Life Defining events

[Expertise]

I was navel gazing last night and got thinking about this. Actually staring at a bookshelf and seeing my copy of "The Greatest Generation" started my thought that my generation has no great and common life defining event.

For example my grandparents generation had the Great Depression and World War II, my parents generation had whole 60's thing (Viet Nam, Kennedy assasination etc.) but my generation had/has nothing truly comparable. The argument could be made, I suppose, for "The technological revolution" which actually seems more evolution than revolution to me. But nothing remotely comparible in my view.

Am I wrong? Further to that am I wrong in feeling a little cheated here? I realize that the events defining the previous two generations were often horrible, catastrophic even, but they resulted in struggles for common goals and a great coming together in the end, at least in Western society.

I guess what I am asking for is your opinion. Is there something I am not recognizing? Do you share this view? Have I just bored you to tears?

 

[Gingersnap]

It is sad that the defining moments for those generations are both violent. I think the Berlin wall coming down was a wonderful moment in history. It was filled with hope. Those events you mentioned happened and made young men and women come of age. Nothing disillusions you as fast as being hungery and homeless. They rose to the occasion and learned what was essential to life. I think that passing through the fire taught them more about deep commitment and honor. It left its scars too.

I believe that there is a raising consciousness regarding the epidemic of anger and violence in our culture. It is world wide not just an american problem.
I have certainly seen more and more people actively working for a solution. It has changed my own perspective.
I am more careful as I drive and let people slide ahead of me. I try to give each person the understanding and respect even when it drives me batty. My mentally challenged friends have taught me a great deal about patience. So perhaps we will be the generation that makes the biggest change of all. We will each change ourselves and in doing so change the world. Live simply so others may simply live.
I know this is kinda wandering and may not make sense. I apologize for that and hope you get the general idea.

 

[Expertise]

I do get it. It is a lovely sentiment. But I don't know that it is the answer I was looking for.

But at the same time I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[Weird Harold]

Not all of the defining elements of past generations were necessarily bad or violent. Your great grandparents lived through (or grew up) in the roaring twenties, or possibly the "gay Nineties" (1890's)

I don't think there is a definative "event" for your genereation yet. The internet and World Wide Web are redefining commerce, and AIDS has and still is redefining sexuality. We are only a few years away from a permanently manned international space station, and maybe a manned mission to Mars.

"Fall of communism" in Europe, and the trend towards a global economy heralded by the creation of the EuroDollar, are other things which may or may not define your generation.

There are no "great crusades" in the forseeable future though, and I for one am glad of that. Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement were enough excitement for one lifetime. <G>

 

[SimplySouthern]

*pondering the question*

I'd like to request some time to think about this one. Long day...braindead...can't think. Must sleep.

But....what the heck is "navel gazing"? Anything to do with bellybuttons ???

 

[Gaucho]

SS - no, no. It has to do with oranges. At least that's what I've been told. Or is it a ship? God, I'm so confused.

I don't know if it's possible for you to recognize a life-defining moment while you are going through it. Those thing are typically realized in retrospect. I mean, can you imagine what the reaction to Brokaw's book would have been if it had been published in the 50's? Those of us who were around in the 60's, 70's, etc. never thought of Vietnam or the Sexual Revolution as life-defining moments. We were too busy trying to get laid and stay alive. 10, maybe 20 years from now, you'll be able to look back and spot it; whether it's your generational moment or just a personal one.

btw - Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are Steely Dan. In 1980, they released their last studio album (until this year's "Two Against Nature" CD) entitled "Gaucho". That's the name, pure and simple.

 

[Expertise]

I am a dope

I knew I recognized those names. Thanks Gaucho

Navel Gazing = introspection, self-examination,

 

[Slut_boy]

I think 6that Harold has pointed to some very significant moments - perhaps, to me the following would go into my list (most of which Harold already identified):

(i) The fall of the Communist Regime in Russia
(ii) Computors, in particular the creation of the internet
(iii)The space exploration era
(iv) The emergence of the AIDS pandemic

All of these somehow seem more significant to me than the assination of Kennedy (with respect).

 

[Expertise]

SB

Significant events all. But have they really captured an entire generation (specificaly mine), formed a common if not almost universal ethos, changed the lives (for good or bad) of everyone.

I beg to differ on the Kennedy assasination. Its significance was in its effect on the North American public.It was not only the death of the man but the death of an innocence for an entire generation and the impetus for the rebellion of that generation in the sixties. Thus according to my simplistic little thesis a life defining event.

 

[Mortto56]

I think the most life defining event for today,started about 45 years ago,with the invention of the transsistor....For not for that,computers & the internet would probaly not be here today...Just 6 or 7 years ago,how many of you people where on,or even heard of the internet.Personaly I think that this generation will be remembered as the "IMFORMATION AGE."..I don't know how old you are,but when I was a kid,WAYYYYYYY back in the 60's,there wasn't hardly any electronic toys,now look,thats all there is any more......Well thats my little contribution to this tread.......Thank you for listening.

 

[Gaucho]

I beg to differ on the Kennedy assasination. Its significance was in its effect on the North American public.It was not only the death of the man but the death of an innocence for an entire generation and the impetus for the rebellion of that generation in the sixties. Thus according to my simplistic little thesis a life defining event.

I know that for my generation, the Kennedy assasination will always qualify as a moment of cosmic significance. There are very few Americans in their mid-forties and above who can't tell you exactly what they were doing when they heard the news about it.

*sigh* But as more time passes and each generation moves on with their lives, such moments fade more and more into obscurity. It reminds me of the line from "When Harry met Sally", when Billy Crystal casually mentions the Kennedy assasination to his young date and she goes,

"Ted Kennedy was shot?"

 

[Expertise]

Very true Gaucho.

To paraphrase Dennis Leary.

They always shoot the wrong ones. Bobby and Jack when theres Ted who is possibly the biggest potential target of all, John Lennon when Yoko fucking Ono is standing right there...

 

[Gaucho]

They always shoot the wrong ones. Bobby and Jack when theres Ted who is possibly the biggest potential target of all, John Lennon when Yoko fucking Ono is standing right there...

Yeah. It just shows that for you to become a target, you have to be great. Ted Kennedy and Yoko Ono aren't worth the powder it would take to blow them up.

 

[CreamyLady]

Actually, I do remember my first transistor radio. It was freedom.

My parents were very strict, and wouldn't allow us to use our money to buy records (45's; I feel so OLD) that they didn't approve of -- and they didn't approve of anything.

My aunt gave me a transister radio for Christmas when I was 10. I could listen to music -- any music, any time. It had a little earpiece, so I could lie in bed at night and listen, and they didn't know.

My money all went for batteries, but it was worth it. This was my point of rebellion. There was something Authority couldn't control, and I began to actively question its actual nature.

Maybe the transistor can be seen as the source of the information age. A fascinating thought.

 

[Mortto56]

Ah Yes Creamylady,I remember my first transistor radio as if it were yesterday.It was turquoise,and I had an earplug too.I would listen to the baseball games at night when I went to bed.I mowed a lot of lawns,to keep batterys in stock.....OHHH can we go back to the good old days!

 

[Expertise]

Thanks Morto

Unfortunately if that was the case you more than likely have the above mentioned events (the 60's, VietNam, JFK) as milestones, LDE's.

I am starting to think I was right. That my generation has nothing remotely comparable.

I think we all have events that are life altering or defining. They are however significant only to us or a small group. I have several of those ... some of which I wish I could forget, others that bring me great joy but personal to me and in some cases a relatively small number of others.