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The last, great generation
The Grapevine…
The last of the great generation.
Are the baby boomers the last of the great generation, perhaps? We were born after World War II. We all heard the stories of the war and the Great Depression. Our parents struggled, especially if they were children of immigrants like mine. They had nothing and gave us everything they didn’t have. How noble. They went from having nothing to giving us their all. I was content in a one-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village. There were five of us squeezed into barely 900 square feet of space. Living quarters were scarred after the war; all returning needed an apartment. My parents eventually moved into a 3-bedroom apartment in the 1960s. Others fled the city for the suburbs, giving us a better childhood.
That’s where it all started! I was spoiled with a basketball and baseball glove; I had it all! Growing up, we were all in the same boat, not having a lot of money. Our parents saved nickels and dimes for that down payment for a house—probably two grand for a twenty thousand dollar house. We watched and learned about the struggles; they stayed happy and taught us respect. Yes, sir; no, madam. They took us to church; we all dressed up for Easter, and we attended midnight mass on Christmas Eve. We traveled on holidays to see our grandparents.
That’s when we blew it! The eighties gave way to greed; corporations grew and grew. Finally, we had enough money for our kids, and we spoiled them. We started the problem that exists today; it is our fault. We were so focused on giving them a better childhood than us that we lost sight of the meaning of living. My wife and I have four children: a doctor, a teacher with a master’s, a Michelin chef, and a savant. We gave them all the tools they needed for a successful future. We thought we were doing the right thing. I love my grandkids very much; they have everything and more. How can a child possibly show appreciation when they have it all?
We shower them with love, affection, and lots of stuff. They forget, “Thank you; you’re welcome.” Respect is long gone. When a kid is bullied in school or cyberbullied, oh, give me a break and delete those unwanted messages. The bully and his prey are called into the principal’s office. “Bobby, you must not say those things to Jimmy; he is offended.” Offended, come on, when we went to school, you settled this stuff after the school bell rang. Outside, down and dirty, with fists blaring and noses bleeding. We coddled our children. I had two older sisters; sh*t, I was bullied right there; they told me I was adopted. When my first sister was born, my parents handled her like crystal. When the second sister was born, she was handled—maybe not like crystal but more like an expensive pair of glassware. By the time I was born, I could go outside and play in the streets at six years old. I played in vacant lots with tons of broken glass. I was on my own. I dodged cars and had strangers hold my hand to cross the street. “Have somebody cross the street with you,” my mother would yell from our fifth-floor window.
I wasn’t abused, but I was slapped for having a wise month by my parents. I needed only one slap to put my buttocks to keep me in order. I lived in constant fear: “Wait until your father comes home.” This scared the crap out of me, and looking back, my dad never hit me.
I realize it is ultimately the child’s responsibility to behave accordingly. You can have two children and spoil them identically, and they may have different results; one can be a spender and cry baby, and the other could be a minamilist.
I worked from the time I was fifteen, and my parents saved money for me. I was never much of a saver when I grew older, but I was taught to save for a rainy day. It was up to me to continue.
Family traditions: what happened there? Holiday meals with relatives—I know the younger generation is trying to establish their own traditions, duh. That’s not traditional. Why must everything be changed? Why? Because they are spoiled and bored. Our generation stopped a war by protesting at the colleges. They protest today because their feelings are hurt. Oh, please.
Wake up, or woke up! Spend more time with your kids; take them to the park. Limit time on devices. They made fun of us in the fifties when I had my plastic cowboy cap gun and holster. They said I would grow up and be violent. Now eight-year-olds are watching videos of mass military shootings, naked women, and who knows what else? Don’t get me wrong. I go to the gun range often and like naked women. I am an adult, so I’m told. I hope that my great-grandchildren, whom I will never know, come to realize that life is more than devices and possessions, so they can forge ahead and be the next great generation.
You heard it through the grapevine.
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The term “Great Generation” typically refers to those who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II, also known as the “Greatest Generation,” a term popularized by journalist Tom Brokaw. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are those born approximately between 1946 and 1964, following World War II.
Each generation has its own unique characteristics and contributions. The Baby Boomers are known for their role in the post-war economic boom, the civil rights movement, and significant cultural changes during the 1960s and 1970s. They were also pivotal in shaping the modern workforce and technology landscape.
Whether the Baby Boomers are considered “the last of the great generation” is subjective and depends on how one defines greatness. If greatness is measured by overcoming adversity, contributing to major societal changes, or technological advancements, then each generation has its own claims to greatness. Millennials and Generation Z, for instance, are addressing new challenges like climate change, technological disruption, and social justice issues, potentially creating their own legacies of greatness.
In summary, while the Baby Boomers have made significant contributions and left a lasting impact, labeling them as “the last of the great generation” might overlook the unique and ongoing contributions of subsequent generations.