All others must bow down to them, because they're clearly the . . . no! Wait a minute!
Who gave former NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw the right to make that decision?
Maybe Brokaw is just a groupie for that generation. Maybe it's time for someone with a neutral viewpoint (me) to rank the living generations.
Based on the always-accurate pros vs. cons standard, here's the ranking of the five current generations (excluding those born after 2005). If you disagree with me, it's probably because you're typical of your generation.
Away we go . . .
5. Generation X (Born 1965-80). Is it too late to label this "The Worst Generation?" They followed the baby boomers and spent the 1980s and part of the 1990s whining about it while playing video games, listening to grunge music, living at their parents' homes and complaining some more.
Pros: Made hip-hop music culturally popular, played a lot of video games.
Cons: Played a lot of video games, whined a lot, got caught between self-important baby boomers and new-world millennials. Gave us Adam Sandler. I love some Gen-Xers, but face it . . . they'll probably whine about this, too.
4. Silent Generation (Born 1928-45). They were between the two most-hyped generations in American history.
Pros: Many of them still read the Daily Republic, so . . . no need to insult them. And Don Draper on "Mad Men" was part of this generation, as were my parents.
Cons: Fought the "forgotten war" (Korea) to a tie, teamed with the Greatest Generation to oppose baby boomers, gave us no presidents (Greatest Generation provided seven, baby boomers three so far). Elected Richard Nixon president. Twice.
3. Baby Boomers (Born 1946-64). If you don't think baby boomers were important, just ask one. They'll tell you about Woodstock, the Vietnam War, the Beatles, the Civil Rights movement, television, blah, blah, blah. This is my generation, but boy are we a bunch of self-important bloviators.
Pros: See above. Also created the Internet, paving the way for the information revolution. Made rock music the dominant cultural influence. Gave us Spielberg, Letterman, Oprah, Ali and Joe Montana.
Cons: Rewrite history too often to inflate own importance, selfish, doubled the divorce rate of their parents, still obsessed with acting young, even though they're not.
2. Greatest Generation (Born 1901-27). A naming error, based on my rankings, but it's clear how they get that label.
Pros: Survived the Depression, fought and won World War II, rebuilt Europe and led the U.S. economy to the top of the world after the war. Also hired great PR man in Brokaw.
Cons: Had no other choice with the Depression and World War II – they had to survive and fight, so I'm not sure they should get so much credit for that. And they turned a blind eye to racial and sexual discrimination, forcing baby boomers to deal with it and then brag about it for decades. A great generation and worthy of admiration. But overrated.
1. Millennials (Born 1981-2004). The generation that is now moving into power in America, with several decades of dominance to come. Often criticized as lazy and entitled, but that's usually by baby boomers (who think they're too important) and Gen-Xers (who are whiners). My view? I welcome our new overlords.
Pros: Creative thinkers who consider innovation natural. Motivated by relationships and happiness, rather than job security. Accepting of those who are different. Changed how we communicate by embracing and enhancing all forms of new media.
Cons: Still live in their parents' house at 30. Haven't produced a significant political leader (oldest member of generation is just 34, though). Reality TV watchers. Some confusing style choices (in the eyes of a baby boomer). Justin Bieber.
Brad Stanhope is a former Daily Republic editor and Baby Boomer. Reach him at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment