young Greens' site.

There's already a clear attempt to use the new YGC slogan against Elizabeth May. The fact that the YGC site carries the endorsement of the Official Agent for the GPC legitimizes this criticism, whether Elizabeth had anything to do with the slogan or not. The Thunder Bay piece and several of the Small Dead commenters actually blame Elizabeth herself for dreaming up the slogan.

We're all wearing the slogan and I, for one, am uncomfortable with it.

There's no denying that every generation since the beginning of the industrial age has contributed to the demise of the planet. My parents' generation invented nuclear warfare. My grandparents' generation invented coal-fired electricity generation and the automobile. My own generation is hardly blameless, either.

Yet, each generation has had its bright spots. My generation founded the Green Party of Canada and Greenpeace. We invented eco-activism and we mobilized by the hundreds of thousands to stop the Vietnam War. Many of us embraced green living and green politics. Many of us have built our entire lives around progressive, earth-friendly values.

Previous generations founded the Sierra Club, National Geographic Society, Audubon Society and a host of other green and progressive organizations.

Pitting youth against their parents (or their parents' entire generation) may be one way of attracting attention and recruiting some YGC members. I'm open to being convinced otherwise but at this point, I think it's going to bite us all in our collective asses and do far more harm than good.

In the irony department, the YGC's action item on donations carries the following advice: "ask your parents and relatives."