What does the “Zombie Apocalypse” and today’s youth have in
common? My survival. Let me explain.
When I was young we didn’t have cell phones, computers in
our homes – much less laptops – or the internet. The idea of sitting and
reading a book on a personal device like a Kindle or Nook was pure science
fiction. We read actual books, rode our bicycles, played sand lot rules
football and generally made our fun where we could find it. On weekends we went
fishing or hunting with our fathers and learned to catch/kill, clean and cook
our food. We learned how to make things using tools and wood from our dads and
grand fathers, which was handy for building forts and tree houses. We learned
to fix things as they broke if we could.
Fast forward to 2013…
Today our children, and young adults, are walking around
with their heads buried in their electronic devices. Their world is largely
disposable. If it breaks, throw it out and buy a new one. They live on their
devices playing online games. Games like “Cops and Robbers” have been replaced
with Halo, Grand Theft Auto, or other such computer games. Coffee has been
replaced with cappuccino and latte and, for an ever growing number of them,
fish is something you buy at the fish market or get at Red Lobster. Going to the
lake is now about skiing, not fishing, and hunting is something hillbillies and
rednecks do. After all, for many of our youth, guns are evil…..at least that is
what they are hearing on the news. And tools for our 20 some things – and some
30 some things – consist of a lawn mower, crescent wrench, one or two screw
drivers, and a hammer.
The problem this creates, for them, is the inability to be
self sufficient. If it can’t be found online or purchased in a store they are
lost. How can they be expected to change the water pump on their own car when
many of them don’t even know how to change a tire? What would happen if, like
in a recent TV show, the power simultaneously went out all over the world?
Well, I know how to fish, I can hunt and while I don’t have the greenest thumb
I can grow food. And, as I am not married to my smart phone – I don’t even have
a smart phone – and I know how to read and use tools, I’m pretty sure I can
keep my home dry on the inside. But what of the modern youth? Well, I guess they
will have a problem.
If a zombie apocalypse ever does happen I will seek out
others like myself (and I know several) with whom I can commune. We will become
a community among ourselves; able to take care of our needs. And the modern
youth will seek us out hoping we will take them in. The problem they will have
is convincing us we should accept them. Questions will be raised such as, “What
can you contribute?”. Oh, you can fix computers? That’s wonderful, but you
understand there is no power and therefore none of them are working? Do you
know how to clean fish? Do you know how to trim deer? Can you cook? Can you put
a new roof on a house? Can you build a fire without a gas hook up? Well if
nothing else I can teach you to shoot and you can help guard the perimeter.
That is of course if you are willing to learn how to safely handle and use a
gun.
What does that have to do with my survival? Well, looking at
the zombie issue, they will go where the food is. That means densely populated
areas, like cities. I can assure you I will NOT be in the city. So if you are a
member of the modern youth you will have to get out of the city to get to me.
And if you have no survival skills of your own…… It saddens me to think that so
many things we learned growing up in my generation are not being learned today.
But, at the same time, the fact that a large number of these folks will end up
being zombie food just gives me more time to prepare and make ready for the
time they do find me and my group.
My thinking here is quite simple. If you are one of the
“modern youth”, put down the iPad and pick up a book. Step away from the
computer and go fishing. If you don’t know how, find someone to teach you. The
next time you need a faucet replaced don’t call a plumber; go to your local
home improvement store and buy one and replace it yourself. If you don’t know
how, find someone to teach you. Or pick up a DIY book on home repair. Learn to
do for yourself as much as you can and don’t be afraid of getting your hands
dirty. Learn to change a flat tire and your own oil. And maybe, just maybe, if
we can get enough people thinking again and learning how to do things for
themselves again we might be able to avoid a zombie apocalypse. With more
people knowing how to survive there would be fewer zombies to overcome.
Or maybe you like the thought of becoming a zombie? That is all; carry on.
