GenX

Taking Aim

By Jerry Cardenas

I was born a poor, black child ... whoa, that's not me. Oh, here it is ... WELCOME TO AUSTIN AXIS! My name is Javier Cardenas (or you can call me Jerry). On my left is your ship's Activities Director, Julie, and your ship's bartender, Isaac.

I don't have the honor of being a native Austinite, but I've been here for 20 years now and have yet to find a better place (year- round) to call home. And that's why I wanted to be involved with this publication, I saw an opportunity to share my views and opinions about Austin and what's going on here.

I'm involved with another new project as well -- it's called the Student Volunteer Incentive Program or SVIP. This is a non-profit organization that was created to provide incentives to Austin-area high school students who volunteer their time for local non-profit organizations. For more information on SVIP, contact Vickie Sokol, Program Director, at (512)499-4023.

Before I begin, I just wanted to let you good people know what the intent of this column is. My ultimate goal is to incite enough of you intelligent citizens out there to take some responsibility, some initiative, and some action towards making Austin and anywhere else you may live a better place. Now I know that some of you may already be thinking, "Oh great, just what we need. Another Visualize World Peace-fanatic." Well, I'm not naive enough to think that we'll ever achieve world peace in my lifetime, but I'm going to do as much as I can to make my world a better place.

And that brings me to the true point of this column. I am sick and tired of hearing how bad our generation (Generation X, if you identify with that) has it. That we're the first generation to earn less than our parents made when they were our age. That's a crock. And what's worse is that there's no reason for it. I have felt and still feel a sense of urgency to get off my ass and do something with my life -- especially NOW!. Not to just sit on my thumbs and wait for more you know what to dump on me. My question to you, the reader, is: "Is this something that everyone goes through when they reach a certain age or is everyone feeling it at this time?"

Many of my friends, who are pretty much in the 25 to 35 age group, bitch about how unhappy they are with their jobs. So do something different. I know finding a job is tough (I've worked in a state agency personnel office). But if you want something, if you want it bad enough, you've got to plan, research, and you've got to take action. And that holds true for just about everything. You set your sights, take aim, and fire!! Whether you're trying to find a job: figure out what you want to do, where you want to work; take the necessary steps (work on your resume, take a class or two, network with people in that field); and finally, go after it! If you're trying to start a business: decide what service or product you want to provide; research all the hoops you have to jump through in order to start up a business; then raise what money you may need and start jumpin'. I'm not gonna lie to you. It takes sacrifice. But are you content with the status quo? Could you live with an hour or two less of TV? I'll admit I'm still working on that one -- Hi, my name is Jerry and I'm a TV-aholic.

What I'm trying to say is there is a time when we have to grow up and take some responsibility for our actions AND lack of actions. There's too much screwed up stuff in this world just waiting to be fixed or bettered. But you've got to want to do it. And you've got to be prepared for a struggle. But let's take a look at that. Don't you feel better about yourself when you have to fight for something you want and you get it? Make things happen, stir some shit up, do something for yourself, your community, whatever. What's the point of being on this round piece of dirt and water, if not that? Do you really feel that we are not connected to one another, that we're not all in this together. Try to imagine how long you could survive with no societal human interaction - I'd go apeshit. I know that there are alot of people who don't feel the same and could care less about their fellow man/woman -- and that's what makes me want to get off my ass now and start taking action!

So answer me these questions: "What's so wrong with wanting and striving for peace? What real purpose does hate serve?" Everyone jokes about it, but Rodney King's question deserves some attention: "Why can't we all just get along?" Give me some honest, valid reasons and I'll shut-up. But until you do, watch out -- cause I can't and don't want to accept that mindset and there's alot of work needing to be done out there. And if you can build a business or start a career that feeds your family and provides you with the things you need and you're able to help your community and neighbors (be it next door, next block, next town, wherever), you've won the game.

[Now excuse me, please, as I step down from this rectangular object that smells like detergent.]