This is an interesting thread. Hippy vs radicals vs rebels. 1940s vs 1950s vs 1960s born children. Defining yuppies or Gen X or Gen Y.
Just to throw a curve ball into all the current rhetoric (as I said previously pain or blessing - you decide).
Hippies vs radicals vs rebels
hippies were the dope smoking, jesus freak people who graduated on to harder drugs and lived off the charity of others
radicals came out of the universities - stirred on by the Marxists who were still trying to gain control of this country. It was spurred on by spoiled rich kids who talked one thing but their actions were another. The spoiled rich kids denounced the establishment and the man - yet guess who they are? They are the worst offenders in our nation currently and the instigators of immense atrocities. To name a few: Bill Ayers, Jane Fonda, Ted Turner, Barbra Streisand, John Kerry. These people talked eloquently - then they ran back home to live in luxury as the unfortunates who listened to them fell upon difficult times. These spoiled rich kids - jaded and numb by over-opulence and saturation in all areas - sought to destroy the innocence of others. If they could not have something - no one would. Yet like the troll, they talked as if they were one of the people. They are still infecting the masses - via movies, TV, fake journalism, re-writing history, creating racial disparities, creating class/social disparities. These people are sexually jaded, happiness jaded, materialistically jaded, spiritually devoid, love devoid. They want others in their group so they do not feel alone and so they do not have to see beauty within the non-jaded masses. How do they achieve this? Destroy the individuals - the characters - the thinkers. Control their environment and make everyone lesser than them.
rebels - those who believe in small government, none to low taxation, freedom, happiness, prosperity - life! Their tactics were not always the best - yet they did resist as much as they could.
**disclaimer** much of this is a generalization. There are exceptions and there are sections of exceptions as well. **disclaimer over**
Most Gen Xrs are 25yrs and under. Current 21yr olds define themselves as GenXrs and are proudly defined as such.
When I think of the people I have met over the years - those born in the latter 40s are quite different than those born in the mid to latter 50s. They are also are quite different from the early to mid 60s born children.
Those born in the 70s are very different from those born in the 80s. The 90s born are even more interesting.
If we figure 20ish as the child bearing age (ish meaning give or take 4-6 yrs). To be included later will be the second wave of children (the ones born 5-10+years after the first set of children)
Those born in the 60s would come from the 40something borns. Those born in the 70s would be from the 50something borns. Those born in the 80s (genXrs) would come from the 60something born. Those born in the 90s (genYrs?) would come from the 70something born.
The latter born GenXrs and the genYrs appear to be more thoughtful relative to family focused/work ethic. These children grew up in the families of the hippy generations - they saw their parents stoned and irresponsible. They had to be the adults as the adults were selfish and childish.
The earlier GenXrs were a product of the 60s babies grown up... The 60s born babies were spoiled and were raised with Dr. Spock, psychobabble, they rebelled against their 1940s born parents - they rebelled against rules, morals, ethics. The 60s babies were the yuppies of the 80s. The ones who believed that the one with the most toys when they die wins - the ones who believed that spending more gets you out of debt, they lived on credit cards and lived way beyond their means. They have the mentality of the current administration.
Their kids have grown up with a sense of entitlement and everyone owes them a soft life. They did not learn work ethics, saving money, morals - what is that?, they think they are defined by their sexuality and their body, the employer owes them because the employer is fortunate to have them working at that job, etc. These are the children raised by the television and video games (pc or console). Mom and Dad both work and do not have much time for contiguous family interactions. There are 'quality time' sessions. Boundaries are foggy - Mom & Dad want to be a friend - not a parent.
Some of the Baby Boomers blew it big time. Instead of thinking of the long term best interests of their children - eg: teaching them how to succeed realistically - they were too afraid of losing their youth. They feared maturation. They were jealous of the youth of the youngsters. They were over-indulgent. They did not teach values - they allowed the thoughts of others to interfere with the process of child raising. They sold out to the Golden Calf.
The second family children are like the last born or baby of the family - spoiled beyond all belief. The parents are less inclined to set boundaries as they have loosened their own boundaries and expections. The families are typically more prosperous than the first wave of children. The children grow up knowing their every wish will be met.
What does this mean for our country? Sometimes generations wake up and realize the mistakes of previous generations. Sometimes they don't.
I have hope for our great country. We are unique and we were born in freedom.