The Death of Communication as a Skill...an Art

J.D. Salinger died today at the age of 91. By all accounts he lived the last half of his life in self-imposed exile of sorts, in a tiny town whose residents made it a point of helping him to keep his privacy. Many people say that he is the most influential American writer since Hemmingway; I won't argue that point. But it marks the death of a great writer...one gifted with the ability to craft a thought, a dream, on paper. I begin today's blog post this way because I have observed today's college students, and am saddened by their overall lack of skill in communicating their thoughts and ideas. When I was involved in a class today that taught "soft skills" and demanded a bit of participation to breathe life into the class as well as to help reinforce a point, the students sat mute with heads down, slumped in the chair. No prodding could get them to speak.

I know I'm not stating anything but the obvious when I say that the internet, PCs, IPods, SmartPhones, Cable TV, on-demand movies and entertainment, and yes...social networking and blog sites....have all succeeded in helping us grow a generation of people who simply have no use for, nor skill with, the written or spoken word. No Salingers among them, that's for sure. But I was encouraged a week or so ago when a young man who works at my company told me that he, too, has a love for writing with fountain pens, of all things!

There is hope for us yet.
Cheers!
Ima