This young generation has not X-ed out responsibility, character

The Tennessean | 09-05-04 | Tim Chavez

[VPMWife78]

This was printed a while back, but still relevent. I liked it...........

[VPMWife78]

Ping!

[HitmanLV]

Ultimately, perception is more important than reality in this matter.

The media contributes enormously to the perception. Right now we as a nation are supposed to be 'bitterly divided like never before.'

The 'divide' as a media story was not a factor when Clinton was president, for example, though he won the presidency with 43 and 49 percent of the popular vote. In both elections more people voted against Clinton than for him.

What happens if Kerry wins in a nailbiter? Don't worry, he won't, but imagine what if? Figure we as a nation would be as divided on November 1st ad we would be on November 3rd, but the balance of power would have shifted.

Expect any stories on how 'divided' we are? Or will the angle be 'the healing has begun?' Of course, you will see more stories from the latter angle.

In regards to 'would america sacrifice like the WW2 generation,' most of america would, yet the media centers would depict the situation in their backyard: a steady procession of young mothers who insist that they can't sacrifice, a bunch of young adult slackers who simply won't sacfifice, etc.

Not good.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Nice article -


9/11 had an impact on many - of all ages.


Other Youths and Teens:

But I think on the political scene - some will need to be talked to again. If all these stories of the youth being registered to vote - and about fraud - are true - Because I think there might be people telling them their role in voting is to disrupt the establishment - much like what the "flower children" did in the 60s. I believe Spain's youth got the same speech - and voted -

just thoughts -

[TNdandelion]

I didn't realize I was a Gen-Xer but I guess this fits me to a tee.

Born 1970, conservative, married, SAHM. My father served in Vietnam while my mother stayed at home with us. My grandparents were all very poor but hardworking and raised their families. Granny always said that when the stock market crashed in 1929, it didn't really make a difference. You can't lose what you don't have.

I love hearing stories about the "old" days (my grandparents time). Simpler times and before the invention of annoying electronic baby toys!!! We need wooden blocks! Ok...rant over.

[Mr. Silverback]

Awesome!

Qam, ping your list, bud. This is the best...Gen X article...Ever!

[CyberAnt]

It's most awesome.

It reminds me of some of the first pages of Ollie North's book, War Stories. He starts talking about the young men and women who are serving in Iraq .. by the time he finishes describing them .. what they know .. what they can do .. how they treat each other .. how they treat the citizens of Iraq .. I found myself questioning if I was even qualified to shine their shoes.

[A Citizen Reporter]

I disagree. I met a young marine who lives on my street last week. He had just returned from Fallujah, and is not more than two years from his high school graduation. He was very shy and humble, and nothing like the "flower children of the 60's" I'm VERY impressed with our current 20-somethings. They were raised during the clinton years, and are rejecting it.

BTW, Australia's youth got the same speech from Kerry's sister, and THEY voted too!

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Well - good for them - but in some of these states - our schools have had an impact on the students - and for the worse - and I'm not talking about 20 year olds here - if you don't mind.

you have your opinion - I'll have mine - thank you very much - we are all individuals - influences do play a part - like it or not -

[lasisra]

Yep, you're definitely an X-er. Me, too. I was also born in 1970, I am conservative, and I am a SAHM. (Son #3 is due Monday!)

I am not a SAHM because I am uneducated, ignorant, or lazy. I have a college degree, and I gave up a professional job when I was pregnant with son #2. It's all about choosing what's best for your family. We X-ers simply asked ourselves if our family needed Mom or Mom's salary more.

I used to get annoyed about being called an "X-er", which always carried an implication of "slacker." Now I accept the label proudly.

I also think that at last the boomers and members of other generations are starting to realize that they were wrong about our generation after all.

We aren't slackers - we just care more about family than career, social status, or possessions. We know we can have a fancy job title and all the newest grown-up toys *after* the kids are adults. But we know we only have one chance to raise our children.

And I wish my Granny were still around to tell me stories about the "old" days. Sigh...

[A Citizen Reporter]

I'm sure that influences played a part in the Australian election too. Which you neglected to mention. And if you're not talking about 20 year olds, do you mind telling me WHAT voting age group you are referring to who have "influences" from "our" schools?

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Hey - I wasn't talking about Aust. You put Aust. into the post - so I neglected nothing - honestly - what are you - a practicing Socialist - ?

My original post stands - it's my opinion - and as I said - you have your opinion and I have mine -

If you have a problem with that - talk it over with yourself - that way you might get someplace with shoving your views around onto others -

[A Citizen Reporter]

I notice you're new here. Maybe you don't understand the power of debate. Debate means that you defend the points you have come on this site to make. If you can't debate, I guess what you say is "You have your opinion, I still get mine".

YOU brought up Spain's election, and I brought up Australia's. You have no answer in your "flower children of the 60's" view of life for what happenned in Australia. But you are wrong in your characterization of the youth of America. Sorry.

[Luke21]

My late father fought three wars so his children and grandchildren wouldn't have to. His pedigree included Guadalcanal, Pelilieu, Inchon, the Yalu River Encampments, and the 1965 Marine landing in Vietnam. The succeeding generations in our family have not and will not forget the sacrifices of our great veterans.

I have two sons. Should the worst happen, they would be as willing as any of their ancestors to defend what we have, as even an old timer like myself would be.

The southern and western halves of my spoiled and soiled generation were always more prone to listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, and the Allmans, than the hippie stuff coming from the coasts. We were longhaired rednecks. David Allen Coe even wrote a song by that name.

The battle for this nation is not generation wide. Many of us boomers came to our senses before Reagan was elected and never wore a mangled military uniform or peace sign to begin with.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Don't pull the new bit on me please - (Shame)

Debate - you are not in a debate - you are in an attack mode - In My Opinion -

This was my "first" post - and I post it again -:

+++++

Nice article -


9/11 had an impact on many - of all ages.


Other Youths and Teens:

But I think on the political scene - some will need to be talked to again. If all these stories of the youth being registered to vote - and about fraud - are true - Because I think there might be people telling them their role in voting is to disrupt the establishment - much like what the "flower children" did in the 60s. I believe Spain's youth got the same speech - and voted -

just thoughts -

End
++++

Now - Please notice the line - "Other Youths and Teens" - I spoke on the article then spaced and put down what I thought was happening with the youths and teens that were caught up in the registering to vote and fraud issue -

First time voters - I am concerned that they are being led to believe that their reason for voting this year is to disrupt the establishment - much like what was done before by the "flower children" of the 60s - And since Spain had a lot of young first time voters - and they went Socialist - that was why I included Spain -

I hope you understand what it was I was posting - Why would I have included Aust. - they didn't fall for it, in that you are correct - but I was trying to show something other than what you took it to be -

[TNdandelion]

Speaking of Reagan, I was 10 when he was elected and 18 when he left. Clinton was the first Dem. president that I have any real memories of and that was definitely a turn off. The only thing I remember about Pres. Carter were the hostages in Iran. I will always remember the name Terry Anderson and when he finally was able to come home.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"First time voters - I am concerned that they are being led to believe that their reason for voting this year is to disrupt the establishment - much like what was done before by the "flower children" of the 60s"

You didn't need to repeat your post, which I had already read. As I responded to it, I disagree. I've met a young man who happens to be a marine, who lives on my street, who has in the past 2 years, graduated from high school, enlisted in the marines, been deployed to Fallujah, and served there for approximately 3 times as long as JOHN KERRY ever served in VIETNAM.

No, after having met him, I guess I don't agree with you that the youth on our political scene need to be "talked to again". I have faith in them. You don't. That's where we depart company. And they are nothing like "the flower children of the 60's".

[TNdandelion]

If you are talking about kids still in school...you may be thinking of GenerationY, instead. Depending on who you talk to, the GenX group were all born between 1965 and 1980. Although I'm generous and say that any late baby boomers or early GenY'ers that don't feel they belong in their respective groups can certainly call themselves GenXer's instead.

Sadly, I'm afraid my children's generation will be called Generation Chub!

[Weirdad]

Great, great post. Kids today are really underrated as a result of being tarred with the same brushes used on my often less than adequate generation. I love today's teenagers! They are handling this fast moving and confusing world with great grace. Don't judge then just by what you see on TV.

"This Next Greatest Generation is truly a blessing from God at a most crucial time in our history." I could not agree more.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

You still don't understand what I posted -

Evidently you can't read - I posted on the article (which talked about the youth you talk about) - and - then I spaced - and - put in the line so that people would know I wasn't talking about the article anymore - or the generation in the article.

If you read the post - you would see clearly what generation I was talking about - it's not my fault you can't understand or don't want to understand -

The words are there for others to read - and they are my thoughts and opinion on the matter of the first time voters who are caught up in the voter registration and fraud issue -

You seem to want to mix apples and oranges - I don't want to do that - my purpose was to put down my thoughts on what might be happening to some of the first time voters - and I did that -