Simple Words of Wisdom
posted over 2 years ago
Numerous essays and books have been written about the Baby Boomers ushering in the Age of Excess at the end of the 20th century. Recently, I heard a remark that epitomizes—without judging—the Baby Boomer mentality. My wife and I had bought more furnishings than we needed for refurbishing our Waikiki condos. I was designated—as always—to return the extra stuff. When I got into the elevator on route to the parking garage, I saw a woman (probably in her 50’s) who asked me what I was doing. After I told her, she looked at me knowingly and said, “That’s the way we are.” How succinct—how true!
posted by B42Long
I have disdain for the consumerism we have ushered in. Our parents formed by "the Great Depression", defeated facisim and one of the greatest evil dictators the world has ever known before they were to far into their twentys. More of them went to college then any had ever done so before, they brought our country to record productivity, made us the true world power, put humans on the moon and gave our generation more opportunities then likely any in our history has ever enjoyed. The promise and potential we had was incredible. At the age when our dads were storming Normandy Beach, fighting the Battle of the Bulge, fighting up through Italy and assaulting Japanese held Pacific Islands, our mothers serving both in uniform or manning the nation's industries , a few of our generation were sacrificed in Viet Nam while so many of the rest of us were trying to avoid the same, often failing to give them our respect, and not trusting anybody over thirty. As young people in our "hippie" period we proclaimed peace, love, protecting the environment, acceptance of all people regardless of race or creed, can we say we fulfilled those causes or at least stayed true to those values? (well, we did not legalize pot which is remarkable when I consider our tendencies for indulging ourselves) I fear our legacy to be one of 50% or so of failed marriages, so many of our children growing up with a custodial and a non custodial parent, a collective refusal to act like grownups but rather cling to the superficialness of youth and sacrificing the future for the now (i.e. national debt, deficit spending, credit card abuse), SUV's and McMansions. I have apprehension about how history will judge our generation for the opportunities it seems we have squandered.
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