A Quick message from your resident 'Generation Jones' Boomer In America, we wholly live as politically feeling people On Leave until 2024
I am a white southern American queer, converted Jew, and baby boomer. And, I work entirely with millennials (plus a sprinkle of Gen X and Gen Z folk).
Historically, I have not been in line with all boomers, as boomers, like any large group are not uniform
Here is my take on boomers and (my) backing of millennials It begins with the fact that we baby boomers are a contradictory generation: My generation opposed Richard Nixon but voted for Ronald Reagan I voted for neither
We demonstrated against war in Vietnam, but supported the invasion of Iraq I opposed both campaigns
We marched for civil rights, but opposed affirmative action I supported them then and still do now
I was active in both liberation movements for women and gays, but my peers defeated the Equal Rights Amendment and dragged their feet on marriage equality.
My generation created Earth Day, but so many have denied climate change. My first master’s degree is in Environmental Advocacy and Urban Environmental Stewardship
My generation embraced soul and R&B, but didn’t go for rap. I am guilty
We defined the rebellious teenage subculture, but became helicopter parents. I love children and chose not to have them
In sum, we aimed for social equality and created an era of service and volunteering. I have life-long experience in service, volunteering and equality, and carry a love of these ideas and actions ﹆﹆
These days, baby boomers are part of a (double decker) sandwich generation. We are caretakers, sandwiched between our adult children along with their children, and our elderly parents along with our ailing life partners. Advances in technology and health care are generating longer lives with increasing needs as the norm. At the same time, given accumulated economic challenges with gig economies and bad business models everywhere; we also support our adult children who are moving back home, in financial need, or both.
Millennials in particular are not fans of (ok) Boomer(s) I listen to clients rip my generation every single day in my practice.
And boomers aren't the only ones who are censured. As I said, I am also white, queer, southern, a converted jew (and fervent pacifist). My clients blame, dislike, 'hate,' and denigrate all of my personal demographics. They muse about canceling and suppressing each of the categories that I am. They say things to my face, either forgetting I am the person for whom they speak of, not caring, or genuinely trusting I am capable of holding their views that whittle me down into agentic oblivion. And I almost forgot to mention the belief, now, that America is a problem (more than it is a dynamic experiment).
Rip away, and feel free to espouse what you’re honestly and openly feeling. Some of you haven't held back and continue to tell it to boomers straight that all the things that we are, in addition, to this place where we live, work, and play is bad and wrong. Well, I have historically preferred collective political action along with honest individual self-assessment to improve our lives as opposed to chronic dissatisfaction. However, to be called things and told 'you're no good' (not personally, but my kind) is nothing new to this old American grrl. In fact, it's essentially the way of the world.
▫︎ I support Millennials (Gen X and Gen Z) After all, collectively you're the majority, numbering 207.19 million, and in your late 20s to late 50s. You're the country’s adults now and prefer your own ideas, just like we did. ^ I have devotedly participated in my generation's democracy. Now, it's time for this boomer to step aside so that youngers may lead.
This society is yours to make it what you want it to be. ✢
﹅﹅ Rather than merely fighting against the status quo, I have historically positioned myself fighting for people's rights (but never at the cost of other people's rights) and never ever with an intention of physically harming other people. Fighting FOR rights keeps the focus on what is needed to improve our society as a whole.