irst, there were the Baby Boomers, the original “Me” generation (1946-1964). They produced the next “Me” generation: Generation X, also known as “The Entitlement Genera-tion” (1964-1984). Now, last century’s most self-absorbed generation have produced another “Me” generation, the “Look at Me” generation.

Why should we even care? Their kids are more self absorbed, self obsessed and desperate for attention than any previous people that ever walked the earth.

Don’t know what I am talking about? Open your eyes. The spoiled, hyper-sensitive, self-esteem children of the Baby Boomers are reproducing. The bratty, self-indulgent, spoiled and disloyal Gen Xers are now having kids. Today’s entertainment supports this, with YouTube videos, MySpace Web pages and “reality” TV shows where people act stupid, eat bugs, have sex and sing out of key in front of a camera and a live audience. When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, there were no “reality” programs on TV. If you were stupid enough to make a fool of yourself in public, you went into hiding and prayed no one recognized you.

 

Re: your article entitled "From the Entitlement Generation to the Look at Me Generation", SacUnion July 4, 2008

I disliked this article, not just because it was a one-person rant against an entire generation of Americans, but more because it was a factual and logical mess. Rather than list point by point my problems with the article, let me summarize as best I can. I'm a Gen Xer, born 1973 (Gen X is largely considered kids born between 1965-1982, also the baby bust, as there are so few of us), children of primarily early boomers and also the beat generation. Generation X has often been called the "Slacker Generation", but never the "Entitlement Generation", which is also known as Gen Y and the echo-boom(roughly 1982-1995), mostly comprised of children of later Baby Boomers. Gen X's kids, to the extent they're born yet, are generally still in their early school years. Your concerns seem to relate to Gen Y, the kids in their late teens and 20s, the Lindsey Lohan, Girls Gone Wild crowd (I have similar problems with this generation as you do--which is why it frustrates me that you got your dates and labels all wrong). So you spend the bulk of your article wrongly singling out Gen X, falsely criticizing their parenting of a generation of kids they didn't raise, and making lame 15 year old references to our "goatees." Sorry, "Reality Bites" came out 13 years ago, and I think even Ethan Hawke's goatee is gone now (for reference purposes, Mr Hawke was born in 1970 and his 2 children are 10 and 6 years old). Even your specific criticisms (such as current TV programs, which are produced by Baby Boomers, self esteem movements of the 80s, which were created by Baby Boomers) don't relate to us. Here's how Time Magazine described Gen Xers:

"They possess only a hazy sense of their own identity but a monumental preoccupation with all the problems the preceding generation will leave for them to fix . . who fall between the famous baby boomers and the boomlet of children the baby boomers are producing...By and large, the [Gen X] group scornfully rejects the habits and values of the baby boomers, viewing that group as self-centered, fickle and impractical. While the baby boomers had a placid childhood in the 1950s, which helped inspire them to start their revolution, [this] generation grew up in a time of drugs, divorce and economic strain. . .They feel influenced and changed by the social problems they see as their inheritance: racial strife, homelessness, AIDS, fractured families and federal deficits"

Seems like a decent target audience for the Sac Union, the frustrated younger adults who enjoyed the Reagan years and hate the 60s, but so much for that, then. While it is classic Baby Boomer behavior to blame your children for the world the Baby Boomers largely ruined and still control, is it too much to ask that at least you make a coherent argument and do a little factual research to support it? Even if your criticisms had been correctly leveled against Gen Y, logically much of the blame for these kids' behavior should fall squarely on the parents who set absolutely no boundaries for them. And that would be...well, yes, those Baby Boomers again. My experience has been that Gen X, which included the first large numbers of latchkey kids and children of divorces, cares a great deal that we don't raise our children in the amoral directionless way that many of our parents did, and looks to our grandparents for inspiration. We take marriage much more seriously, and tend to wait to have children until we're ready to care for them. Too bad there may not be enough of us to make a difference. Thanks for the kick in the ribs anyway, hope it made you feel better.

Sincerely,

Ms Grimes,

 Well your article seems to have triggered a good debate.  I'm hoping I can appeal to your sense of fairness and decency as I ask you two questions.  I know your time is valuable so I'll keep this short.

#1.  The level of anger in the tone of your op-ed piece and in Dennis Johnson's email as truly surprised me.  Why are successful, white upper class members of our culture so fearful of decenting ideas or observations that they lash out in such negative ways?   I see so much anger and fear leveled at the world by Boomers.  This anxiety diminishes your valid point that there is an "entitlement" attitude amongst Gen X.  I agree with you that many of my generation suffer from a lack patients and an appitite for things not earned.  But there is no deeper digging into what creates this mindset.   Which brings me to my second question,

#2.  Why shouldn't Xers think that they deserve things right now?  Though this is a morally inexcusable mindset it is the pervaiding mindset of the most of the people in our country.  Look at the level of personal debt individuals carry in this country.   The Instant Gratification Fix is like a drug that our civilization is addicted to.  Bigger homes with bigger cars with bigger TV's and it goes on and on.  Your generation's seeming inabilty to stop and figure out that freedom and fulfillment don't come from buying power or consumption has delivered all of you guys into unhappiness. Being aware that you are a loved and unique Human Being and that we all are connected has always been the path to personal and collective peace.  This view is essentailly the Christian worldview minus the Diety requirement.

 My generation has a host of problems and I myself take pride in pointing out our flaws, addressing them and solving them.  But pointing out problems is not whining, it is seeing structural flaws in our culture and fixing them.  A disease cannot be cured if it is not pointed out, observed and altered.  The healing and understanding that needs to take place has to happen hand in hand with between our generations.  I say lets set aside acromony and fix OUR problems.  Are you on board for that? 

I'm hoping at some level what I've said makes sense and I look forward to you offering solid, empathetic soltuions to our disagreements.

Re: “Shocked by Grimes” by letter writer Ken Willis; published July 11, 2008 in The Union.

Editor: I agree with Katy. Ken Willis on the other hand did not; he professed to be “speechless” (too bad he was not), but then goes on a whiny tirade about his generation being the first to have a lower standard of living than the previous due to the uncontrolled consumerism of the Boomers, having fewer opportunities at decent employment due to outsourcing, unaffordable healthcare, dwindling energy supplies and the fact that they will never have a chance at retirement. His crystal ball seems to be a bit gloomy. When Katy called them lazy and whiny, she forgot quitters. I have interviewed many of Mr. Willis’ generation for jobs. A lot think that they are God’s gift to the working world because they have been told how wonderful they are (and believe it) their whole life. Many DO feel entitled and do not think that they have to pay their dues like the rest of us did. They want the BMW, the corner office, the VP title and they want it NOW! As for the consumerism of my generation (the Boomers), it was NOT my generation that got us into the sub-prime mess. It was not my generation that wanted the biggest and the best house right away (despite not having the money to pay for it). Unlike Mr. Willis, I do not talk about those of my generation who served; I served in the Marines myself and did a tour in Vietnam. I got out of the Marines, went to college and worked my way up in this world. Actions speak louder than words. So, is Mr. Willis going to continue to complain about what he does not have and what he cannot do (and continue to make Katy’s point about people like him) or is he actually going to stop blaming others and do something constructive for once in his life?

Dennis Johnson
Woodland

Editor’s Note: To read a special response from columnist Katy Grimes addressing this matter, visit www.SacUnion.com.

 

And of course, here is my repsponse:

Last week a reader responded to my column “From The Entitlement Generation to the Look At Me Generation,” with a letter to the Editor. His response was very personal; he obviously did not care for my message.

 

Identifying sociological generational characteristics obviously involves generalizations, but this is nothing new; all groups of individuals get generalized. For example, I’ve been called a “dumb blonde,” as well as a “conservative b***h.” 

 

Every generation is stereotyped. That is why I cited research. The young man who took the time to write the letter complaining about my generalizations of Baby Boomers, Gen X and the new “Look at me generation,” did not appreciate being called a slacker or my telling him to get a haircut. Being defensive usually means identifying with the accusation – even mildly.

 

But then he threw out the Iraq card. Yes, thousands of young men and women signed up for military service after 9/11, which is truly commendable. The writer should take notice that I did not write a word about Gen X military personnel. In fact, I’ve been vociferous in my support of America’s military. My own son is one of those young military men, who has chosen a career in the Navy during wartime.

 

The study of Sociology is a scientific and systematic study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. Do I like being called a spoiled, self-centered Baby Boomer? No, but I am not spoiled nor self-centered. If I struck a nerve, think about why.

 

Katy Grimes

 

 What is that fabulous expression..."Buck up or shut up." Why doesn't anyone tell these whiners to "shut up?"

I arrived at my office yesterday morning at the usual time. I hadn't even gotten coffee when I heard heavy clomping coming up the stairs, and not the usual footfalls of hurried sales reps. Walking straight for my office was my son, with his seabag over his shoulder, just off his submarine cruise. He wanted to surprise me.

Not being much of a beer drinker, when I do consume the suds, I like micro brews. I like ales. I hate LITE beer - that's for people who consume a week's worth of calories in one sitting. LITE beer has no taste. My dad has always called it "panther p*ss." Frankly, LITE anything is fake and phony. LITE muffins, LITE cream cheese, LITE butter, LITE salad dressing - none of it is good, and full of other problems. Maybe LITE foods are lower in fat, but they are higher in carbs, higher in sugar, lower in taste. I'd rather have the real thing in moderation.

Students attending a youth leadership conference were reprimanded by capitol security yesterday afternoon for singing the National Anthem and God Bless America in the state capitol rotunda. The patriotic expression was apparently so egregious that state troopers were called in to the rotunda to rebuke the students.

As the students ended their singing, several armed troopers entered the rotunda along with capitol sergeants-at-arms. They confronted conference staff and informed them that such singing is prohibited in the state capitol without a permit from the Rules Committee.

Undeterred by their shocking treatment at the hands of government officials, the students have applied for a permit to sing this Saturday, when they will visit the capitol for a mock legislative session on the Assembly and Senate floors.

The forty-five young people from all across California were at the capitol to attend the City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference, where they learn the legislative and political processes. After spending the day meeting with lawmakers and their staff, the youth aged 14-18, engaged in a spontaneous expression of passion for their country by singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. Tourists walking through the capitol stopped to listen to the singing and clapped enthusiastically.

Among the students attending the conference were two young people whose father was held in a Communist prison in Romania. Another student is a Russian immigrant.

"This was a ghastly overreaction to some students expressing their patriotism in the seat of government," stated Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute and director of the youth conference. "These young leaders have sacrificed a week of their summer to come learn about our government system and this is the 'welcome' they receive from the government."

"I am deeply saddened by the treatment these young patriots received at our state capitol," stated Meredith Turney, legislative liaison for Capitol Resource Family Impact and a graduate of City on the Hill. "This invaluable program equipped me with the tools I use every day in my job working with lawmakers. Unfortunately, these future leaders have seen first- hand how we are losing our liberties-including simply expressing our patriotism in public."

Despite their treatment, the City on the Hill students have applied for a government permit to sing the National Anthem in the capitol rotunda this Saturday, July 12, at 1:15 p.m.

Citizens are encouraged to attend the performance to encourage these fine young leaders' patriotism.

The following is a clip of the City on the Hill students singing the National Anthem (without a permit!) two years ago---

CIty on the Hill 2006

Read God Bless America-If You Have a Permit

Have you ever worked with someone who undermines you at every turn? Instead of working diligently at their own job, they do everything they can to make you look bad, or discredit your work, or get you in trouble with the boss?

I think we've all been exposed to this type of person; they gravitate to middle-management jobs and exercise power and control over rank and file employees - through cheating, lying, stealing. They are like a cancer in the organization; until the cancer is cut out, no one knows the extent of the damage done to people and/or the company.

The Democrats are this person. Instead of diligently working hard, they work only to undermine and discredit our country, and make us look bad, and do this through lying, cheating, and stealing for power, and control. The Democrats are just like the little workplace bully - insecure, obnoxious, rude, truth-challenged, self-absorbed, mean, self-aggrandizing little cheats who should be fired and denied unemployment benefits.

When backed up against a wall on specific issues, they lash out - call names, make personal attacks, try to hurt to disarm. Whether Democrats are on a neighborhood level, or running for national office, with few exceptions, they feel that whatever it takes is okay to get what they want - just like the middle-level power hungry manager, who will sacrifice an hourly employee, lie, cheat, and dish out personal attacks, to get what they want.

I know only a couple of Democrats who are not like this. Most however, will justify any behavior as a means to an end. Bullies. Cheaters. Mean, despicable behavior. What is this country coming to when these are the choices for leadership?

 

The liberal left in America stand for nothing. They complain, they criticize, the try to tear down and destroy, but they stand for nothing.

 

Today's children are bombarded at school by liberal, anti-American teachers. These teachers rewrite history, and tell our children that America is evil, bad, a bully, arrogant and must be neutralized. Parents can combat this by making sure that our children know American history, and are proud of America.

 

Misery loves company, so the liberals drag innocent children into their web of deceipt. And since they stand for nothing, they are so emotionally invested in anger, misery and hatred, that they cannot pull out now.

 

If your kids watch television this weekend, watch the History Channel. Take a look at the Military channel. Read Lynn Cheney's books America : A Patriotic Primer and A Time for Freedom.

Study up on the Constitution. Read everything Theodore Roosevelt wrote. A great book is Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. I am currently reading Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt by David McCullough.

 

We successfully raised two patriotic sons. One has chosen a military career. The other believes in the American free market and is in business with us. Both vote and are proud of their country. They grew up secure and proud to belong as Americans - they believe in America. 

 

Do you believe in this country? Because liberals don't believe in anything and don't stand up for America, they are insecure and fearful. Patriotism and nationalism allows us to feel confident and secure in our confidence in the goodness and strength of America. Stand up For America and you are standing up for you, your family, and your friends and neighbors.

 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt

The Wall Street Journal writes: "The political arms of MoveOn.org and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are joining efforts to launch a new ad attacking John McCain on Iraq, hitting again on his earlier comment about committing a U.S. presence in Iraq for “100 years.”

The $540,000 ad will air in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and will be carried nationally on cable. The ad, “Not Alex,” is one of the highest tested ad buys MoveOn.org has run in recent years, said pollster Anna Greenberg, whose firm has tested the persuasiveness of roughly 50 ads by the group since 2004. “What we saw with this ad is people saw the message as straight-forward and clear, and the message was credible, and they largely agreed with what she was saying,” Greenberg said.

In the spot, a mother appears with her child and speaks directly to the camera. “Hi, John McCain, this is Alex, he’s my first. So far, his talents include trying any new food and chasing after our dog. That, and making my heart pound every time I look at him,” the mother says in the ad, “So, John McCain, when you said you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because if you were, you can’t have him.”

The “100 years” charge has been hotly disputed by McCain and his supporters, who argue that his comments have been distorted by Democrats to suggest that he meant keeping combat forces in Iraq while he was referring to peace-keeping forces similar to what the U.S. currently has with other nations like South Korea.

Communist Party hack Chris Dodd is up to it again. as long as he gets his low-cost mortgages, the little people can support Congresses spending crack habit:

Washington, DC - Hidden deep in Senator Christopher Dodd's 630-page Senate housing legislation is a sweeping provision that affects the privacy and operation of nearly all of America’s small businesses. The provision, which was added by the bill's managers without debate this week, would require the nation's payment systems to track, aggregate, and report information on nearly every electronic transaction to the federal government.

Call Congress and Tell Them to Oppose The eBay Reporting Provision in the Housing Bill: 1-866-928-3035

FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey commented: "This is a provision with astonishing reach, and it was slipped into the bill just this week. Not only does it affect nearly every credit card transaction in America, such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, but the bill specifically targets payment systems like eBay's PayPal, Amazon, and Google Checkout that are used by many small online businesses. The privacy implications for America's small businesses are breathtaking."

read the entire story here: freedomworks