The renegade generation

On Oct. 15, Occupy Bloomington demonstrators marched through the town, bearing signs and protesting a “Day of Rage” that is occurring world-wide for the underdog percent.

As the movement presses forward with general assemblies and camping out in Peoples Park, there is nothing stopping this group of individuals, which started from the very bottom. Seeing these frustrated nonconformists fighting for a unity they all believe in, the first thing I thought about was how much of a renegade generation we’ve become.

When I use the term “renegade generation,” or “ren-gen,” for short, people are often confused and don’t understand what I’m referring to. I think the phrase richly describes the youth that exists on college campuses today, calling all hands and unifying in an archaic display of how we can bring about change.

The renegade generation works for no money, nor glory or fame. The renegade generation is self-constructed and organic, pulling strength in numbers rather than materials.

Like Occupy Bloomington, the renegade generation started quietly. We meet in public places, talk and invite. We peak interest and develop ideas like they are raw commodities or food for the masses.

The renegade generation, whether it thrives in Bloomington, Chicago, London or Lisbon, craves change more than anything. When we need something, we gather and gather and gather until we get it, even at the risk of breaking the law. We gather even at the expense of our jobs, our comfort or our reputations.

My best friend in Chicago, the one who taught me the term “ren-gen,” demonstrated with Occupy Chicago, which experienced 130 arrests Sunday. Despite the fact that outsiders and non-occupiers would see this demonstration as silly from a city that has no “Wall Street,” the ren-gen is unflinching.

Our generation has a specific ren-gen approach to gaining solidarity and fighting for larger-than-life ideals, and with these numbers, we exercise a passion despite our reputation for not caring about anything.

The term “hipster,” having been revived and now overtaking our generation entirely, connotes a specific apathy, making much of our generation seem lethargic and uncaring. But that’s simply not the case for the ren-gen.

For those of you who missed it this past weekend, the GLBT Student Support Services Office sponsored an exhibit called “The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History.” The traveling display from New York City came to educate and congregate those that believe in the voice of queer identity and gender fluidity.

The big, queer history weekend further exemplified the renegade generation in all its grandeur with a University Players’ production of “Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party.” I helped with the production of both of these events to show IU that from nothing, we draw something, and from that something, we draw in more to fight for a cause.

Whether it’s Occupy Bloomington, a queer history event or the beginning of any fight, cause or group of individuals, our generation cares about change as long as there’s assembly.

­— ftirado@indiana.edu