Comments on: TWIF (Part 4): The American Idol Syndrome http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/ reb•e•lu•tion (reb’el lu shen) n. a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture. Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:45:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Warren Smith http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-287435 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:00:42 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-287435 I agree that American teens need to be hard working and not to expect something for nothing. God wants us to work hard for Him. However, we have to keep in mind that in China, there are millions willing to work for pennies an hour, something that wont get you far here. So there is an advantage that working hard wont neccesarily overcome. Having kids who leave dangerous pollution for the world (already reaching our West coast) and who agree to abort any more than one child per family? No thanks, I'd rather have American Idol teens on welfare. I agree that American teens need to be hard working and not to expect something for nothing. God wants us to work hard for Him. However, we have to keep in mind that in China, there are millions willing to work for pennies an hour, something that wont get you far here. So there is an advantage that working hard wont neccesarily overcome. Having kids who leave dangerous pollution for the world (already reaching our West coast) and who agree to abort any more than one child per family? No thanks, I’d rather have American Idol teens on welfare.

]]> by: Logan Merkle http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-263292 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:49:12 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-263292 Hmm. What a great concept. I do think alot/most/all of this entitlement feeling is subconcious, becuase otherwise I think alot of American kids would have dealt with this problem. We present the idea as being a problem, but we forget to say that it is at a subconcious level. I say this from expirience...it was hard for me to realize some things and deal with them because I was not looking under my obvious thoughts, I was not looking at my feelings, where the problems were. P.S. I was at your Richardson Texas conference at Heights church today. GREAT JOB!! I love how you also stress the fact that gloary goes to GOD. Let GOD keep winning. Hmm. What a great concept. I do think alot/most/all of this entitlement feeling is subconcious, becuase otherwise I think alot of American kids would have dealt with this problem. We present the idea as being a problem, but we forget to say that it is at a subconcious level. I say this from expirience…it was hard for me to realize some things and deal with them because I was not looking under my obvious thoughts, I was not looking at my feelings, where the problems were.

P.S. I was at your Richardson Texas conference at Heights church today. GREAT JOB!! I love how you also stress the fact that gloary goes to GOD. Let GOD keep winning.

]]> by: KennyCrane http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-219820 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:36:58 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-219820 In general, I don't generally like sweeping generalizations. :p It may be true that there are many Americans who do feel entitled to benefits without paying costs. But I have seen many who also give freely of their time and talents to inform and entertain people all over the world through the free videosharing site, YouTube. They work hard to learn what it takes to make quality videos; I'd say they start running every day when the sun comes up. Another good thing about YouTube is that it is very easy to see how other people in other parts of the world live. If the Chinese youth are indeed more productive and do more work, it won't be long before that gets noticed. One might say that is already the case - several of the top channels on YouTube are produced by Orientals. In general, I don’t generally like sweeping generalizations. :p It may be true that there are many Americans who do feel entitled to benefits without paying costs. But I have seen many who also give freely of their time and talents to inform and entertain people all over the world through the free videosharing site, YouTube. They work hard to learn what it takes to make quality videos; I’d say they start running every day when the sun comes up. Another good thing about YouTube is that it is very easy to see how other people in other parts of the world live. If the Chinese youth are indeed more productive and do more work, it won’t be long before that gets noticed. One might say that is already the case - several of the top channels on YouTube are produced by Orientals.

]]> by: Carl http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-212818 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:00:42 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-212818 As a public school teacher, in a poor area, I do see one flaw with some of the comments here. Many of my students don't feel "entitled" to an education- they could care less about learning. They would rather play their video games, listen to their hip hop and rap, and bully others. They have no intyerest in learning- they are in trouble all the time, refuse to respect authority. All I can do is keep fighting- and praying. As a public school teacher, in a poor area, I do see one flaw with some of the comments here. Many of my students don’t feel “entitled” to an education- they could care less about learning. They would rather play their video games, listen to their hip hop and rap, and bully others. They have no intyerest in learning- they are in trouble all the time, refuse to respect authority. All I can do is keep fighting- and praying.

]]> by: Lifecourse Associates Forum http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-207689 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:06:46 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-207689 [...] The Rebelution is made up of three fundamental parts. We’ve talked about two of them: character and competence. The third one is collaboration. It’s not enough for us to be individual exceptions. It’s not enough for us to try to ignore the culture. We have to create a counter-culture. The way we do that is by networking, exhorting, and encouraging one another in the fight. By God’s grace, that’s what The Rebelution has become. And when you have a community of young people mutually committed to doing hard things in their teen years for the glory of God, that’s an incredibly powerful thing. [...] […] The Rebelution is made up of three fundamental parts. We’ve talked about two of them: character and competence. The third one is collaboration. It’s not enough for us to be individual exceptions. It’s not enough for us to try to ignore the culture. We have to create a counter-culture. The way we do that is by networking, exhorting, and encouraging one another in the fight. By God’s grace, that’s what The Rebelution has become. And when you have a community of young people mutually committed to doing hard things in their teen years for the glory of God, that’s an incredibly powerful thing. […]

]]> by: Josh Black http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-204663 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:59:50 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-204663 I love this post, cus I so agree with it except one little detail. I dislike your analogy of cruise control. Using the cruise control is what the average person is doing, they are coasting by on the hard work of the past. They arent pushing themselves to new distances, new heights. So, Id say that the problem with America is that we are just coasting. Every civilization has done it. England before America, France before England, Rome before France, Greece before Rome, Persian before Greece. Its all in the history books. People get to the top, and then they start to coast, because they are already at the top, why keep pushing? And then they get taken out by the newest kid on the block. I dont know if we cna break the cycle, but I sure am going to try. I love this post, cus I so agree with it except one little detail.

I dislike your analogy of cruise control. Using the cruise control is what the average person is doing, they are coasting by on the hard work of the past. They arent pushing themselves to new distances, new heights. So, Id say that the problem with America is that we are just coasting. Every civilization has done it. England before America, France before England, Rome before France, Greece before Rome, Persian before Greece. Its all in the history books. People get to the top, and then they start to coast, because they are already at the top, why keep pushing? And then they get taken out by the newest kid on the block. I dont know if we cna break the cycle, but I sure am going to try.

]]> by: Chloe Law-Davis http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-200132 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:27:33 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-200132 I have only been reading on your website for a few weeks, but I already love coming here to read about these things that I had't thought about very much. It's really amazing the difference in the American teen's to the Chinese teen's. I think the reason that the Chinese work is maybe because they havn't experienced all of the many privlegas that most American teen's have, and also because they have to work. I have only been reading on your website for a few weeks, but I already love coming here to read about these things that I had’t thought about very much. It’s really amazing the difference in the American teen’s to the Chinese teen’s. I think the reason that the Chinese work is maybe because they havn’t experienced all of the many privlegas that most American teen’s have, and also because they have to work.

]]> by: Kirsten Gruber http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-111321 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:22:46 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-111321 You are absolutely correct. The reason there are so many chinese teenagers making a difference is because they have a true desire to learn and do their best. American teenagers have so many opportunities they don't even realize they have. They think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter, and they get upset when it is not. And because of this, there are thousands of teenagers with hours of idle time sitting around the house doing nothing when they could be making a difference. Great post! you have a gift with words! You are absolutely correct. The reason there are so many chinese teenagers making a difference is because they have a true desire to learn and do their best. American teenagers have so many opportunities they don’t even realize they have. They think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter, and they get upset when it is not. And because of this, there are thousands of teenagers with hours of idle time sitting around the house doing nothing when they could be making a difference. Great post! you have a gift with words!

]]> by: Jodi http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-108712 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:34:15 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-108712 Looved your blog! Your point seems well received to all responders. As a parent, it is hard to compete with my teens friends re: providiing stuff. My husband and I beilieve it is a constant but very important struggle to keep our 3 teens busy with service and self-regulated acheivements. Life moves so fast, it is too easy to give in and just give kids whatever they want instead of emphasizing working for things, and doing whatever you can for others without always getting paid! I pray that they will be shown many examples of this through ourselves and others everyday. Thanks! Looved your blog! Your point seems well received to all responders. As a parent, it is hard to compete with my teens friends re: providiing stuff. My husband and I beilieve it is a constant but very important struggle to keep our 3 teens busy with service and self-regulated acheivements. Life moves so fast, it is too easy to give in and just give kids whatever they want instead of emphasizing working for things, and doing whatever you can for others without always getting paid! I pray that they will be shown many examples of this through ourselves and others everyday. Thanks!

]]> by: Ariana Felix http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-106418 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:46:51 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/09/twif-part-4-the-american-idol-syndrome/#comment-106418 Very true! I know from my own observation that many teens, and even young people in their twenties are very complacent. And the honest truth is that their lazy.Great post! Very true! I know from my own observation that many teens, and even young people in their twenties are very complacent. And the honest truth is that their lazy.Great post!

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