Talkin’ ’bout My Generation

Today’s inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is staggering and historical for so many reasons.  So many others have and will address the significance of today’s events, down to each and every last detail.  I would prefer to leave the detailed analysis and examination of each and every nuance to the pundits, historians, and soothsayers.  But, being me, there is no way I can let this day go without any comment at all.

Many have noted not only a political and social shift, but that President Obama’s (I’m never going to tire of typing that) election and inauguration signals a generational shift in American, and, we hope, global, politics.  When the helicopter lifted off carrying ‘W.’, no longer “The President,” off into the cold, D.C. afternoon, not only did many of us breathe a sigh of relief, but it also more than likely spirited away the last elected “Baby Boomer” president.  ….And the world heaves a collective sigh of relief.  More on that later.

My favorite morning show, ‘Morning Joe’ on MSNBC, had Colin Powell as a guest this morning.  They also had Tom Brokaw.  One of Joe’s regular cadre of journalists and pundits, Mike Barnacle, noted that Tom Brokaw wrote “The Greatest Generation” and was a Baby Boomer and that Colin Powell was part of the “Greatest Generation,” and there as this great love fest over them.  And, then, Colin Powell noted something about this new generation and these “kids” that got President Obama elected, at least that was the implication, that did not remember the original  Gulf War.

Now, I’m not certain how old they think our new President is, but he was born in 1961 – he’s 47.  President Obama is a Gen-Xer.  According to Wikipedia, the standard definition for “Generation X” is those born from 1961 through 1981 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_x).  Yes, it is a broad range of people, but, basically, we are the children of the Baby Boomers, and there aren’t that many of us.  But, there are some commonalities among us.  We are likely the first generation that does not perform statistically better than our parents, economically.  We are generally considered a “Reactionary” generation, and we are also the products of two very long-living generations.

None of us  has really had to lead.  May of us have still-living grandparents, and they finally let go of the reigns as late as 10-15 years ago.  Our parents picked them up.  They are also still around, and, until today, still held the keys to the highest office in the land.  Look around the Board rooms, the partners’ offices, and every other hallway of power in this country, though, and you will likely see someone that looks like your parents.  However, let’s take a look at how their world has turned out.

If you are like me, your parents focused all of your attentions as a child on doing well in school, majoring in something that could get you a job, and finding a job after college.  After that, it was just about working – working to pay the mortgage, to pay for the kids’ college tuition…life was about working.  And, many of us, saw what it did to them.  Dreams lost and abandoned long ago, left as driftwood along the shore as they approached their 40s.

They call us the “slacker” generation or the “me” children of the 80s, but aren’t we just products of our parents?  Doesn’t it seem that their generation, of which our last president is a great symbol, seemed to just make it up as they went, constantly telling us they knew what was best?  There was so little taught about service, about coming together to work together and solve problems.  They somehow instilled in themselves and tried to pass on a silent but palpable fear of those that were “better.”

We are not slackers.  We have a president of our generation.  Now, it is time to lead.  This is our moment in time.  Their ways do not work, and have fractured the world even more than before.  It is our job to put it back together.  Like the President requested today, we must set ourselves into action.  We must be responsible for ourselves and our neighbors.  We must shuck off our selfishness and single-mindedness.  We have been waiting and complaining and begging for it to be our turn.  Here it is.  Grab on to it, and lend a hand.