A friend commented recently that seventysomething progressives haven’t fought hard enough to shore up our democracy and foster equality. According to this perspective, our age cohort started off idealistic, but got seduced by material wellbeing and dropped the ball. What do you think? How much responsibility do we rightfully own for the mess we’re in?
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I don’t know. I guess some of us boomers have kept politically active, and some of us chased the big bucks. Depends on what people value—freedom or money.
I think we were disadvantaged in some way by coming of age in a time when "progress was our most important product." I believe that was DuPont. It never entered my mind that things could get worse.
Thanks for reminding us, Betsy. I have two step grandkids who recently graduated college and their excitement about their lives and conviction that they can make a difference are inspiring.
Point your finger and three point back at you. How much has this person done to turn things around? I’m just shy of being a boomer. I came of age in the ‘80s. And, starting at age 18, I was marching in the streets, blockading the pacific stock exchange, working in social services. I recycled when It wasn’t cool or required and it caused plenty of friction in my family. On and on. And, at the same time, I drove a car, I flew on planes, I voted but wasn’t always paying attention. Bottom line: I still enjoyed all the privileges of living in this country
Generalizations can only go so far. Shifting blame typically indicates an inability to recognize one’s own contribution to the problem. Which only perpetuates the problem and doesn’t make it better.
The core of the original conversation was a questioning of one's own responsibility...or where some responsibility might lie. It did not arise out of finger-pointing. My guess is we were all asleep at the wheel at least part of the time.
I have a problem with the generalization that we went from idealists to materialists, period. Many of us raised families and that requires a lifestyle beyond a studio or one bedroom apartment with a mattress on the floor. Granted, some did go from idealism to crass, over-the-top materialism but I don't think the idealism can have been very deep in those cases. Also, part of aging involves passing the baton to younger people, which is different than dropping the ball. We have to realize we can't fix everything and begin letting go of feeling responsible for it all. We can still hope that growing in spirit has a ripple effect on others and that the world will benefit somehow.
I agree completely about passing the baton, as well as the hope you reference regarding the ripple effect of growing in spirit. Generalizations - bad; Hope - good. Part of the original conversation had to do with bemoaning the demographic shift we've seen where blue collar Americans have become Republicans. Is there anything we could have done to prevent that from happening?
The Dem’s ignored their need for wage increases for a long time. I don’t get that; we need the work they do. And often Dem’s condemn their being Christian even if they aren’t Christian nationalists. Hillary’s “basket of deplorables” description didn’t help.
Some people on the left don't seem to recognize the existence of Christian believers who are socially conscious. The very word Christian has been tainted. Another generalization that has not served us well.
There's an organization now called "Christians Against Christian Nationalism". Many denominational groups have both clergy and lay members who are part of this, even Evangelicals. All of these people are trying to live out the message of Jesus and therefore socially conscious. But I never see this organization mentioned in the news. I forget how I found out about it. The fact that it's not there says a lot about what the media chooses to feed us, I believe, and that influences our beliefs about others. Not that the media bears full responsibility, of course.
Glad to hear about Christians Against Christian Nationalism. The landscape is deeply complex. I'm also aware that the media has not given adequate attention to the range of opinions regarding Israel in the Jewish world.
I don’t know. I guess some of us boomers have kept politically active, and some of us chased the big bucks. Depends on what people value—freedom or money.
I think the question arose out of a sense of desperation. So much of what we assumed was permanent has turned out to be vanishing before our eyes.
I assume everything is impermanent. But like you, I hoped the impermanence would mean things would change for the better.
I think we were disadvantaged in some way by coming of age in a time when "progress was our most important product." I believe that was DuPont. It never entered my mind that things could get worse.
Me either. But as impermanence teaches, they may get better again. My 2 mottos: we’ll see…and Right now, this is how it is (emphasis on “right now”).
Thanks for reminding us, Betsy. I have two step grandkids who recently graduated college and their excitement about their lives and conviction that they can make a difference are inspiring.
Yes. Keep our eyes on the young ones. And please old boomers retire from Congress!🤣
Point your finger and three point back at you. How much has this person done to turn things around? I’m just shy of being a boomer. I came of age in the ‘80s. And, starting at age 18, I was marching in the streets, blockading the pacific stock exchange, working in social services. I recycled when It wasn’t cool or required and it caused plenty of friction in my family. On and on. And, at the same time, I drove a car, I flew on planes, I voted but wasn’t always paying attention. Bottom line: I still enjoyed all the privileges of living in this country
Generalizations can only go so far. Shifting blame typically indicates an inability to recognize one’s own contribution to the problem. Which only perpetuates the problem and doesn’t make it better.
The core of the original conversation was a questioning of one's own responsibility...or where some responsibility might lie. It did not arise out of finger-pointing. My guess is we were all asleep at the wheel at least part of the time.
I have a problem with the generalization that we went from idealists to materialists, period. Many of us raised families and that requires a lifestyle beyond a studio or one bedroom apartment with a mattress on the floor. Granted, some did go from idealism to crass, over-the-top materialism but I don't think the idealism can have been very deep in those cases. Also, part of aging involves passing the baton to younger people, which is different than dropping the ball. We have to realize we can't fix everything and begin letting go of feeling responsible for it all. We can still hope that growing in spirit has a ripple effect on others and that the world will benefit somehow.
I agree completely about passing the baton, as well as the hope you reference regarding the ripple effect of growing in spirit. Generalizations - bad; Hope - good. Part of the original conversation had to do with bemoaning the demographic shift we've seen where blue collar Americans have become Republicans. Is there anything we could have done to prevent that from happening?
The Dem’s ignored their need for wage increases for a long time. I don’t get that; we need the work they do. And often Dem’s condemn their being Christian even if they aren’t Christian nationalists. Hillary’s “basket of deplorables” description didn’t help.
Some people on the left don't seem to recognize the existence of Christian believers who are socially conscious. The very word Christian has been tainted. Another generalization that has not served us well.
There's an organization now called "Christians Against Christian Nationalism". Many denominational groups have both clergy and lay members who are part of this, even Evangelicals. All of these people are trying to live out the message of Jesus and therefore socially conscious. But I never see this organization mentioned in the news. I forget how I found out about it. The fact that it's not there says a lot about what the media chooses to feed us, I believe, and that influences our beliefs about others. Not that the media bears full responsibility, of course.
Glad to hear about Christians Against Christian Nationalism. The landscape is deeply complex. I'm also aware that the media has not given adequate attention to the range of opinions regarding Israel in the Jewish world.
Agreed! And ignoring that range is dangerous...