From the author’s perspective, what are the main differences between the older generation and the younger generation

The author explores the differences between the older generation and the younger generation in terms of how each one faces life with all of its facts and tragedies. The author believes the younger generation is far less idealistic than the older one, since it is in a process of growing, maturing and learning. What the author means is that the older generation, since it has solid points of view (constructed throughout decades), is much more liable to being misled by false assumptions, things that are far from reality, from life as it truly is. We can see that in the following passage: "We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from true, we had suddenly learned to see." The younger generation looked up to the old one, since it represented wisdom and authority. However, when the war started, bringing death and sadness, it was as if everything the older generation had been teaching them had simply fallen apart: the castle of sand (ideology and knowledge) was too fragile to withstand the impact of brutal reality. In that sense, the younger generation was stronger and more realistic.

"the sandy walls seemed to collapse in on themselves"

and

"the bloodshot waters seemed to have no bottom"