Intelligence officers, even retired ones like me, are, at heart, wannabe Greek philosophers. Sometimes annoyingly, we like to ask question after question, always challenging the conventional wisdom. I was also born in Greece, so I have the added benefit of philosophy being in my blood! With that in mind, let me raise Aristotle’s law of non-contradiction. This law essentially states that opposing assertions cannot be true at the same time.

Why do I raise this notion?

Because, watching some prime-time cable TV programs, I see what one friend of mine, a former member of U.S. Army Special Forces, has amusingly termed "the rage." This world involves hordes of transgender athletes kicking our girls off their sports teams, of gas stoves being banned, of crime being rampant in the streets, of our children being taught that all white people are racists and that they should hold their heads in shame, of drag shows that are indoctrinating our children to some type of alternative lifestyle. Perhaps I can even go outside without my sidearm tucked away in my pants?

But here is where Aristotle kicks in.

Traveling the nation, I have had a great deal of contact with both high school and college students. This is Generation Z. I've met folks from all races, religions, and ethnic groups. Rich and poor, and across political party lines as well. In particular, I teach leadership skills to high school and college baseball players. I focus on deep dives into team dynamics, culture, and how to lead during times of stress. Separately, I also give lectures at colleges on foreign policy and the role of the intelligence community. My travel schedule is extensive so I get to spend significant time with these students. And I’ve learned a thing or two about the youth of America.

The picture these students paint of America, of their lives, is radically different than the end of days mentality that we so often see on cable TV. There is little rage, but there is a great deal of hope. The students inspire me, they challenge me, and the vast majority look to the future with wide-eyed excitement and a desire to do some good. In fact, many students are interested in public service. They are motivated to help their fellow Americans. This ranges from local to federal service, from being a teacher, police officer, or FBI agent to joining the military or the peace corps. They are interested in the war in Ukraine, the environment, how to tackle crime, and ensuring that all Americans have opportunities to succeed. This may sound hokey, but the American dream still is an ideal that appeals.

These students are neither woke nor are they anti-woke. They sometimes laugh at these labels, in their view hyped up by politicians and the media solely for political purposes. Yes, the students I have met support marginalized groups because they go to school with them. That is the beauty of going to college, such exposure to what is a cross-section of America. They see a country that has problems, sure, but that also has the will to tackle them. They want to make America a better place for all. They are optimists. One student raised the hit series 1923, the prequel to Yellowstone. It shows the abhorrent treatment of Native Americans. Don’t pretend this didn’t occur, the students say. Yet the spirit of hard work, independence, and resolve — those characteristics of the American West that so many conservatives rightly hold dear — are also very attractive to most.

Aristotle’s law of non-contradiction states that we can’t have it both ways. We must ask ourselves, what kind of America do we really live in? Are we a country in terminal decline, in a free fall that burns with rage? Or are we a country whose better days are ahead because of the spirit, vitality, optimism, and yes, patriotism of young folks?

After my travels, I know the answer. And it is this: we indeed have successfully passed the torch to the next generation. Anarchy does not reign in America. Are there real issues that must be addressed with speed and purpose? Of course. I think of the crisis with fentanyl and truly worry for these students, with the epidemic of overdose and death. But America is not a war zone. Instead of watching cable TV and being angry, engage with your neighbors and members of the community. Go to a high school baseball game.

Most importantly, interact with this remarkable group we call Generation Z. You may realize that America will be OK.

Marc Polymeropoulos is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. A former CIA senior operations officer, he retired in 2019 after a 26-year career serving in the Near East and South Asia. His book Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA was published in June 2021 by Harper Collins.