, Columnist
Gen Z Is Too Compliant to Achieve Greatness
Nations thrive when rebellion is based on curiosity and new ideas, and America's youth aren't living up to the challenge.
Wanted: More selfish, rebellious youth.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP
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The pandemic revealed many troubling trends that had been brewing for a long time without much notice. A big one is the curious lack of rebelliousness among young people.
University and high school years used to be a time to test boundaries and break rules. So when schools finally reopened with fairly Draconian Covid restrictions, I kept waiting for students to push back and rebel. After all, they are mostly vaccinated and face lower risk than older adults.