Baby boomers can't let go of the past and look to the future

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 3/20/04 | Ruben Navarrette Jr

[auboy]

Every generation has its share of clymers. Bill Clinton was born in 1946. So was George W. Bush. Some folks grow up early, some grow up late, and some never grow up.

As I watch anti-war protests of today, I see people in their 70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, and teens. And last time I checked, Robert Byrd is not a boomer. But he is a clymer. Major league, at that!

[schmelvin]

Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1982)

OK, I'm filing a demographic complaint.

Whenever I see the '65-'82 Gen-X category, I get grumpy, because it throws me into the tail end of the Baby Boomer category. My parents are certified Baby Boomers, both born in '47. But then somehow I'm a Baby boomer, too?? How did that happen? Is it possible to be the same generation as one's own parents?

I remember a time when my generation was called the Baby Busters. There were Baby Boomers, then Baby Busters, followed by Generation Xers, but somewhere along the line the Baby Busters got divided in "half" with almost 65% of us being lumped in with the Baby Boomers and the rest thrown in with Generation X. Then, the Baby Buster label was transfered to also mean Gen-Xers.

Sorry, about ranting over something so seemingly nit-picky, but I really, really, hate being called a Baby Boomer. I had Farrah Fawcett hair in high school for Pete's sake! How could I possibly be a Baby Boomer?

[js1138]

So the delusional dems think the Viet Ets are on their side? I guess they have no way of knowing. I quit listening to NPR 15 years ago.

[Mike Bates]

Tell me about it. The other day another web site posted a picture of me, but not without the guy who runs the site asking me to "Take it back, take it back!" It reminded me of the old joke about a man going in to join a lonely hearts club only to be told, "We're not that lonely."

[netmilsmom]

Scary but true!!!

[philetus]

If we let go of the past, there won't be much of a future.

[qam1]

Generation Jones

[HungarianGypsy]

Honestly, I think both generations need better spokesmen or representation. The loud Boomers seem to be idiots like John Kerry and Bill Clinton. George W. Bush is a much better representative. A real man.
Then there's my generation. I am married and have four children, yet sometimes feel years older than some of the people my own age. I know a single 34 year old who still whines about the "rich Republicans", while he's still making $10 or $11/hr. at a data entry job. Never realizing that money isn't going to just fall into your lap. He has yet to take responsibility for life instead of just whining about it. I'm sure that's how a lot of Boomers must see us. Not to mention the airheads that like to say "Dude" a lot.
I know I am repeating myself, but we really need better representation.

[Eva]

Yes, the leftists did stop the Vietnam war, eventually, with the help of the USSR communists who spent tons of money supporting the anti-war movement in the US.

[RaceBannon]

Sorry, about ranting over something so seemingly nit-picky, but I really, really, hate being called a Baby Boomer. I had Farrah Fawcett hair in high school for Pete's sake! How could I possibly be a Baby Boomer?

Pictures please!! (I hope yer a girl!)

All us Baby Boomers thought Farrah was quite a FOX!

(I was born 1959)

[SoCal Pubbie]

I don't know about re-fighting Vietnam, but I sure am spending a lot more on ebay now for the same toys my mom bought me back in the sixties!

[missyme]

How about Operation, Mr. Potato Head, Twister, Jacks, Mainly I think us Kids of the Baby Boomer Generation liked to create our toys, I remember most kids took Pride in there Bicycles since they put them together....

[Nick Danger]

All Boomers eat watermelon and have fuzzy dice hanging from their rear-view mirrors.

[raloxk]

Baby Boomers are very very narsisstic.

They get very offended if younger generations dont worship their values. They think their values were so important and revolutionary they cant imagine that future generations would want to develop their own values based upon their life experiences.

[missyme]

Baby Boomers are born between 1944 and 1964 So you have to turn 40 this year to age 60... But the 40's is like the 30's...Most people can count on living in there 90's if you take care of yourself...

[missyme]

Watermelon,""" I use to have a boyfriend that ate Mushrooms, Smoked alot of Thai Stick had hair that went to the middle of his back drove a 1969 Souped up Hip Slick and the Coolest Camaro you ever laid your eyes on, Had Woofers and Tweeters loved Traffic and Santana, he's a doctor now and still has long hair....

[Springman]

Bump for later.

[qam1]

I know I am repeating myself, but we really need better representation.

I agree, So far all we have is "Friends" and the reality shows (At least in the 80's we had Micheal J. Fox on Family Ties) as our representatives. Besides a few in State Legislators here and there I don't know of any Gen-Xer in high political office and unfortunately that's going to be the case for awhile as the Baby Boomers will refuse to give up power and there is too many of them to dislodge.

[qam1]

We actuallly have a large segment of population (Gen. X & Y )that couldn't imagine giving without getting, sacrificing out of obligation, suffering out of responsibility, or following through out of honor. Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Then who is fighting and dying right now in Afghanistan & Iraq?

[Rummyfan]

Well, it was an NPR audience wasn't it? Who in their right mind listens to Diane Rehm? And for Halberstam, it's always Viet Nam - it was the high point to his career.