—
To those people of a certain age referred to as “Millennials”, I agree…calling you “Millennials” is a lazy way of grouping you and I hate it. I hate Bennifer or Brangelina or Gen X or whatever hybrid names negate the individual and lump them irrevocably to another person for our amusement and as an attempt at cleverness. I am called a “Baby Boomer” and I don’t like it either. My Mom is from the “Greatest Generation” the nicest lumping we’ve got. “Baby Boomers” are blamed for everything that has gone wrong in the last couple of decades though many of them fought for Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, helped end the war in Vietnam and had a kick-a** festival called Woodstock. Protest music was played on the radio and we felt connected to a certain extent that we don’t experience any more. I think, after achieving so many important objectives, a lot of “Baby Boomers” were probably exhausted and just wanted to enjoy their hard earned gains. I can’t blame them. This Prez exhausts me on a daily basis, but I can’t relax while he dismantles all protections.
I’m a “Baby Boomer” but I was a little too young to march back in the 60’s, so now at the ancient age of 62, I’ve already marched twice in D.C… once for the first Women’s March and then again in support of the Parkland students at the March for Our Lives. Though I had never marched before, I felt compelled. I felt like I had no choice. I also rallied against trumps’ latest hire (Whitaker) who is an attempt to thwart the Mueller Investigation. Quite frankly, I’d rather stay home and watch old movies or have an evening cocktail. I also don’t like having to pick up someone else’s trash on my road, but I do it because they don’t value the land in the way that I do and it is the right thing to do. So, twice a year, I put on a neon vest and walk my road (a couple of miles) picking up the garbage that “patriotic Americans who love our country” throw out rather than deposit in a trash can at home. I hate doing it. I resent their disrespect and their attempts to paint themselves as better than while they trash this land they say they love. So, during this weird time and weird President and weird congress and weird Supreme Court, I march in support of others. I give money in support of others who will fight the fights in Congress or in a local election. I even held a Dem fundraiser at our farm because it was something I could do. I find that finding a way to fight back is more useful than drowning myself in Jim Beam and Ginger Beer every night. Not as tasty, mind you, but more useful.
The moniker, “Baby Boomers” is now used by younger Americans as a pejorative just like “Millennials” is used by older Americans to imply a lazy, unengaged, spoiled group. Both age groups have been too long disengaged in the political process. These people in charge will try to get away with anything if they think we aren’t watching or aren’t interested any longer. Call it what you will, the name calling is just another way to divide us. We have endless graphs on tv about who voted what way and by race and gender. I’m told that white women over 55 are failing our Democracy in the way they vote, but I didn’t vote that way. I voted for my fellow women of ANY ethnicity or race and for educating young people without sending them into crippling debt and for healthcare for all, for women’s rights and fixing the damn infrastructure. I pray when I cross over every bridge that it isn’t one of the thousands ready to collapse. So, I wish we could drop the name calling and return to a certain civility which acknowledges each other, whatever age, as Americans. I get it, it is also a lumping, but it is the truth, not an arbitrary designation politicized for political gain and so it is a preferred lumping if you will. E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one. And, more Americans voted in the last election than ever before. We need to build on that for 2020 because the fate of our nation as a Democratic Republic rests on it.
—
What’s your take on what you just read? Comment below or write a response and submit to us your own point of view or reaction here at the red box, below, which links to our submissions portal.
◊♦◊
Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to receive writing inspiration in your inbox twice per week.
—
Photo by Jerry Kiesewetter on Unsplash