Baby boomers can't let go of the past and look to the future

DALLAS -- No one can ever accuse baby boomers of having an inferiority complex. In the 1960s and early '70s, their mantra was: "Don't trust anyone over 30.'' Now it has become: "Don't listen to anyone under 40.''

As a 36-year-old, I got a taste of that this week following an appearance on National Public Radio. Invited to be a guest on "The Diane Rehm Show," I argued that the presidential election should be about the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq -- not the war in Vietnam. I maintained that the personal decisions that John Kerry and George Bush made as young men are not as relevant as the political decisions the two have made since Sept. 11, 2001. And, I said, the fact that so many middle-age Americans -- in both parties -- seem intent on using this election to re-fight the Vietnam War is more evidence that the baby boom generation craves the spotlight and enjoys nothing more than talking about itself and its experiences.

That didn't go over well with another guest on the show -- David Halberstam, Pulitzer Prize-winning Vietnam-era journalist and best-selling author of The Best and the Brightest. Halberstam insists that, when it comes to Vietnam, it matters -- even now -- who went and who didn't. He said that those who went to Vietnam tended to, upon their return and for the rest of their lives, "do more reading." And become more engaged in world affairs.

I don't know about that. President Bush didn't go to Vietnam and he's not known to be much of a reader. But, after 9-11, I would say he's pretty engaged in world affairs.

Halberstam also drew comparisons between what happened in Vietnam and what is happening now in Iraq. He said there's enough "historical resonance'' between the two conflicts to "raise again the question of whether absolute American military superiority can be undermined by the political undertow of a country with a very difficult cultural, historical background'' -- one that includes having lived through a "colonial past.''

As opposed to, say, the United States, which started out as 13 colonies? As long as we're poring over history books, why not start at the beginning? Besides, does anyone out there really think that the administration set out to "colonize'' Iraq?

That's nuts. The fact that polls show a majority of Americans still support the war -- even if they question the way it has been managed -- suggests that most people see the conflict for what it is: an extension of the war on terror and an attempt to neutralize what National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has called "strongholds'' where terrorist outfits like al-Qaida could find support.

And how did my opinions go over with the NPR audience? Well, judging from the 100 or so angry e-mails, I would say, like the proverbial lead balloon.

Some self-identified baby boomers seemed to want to send me to my room with no milk and cookies.

One letter ended this way: "I suggest that Mr. Navarrette and his Gen X buddies miss an episode of 'Friends' and go visit the Vietnam Memorial in [Washington] D.C.''

Another suggested: "Crack a book now and then. Those video games are bad for your eyes.''

And another said of her cohorts: "I'll admit mistakes. Apparently, we raised a generation of self-indulgent people with no sense of history.''

That's the thing with baby boomers -- such a high opinion of themselves, such a low opinion of everyone else.

Self-indulgent people. No sense of history. These are the same things that, 30 years ago, members of the World War II generation said about baby boomers. How they were self-centered, spoiled and soft, and that they knew nothing of sacrifice and making do with less especially compared to those who lived through the war and the Great Depression.

At least one letter writer hinted as much: "Unfortunately for people my age, there's a group of people older than we are who fought World War II . . . and they've never forgiven us for 'losing' in Vietnam. Those older veterans disrespected the veterans of my era from the get-go. I'm hoping that'll end this year [with a Kerry victory].''

And I bet you thought this election was about where the country is headed. Nope. For some, it's about where we've been. It's about redemption and second chances for a generation that feels like it never got the respect it deserved and which now can't bring itself to respect the generations that follow it.

Pictures please!! (I hope yer a girl!) All us Baby Boomers thought Farrah was quite a FOX! (I was born 1959)

LOL! Yes, I'm a girl. I don't know how to post a picture, though. (I don't even know how to post a link; that's how dense I am when it comes to computers.) BTW, I was born in 1964.

My dad's a Vietnam Vet, who unlike most Boomers, doesn't want to talk about the Vietnam War. When I was a kid, I'd ask him what he did over there, and he'd proceed to tell me these hilarious stories about all the zany things that he and his goofy friends did in Nam. But, he never mentioned anything bad happening.

It wasn't until the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall came to town that I saw my dad break down and cry for the first time in my life. Then, I took a closer look at the Wall, and saw it: The name of the goofy best friend he'd told me all about when I was a kid. At first I thought my dad had just found out his friend had died over there, but my mom said no, my dad saw him die in Nam, but just omitted that fact from the stories he told me when I was little.

I have to wonder how my dad deals with it: Being a member of a generation that continues to revel in a past he'd rather forget. Then again, my dad's one tough dude.

The $45 Trillion dollar debt predicted by 2030 and the undermining of the values and institutions that made America great that the boomers will be leaving us

Hey!...you just shut up and pay your taxes. WASH wants his Viagra "entitlement".

/Heavy sarcasm

Is it selfish of the Xers to want to save some cash by seeing the boomers check out early instead of collecting years of SS.

As long as they move out of their parents' house when they start thinking like this. It's funny sometimes to see people well into their 20's still living with their parents and criticizing that generation.

Is it selfish of the Xers to want to save some cash by seeing the boomers check out early instead of collecting years of SS. Or is it more selfish of the boomers to expect to recieve all their SS at the expense of the Xers?

Somehow I think its never unselfish to expect to keep the money you earn; and when that money is taken away to pay for some geezer couple's trip to the casino, or to pay for/supplement someones retirement they never planned for...its going to piss alot of people off.

I might also state that my attitude is that I have/will take care of/financially help both my father/mother and my in-laws, if it ever became necessary; but don't try to spin the elderly-entitlement BS on me...cause I don't buy it. Those that made their bed can sleep in it. Somebody on this thread mentioned that the current generation of parents are reverting to "grandparent" values...this is true, especially in the area of moms staying home...many more are homeschooling; many see this as the right thing to do, self included. When it comes down to the raising and welfare of my kids and some old stranger's health-care, SS, and other entitlements...you better believe that it pisses me off to no end that self absorbed boomers are keeping me from doing the right thing...on 1 income.

/rant off

I was born in 45 and consider myself a boomer. All of my friends made something of themselves and are the most conservative people I know. I don't think it's so much birthdate as it is values.

I was raised to honor my parents and elders, attend church and know right from wrong. I passed that on to my kids born in 66 and 67 and they are reverting back to the values I have.

All the freaks I knew back in the 60's are still freaks and never made anything of themselves. So again I think it is a matter of instilled values growing up.

I think they should just end social security now and let us all take care of our own retirement arrangements. I plan to do what my grandfather and father did --- keep working, never retire. I think it would be interesting though if they saved social security by giving baby boomers money in exchange for a growing lien on their homes --- you'd see the Gen Y generation then go up in arms about their inheritance being take away from them.

I maintained that the personal decisions that John Kerry and George Bush made as young men are not as relevant as the political decisions the two have made since Sept. 11, 2001

I would agree there are some things that a person does when young, should be overlooked, but what Kerry did, was very close to trason. But more importantly, he (Kerry) has never came out and said he was wrong, if anything he is continueing to do today, what he did then. That makes his action in the 1970s a valid target for the 2004 elections.

Fitz, you're making too much sense today. This thread is another in a vast litany of generational warfare threads.

Yes, I'm a boomer who is not thrilled that the first Boomer president.

However, I was one of those that served in the post Vietnam Army (76-84), and helped elect Ronald Reagan, and thus brought an end to the Cold War. I guess one could say that was a good thing, unless you're a communist or socialist.

I admire and adore my parents for what they did, and overlook the welfare state that they created. As for those born after the Boomer years, I love the passion of the arguments that they bring, despite their sheer igorance of world history (seems like half of America has completely forgotten about 9/11).

Before I get riled up too much, suffice it to say that these threads never generate much more than methane gas of the bandwidth variety.

Yes, I'm a boomer who is not thrilled that the first Boomer president.

Sorry folks, suffering from jet lag. This should make it better:

Yes, I'm a boomer who is not thrilled that Clinton was the first Boomer president.

Thanks to all who offered prayers for us. The Coppell HS Band returned safely from Ireland and England, bringing home the Best Band of the 2004 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin. I'll be extending and revising my remarks shortly in the original prayer thread.

Everyone I knew, myself included, moved out at 18 (or right after high-school). Most boomers don't understand their childrens generation because they didn't spend any-time with them. They aren't referred to as the "me generation" for nothin'.

I'm quickly approaching the mark of being married longer than my parents and I'm a right wing extremist compared to their Dim-o-crap ideals. They haven't done anything for my generation and I don't expect they ever will.

Unfortunately most Xers feel the same way I do and are very bitter about it. If and when we get any representation in Congress, the proverbial shiite will hit the fan.

What I think would be fair to do with social security is just end the program now, let the government pay those who put in after they retire or reach a certain age, only what they put in plus interested adjusted for the standard savings account interests --- if in 1975 the interest was 5% for a savings account and they had paid in $2000, then they would get interest of 5% on that $2000, if in 1995 the bank interest fell to 2%, then the interest on the accumulated sum would drop to 2%.

After the retiree uses up what he paid in --- in Social Security checks and/or Medicare, then he starts cashing in on his investments and home. Reverse mortgages would work to free up money needed for living expenses or health care costs ---- because if you're getting to the end of your life, you're not going to need your house for all that many more years.

I noticed you are a Texan, that is somewhat surprising to hear, I'm from Oklahoma originally.

I went to my high school reunion a few years ago. I was surprised how many people had not left Oklahoma. But of my total class 98% were married and either had kids or were working on them. I had about 500 people in my graduating class (class of 90') and I would say that at least 70% were very successful in life and most seemed happily married.

I remember hearing on the news about how lazy and spoiled we were supposed to be and how worried everyone was about the future. We turned out far better than our generation's name implied and now it's turning in to a badge of honor. Most younger generations can relate to Xers and actually respect us, unlike the generation before us. It could be that the generation age band was to narrowly defined.

Boomers need a PR agent or they are going to be despised by both X and Y generations for years to come. My suggestion would be to fix SS BEFORE they start collecting it (ie don't make me pay for every single viagra).

OK, I'm filing a demographic complaint.

Me too...only I have been complaining about this for some time...and for reasons on the other end of the spectrum...you'd be surprised how many of the kiddos born after 1980 call themselves GenXers...but they are not.

I see the GenXer as those born between 1961-1979. 1980 was the beginning of a WHOLE new era largely because of Ronald Reagan. You compare the attitude of the country with Jimmy Carter to that of the country with Ronald Reagan and you'll remember why that decade was called the Reagan Revolution.

I dont hate boomers. There are plenty of them in my life that had lots of positive influence. What I hate is how pleased with themselves the majority seemed to be in 'creating a better world' for me and everyone else...when I can objectively (and SUBjectively with quite a bit of emotion to boot) point out how sadly off track they have steered my country.

I was nine in the year 1976. That was our country's Bicentennial. Only because my parents were on the tail end of the Depression Baby segment did I ever gain any real sense of pride for the history of this country. I seriously doubt that all the hatred and bile the VietNam protestors and Marxist students forced down the country would have given me that. I am only thankful when those same people wake up and realize just how they have been used. My next hopeful question would then be : do you support what *I* stand for???

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