Posted on 10/23/2004 9:09:30 PM PDT by VPMWife78
FRANKLIN — A reader, Douglas Shaw, recently wrote The Tennessean and asked if the America that sacrificed at home to win World War II had died.
Would Americans today give up their SUVs so the military could have fuel? Would they give up precious possessions if the military needed the materials for weapons? Or have they become too selfish and jaded?
Mr. Shaw, I have your answer. And I found it in the faces of our young people coming of age, starting their own families and seeking their own purpose. The kind of America that would sacrifice to vanquish any foe is alive and well — more vibrant than at any time in my lifetime.
We now call the citizens of World War II — who made up that kind of America — the Greatest Generation. The young people answering the challenge in a post 9-11 America and world are the Next Greatest Generation.
These teens and young adults have shown themselves to be more than willing to sacrifice at home — and also thousands of miles away. Last week, J.D. Hobbs of Nashville left the comfort and security of the United States. This Marine is headed to Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters(two-years-old and six months), and a grandfather who says, ''J.D. is the best man I have ever known''.
His mother, Teresa, says her son was asked if he dreaded going to Iraq: ''He said, 'No, I will certainly miss my family, but I have to go. I would rather fight over there than it come here.'
Some Americans don't believe that contention. But Tennessee Marines who have been there attest to the truth of the statement. And building democracies in the Middle East ultimately gives people there another option for change — besides terrorism that turns U.S. airliners into bombs and Russian schools into killing fields.
Cpl. J.D. Hobbs has another reason to fight and sacrifice. His mother says: ''When he first told his wife that he had been activated and she spoke of how much his daughters would miss him, J.D. said he had to go 'so someone else's Daddy can come home'.
''Isn't that something? That is my son — total unselfishness, and maybe that is the basis of the majority of this generation's attitude: 'I have to take care of my family and I also have to share in the responsibility of caring for my neighbors, my countrymen and our freedom.' ''
Teresa Hobbs — whom I met at a recent gathering of Marine families at CrossRoads Community Church — is proud of the life choices both her children have made. For example, J.D. and his wife Amanda save and cut back so she can stay home with the children. Kimberly Best does the same for her family.
''My children and a lot of their generation were born and lived through 'liberal'' times','' Hobbs said. ''People were more concerned with the 'me and my freedom to do whatever I want.' Credit was readily available to get whatever you wanted, now. So more income was needed to pay back for the expensive cars, boats, eating out constantly, expensive vacations, etc.
''These same kids also had grandparents and great-grandparents who grew up during more conservative times (Dad went to work and Mom stayed home). People did without 'stuff' until they could afford it. Credit just wasn't used (except perhaps for a house). You saved and budgeted to pay cash for things, and you did without the 'stuff'. It was a calmer time, and I think this generation compared the two … and chose more time with family.''
The news media try to classify these teens and young adults as Generation X or Generation Y, as if they're some mystery. They're not. These young people are very readable. They wear their values on their sleeves and in their actions. They are more spiritual. They are more family-oriented. They're very loyal. They are not interested in fitting some ideological or feminist ideal. They've rejected society's dependency on rationalization, its aversion to saying something is right or wrong, good or evil. They easily see through that dodge.
Artie Tuttle, a creative writing teacher at Franklin High School, also has noticed a difference in this generation. Young people today, she said, are more determined. Tuttle has taught since the 1960s. And I saw what she meant when I spoke recently to her classes. I teased students about society's stereotypes of them — that they're only interested in being rich and shallow like Paris Hilton and having every body part tattooed or pierced. And I hit a sore spot.
Of the speeches last week at the Republican National Convention, one of the best was by Princella Smith, a college student and young African-American woman from Wynne, Ark. Smith spoke of how her generation has been underestimated: ''Growing up in Wynne, I learned to value service and community. However, as I grew older, some residents began to lose faith in my generation, labeling us 'turbulent teens,' 'troubled children' and the one I like least — 'Generation X.'
''Unlike those who fought in the World Wars and battled for civil rights, we seem to be perceived as a generation without direction. We reject that label. We are Generation X-ample.
''Our generation of 18-year-old soldiers has taken a stand against the horrors of terrorism in order to bring peace and democracy to those without hope.''
This Next Greatest Generation is truly a blessing from God at a most crucial time in our history. And from this generation will come our next leaders — who have realized the preciousness of freedom by winning it for another country, recognized the importance of family by sacrificing to keep one parent home and championed the importance of values by having the courage to state something's right or wrong.
This Next Greatest Generation of Americans — from J.D. and Amanda Hobbs to Princella Smith to the students of Artie Tuttle's classes — are being forged into better citizens by the furnace of adversity and challenge, just as their grandparents of World War II.
Frankly, Mr. Shaw, America's best days are still ahead
Yes - Yes - Yes - Finally someone who can read -
I don't like what happened in Spain - where their first time voters went Socialist. Having a son who just grad. I know what is happening in our Schools. They are trying to turn them into being Socialist.
Now we read where there is a ton of first time voters registering and there is also information coming out about fraud being connected - And I was just saying I hope these first time voters weren't being told to do what the "flower children" did in the 60s - vote to disrupt the establishment. And I mentioned Spain - because that is what happened there, I believe -
Thanks for understanding what I was trying to say - that other poster just seemed to want to argue over it. I wasn't putting down any youth - just mentioning that maybe someone might have to sit them down if they had in fact been told to vote for a reason other than what a vote should be cast for -
victim mentality....
"much like what was done before by the "flower children" of the 60s "
You invoked them, most want to forget them.
Feel better "A Citizen Reporter" -
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
I'm a '69 model myself, and my wife stopped working outside the home two months before our oldest son (11 1/2) was born. She, too, has a college degree, and probably could have made more money than I did at that time (I was enlisted in the Navy). But I was totally unprepared to breast-feed, so we went the route of having her stay home instead, and three more additions to the family have followed.
My mom worked during my entire childhood, and I was determined that my kids would have it differently. My wife totally agreed. In fact, that had quite a bit to do with me leaving the girl I was seeing at the time I met my wife (her ideas about career versus family didn't square with mine) and taking up with her.
Sometimes my wife gets to feeling like society demeans SAHM's, and to some extent I think that's the case. But I'm seeing more and more women make that choice, and I totally applaud it. And I also believe that as more and more moms take that on, the perception about who they are and what they do will change for the better.
What can possibly be more important than raising your own children? It really is that simple, isn't it?
And I believe that's a cycle we're going to see both continue and expand as more and more mom's take up the challenge (and I know what a challenge it is) to eschew the workplace for the home place.
As I tell my wife all the time: she has a MUCH harder job than I do!
Way to go, all you SAHM's!
I wrote this a while ago:
That's what the perception angle is all about. If you're not marching on Washington about some dumbass leftist cause, you're a slacker--to the leftist MSM.
They have done a fine job promoting themselves as what a generation ought to be.
But the perception is changing. The old media are dying, and the new media are emerging with a stronger voice, and clearer message.
While I was off work, I thought long and hard for baby (and birthday) gifts. So, I used what resources I had, and made a set of building blocks for one child, and a wood playset for another. (all trash, after a roofing project)
Those gifts were the best for the kids, and they still play with them today, so their parents tell me.
"But I was totally unprepared to breast-feed..."
LOL!!
Thanks for the chuckle. I love how you sneaked it in there. I almost missed it. :-)
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