My parents were too old to be baby boomers, they're part of what's known as "The Silent Generation," the people who were the parents or Aunts and Uncles of the the Baby Boomers or Gen-Xers. My brother and I are both X-ers with him being right on the X/Boomer Line. After my generation came Y (Millennials), then Z (The Net Generation).
I want to talk about X-ers and Zs. The former because that's who I am, and the Zs because those are the kid's I'll be teaching. X-ers are what are referred to as a "baby bust" generation where the birth rate compared to the previous generation is much lower. We're supposed to be cynical, self-directed and the first truly postmodern generation. We're reflections of the Lost Generation after World War I. The Zs are similar to my generation in many ways (after all, they are our children) they are similar to my parents, sometimes referred to as a new Silent Generation, a generation that is less team oriented (boomerish) and more individualistic. That they will concentrate less on big ideas and more on what they can accomplish. Lastly, Zs are supposed to be less concerned with fitting into a group, and more into acceptance of the other.
As a student of history, I am finding many parallels with previous generations. The Lost Generation (the X-ers of the early 20th century) gave birth to the Silent Generation (the Zs of the mid-20th century.) The Lost Generation lived through a war and depression, but weren't active participants in either. Having thought about this, I realize now, that I will be teaching the 21st century's equivalent of my own parents!
But the thrust of this message gets to the heart of what defines a generation? My generation didn't really have a war, we didn't have the idealism like the Boomers. We had everything and felt like nothing. The world could end at any moment, but we felt a void. X. X, signifying nothing. And Z, the new Silent Generation. The children who will turn back to family and concentrating on getting by and getting back to basics.
Who will step up to the plate and advocate for strengthening our country, improving our schools, rebuilding our infrastructure and solving the larger problems? If history has any guide, it won't be Gen-X, and it Won't be Gen-Z, but those in-between. The youth who believe that they can do everything. But the question is, will they eventually become the same disillusioned people their parents, the Boomers are if they don't accomplish everything they think they can.
In the end, what is it better to be. Idealistic and have your hopes dashed? Or better to be realistic and silent, hoping for the best, but planning for the worst? Do we have to make a choice? I choose to be realistic and idealistic.
