Jackson Jambalaya

Last week I discussed speech topics with my students. Oh, the drudgery! So, what is going on in my students’ lives? Not much. I asked them what issues they might be concerned about on campus. Scooters! That was the biggest issue on campus at the time. Have you tried to walk on a college campus with students on scooters zooming across imaginary lanes? How about driving on campus with even more scooters zooming in and out of traffic? Gen Z are also called Zoomers.

I admit my expectations were from another world far beyond horizons of Gen Z today. Last week Jewish friends were celebrating Rosh Hashanah. What’s that? It’s the Jewish New year! Mazel tov…. I thought that might be interesting to students looking for an interesting speech topic. You know, I have a good friend who grew up in Tel Aviv. Her family has had to hide in bomb shelters every time sirens warned of incoming rockets! Why? Did you know there’s been a shooting war going on for the past 2 years? Does October 7 mean anything to you? No.

Ok, well what about the war in Ukraine? Nothing. You know, they’ve been talking about nuclear weapons! Russia, Ukraine, European nations, NATO, and the United States?

From my experience as a teacher of Public Speaking, audiences really don’t care what’s going on if it doesn’t affect them personally. As I mulled that thought around my barren mind, one of my students reminded me that their generation is considered to be the smartest yet. AAAAiiiiiii!!!

I love my students, every one of them. I’ve told them that from the first day of class. And some have asked me for help or thanked me for help with life issues of the “young and restless.” Of course I’m glad to help, though it’s difficult to transition from personal issues to speech topics for college students. Been there, done that, and have learned to steer topics more toward issues in the daily news.

Last year students talked about issues with social media, but that’s so 2024. This year we have discussed AI (artificial intelligence) in class but haven’t really come up with any “issues” AI couldn’t solve.  

As I have contemplated critical thinking exercises for my students that would equip them not only for challenges of college life but also for real life to come, I have thought about my own issues. Will wars around the world affect me tomorrow? Not likely. How about the usual humdrum of American politics, or the latest social faux pas? Not really. Jeans or genes? Really? Who cares?

I don’t mean to diminish real issues like access to public health or developing age-appropriate educational curricula in K-12 public schools. I’d just like to discuss things my students are coping with and teach them how to dialogue without calling each other racists or fascists, as if they knew the difference between a fascist, a socialist, a communist, or a racist. What are the people who call others those names? Etymologists want to know.