I suggest the author read "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch, published 1979. Pretty much dissects the Boomers. (Yes, I am one.)
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Welcome to the Real world bump.
Narcisist ---perhaps. Genme? Perhaps
Asshole? ---definitely.
So it's my parent's and society's fault that I didn't end up an astronaut? Cool! Who do I sue?
And all this time I thought it was all the beer and girls I chased in college!
This is true for Canadians of this generation as well. I know, because I belong to this generation. Fortunately for myself, I was born to Eastern European immigrants who taught me a good work ethic. I know many friends who are like this guy, and it has got worse with each subsequent generation.
How did such a loser even qualify for the Olympics in the first place?!
I just blame my ex.
In other words, Bode kept another olympic hopeful from going just so Bode could rock.
I have to put two more cents in here.
With the diminishment of the Christian culture of life in our nation, people have had to turn to "feel good" stuff in order to validate their self worth.
According to Judeo-Christian belief, people are worthy because they are made in God's image, by a loving God. There is a simple inherit worth in the nature of our being.
We are loved by the one who created us, and pronounced his creation "good".
If you have crawled up from the fishes, the self concept has to be totally different.
Sheesh. I guess the guy should have just committed suicide for having a bad week.
It's because of the media, and mostly tv...especially the constant ads for ...'doing it your way'...'have it your way'...'no questions'....'you deserve a break today'...'break the rules'...etc
When I was a young man, I was full of piss and vinegar too. My only regret is that I didn't party more in college. Now, entering my last decades, I am in agreement with Lin Yutang, the Taoist philosopher of old China, who wrote:
"Happiness consists of being able to get your hair cut every couple of weeks. . . and watching your industrious neighbor take a tumble off his roof."
I never heard of Bode Miller until today (don't care about winter sports). This is from his bio on NBC sports (up to the Torino games):
"Career highlights
Bode Miller is the reigning champion in the World Cup overall, the most coveted prize in Alpine skiing. He won two Olympic silver medals (giant slalom, combined) at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, and also has five career medals (four golds) at world championships. He had flirted with the overall title for years (fourth in 2002, second in 2003, fourth in 2004) before finally winning it in 2005."
Yea, real loser.
/sarcasm
They crash emotionally, then blame everyone and everything around them, except for themselves.
Because they have been permanently endowed with the inalienable right to Self Esteem, no failure nor horrible misdeed can ever take it away.
Self Esteem should be the natural consequence of success, not a detached hubris bestowed by misguided teachers.
I've never been a fan of "generational" thinking; it's all a pose to get people to buy more books, thinking they are "part of a generation" when we are all individuals who are part of the groups we join, whether religious, political, etc. I have no more in common with other people born in 1965 than with anyone else, but some seem to think that because we recall the same awful 80's tunes we are somehow "fellow Gen Xers" or whatever. How stupid.
Who cares? One writers opinion piece, hardly a fact driven one.
EVERY generation has its losers and winners. I never bought into the "greatest" generation, or all boomers are whiners etc.
"When I was your age, we ......."
Sheesh.