When Baby Boomers complain about teens, I have to laugh
A dark thread that is running through this discussion about the River Park curfew is a deep-seated hostility from "the elders" against young people in general. That's typical. And it's pretty hilarious when it's coming from the Baby Boomers, especially the ones who grew up in the 60s and 70s.
This is a generation I belong to -- a group that holds a place in history for being among the most outrageous teens. Though we were a diverse group, just like today's teens, we made the newspapers for horrifying our parents by going without bras; preferring long, unkempt hairstyles; shutting down campuses with protests against the Vietnam War; taking drugs like today's teens eat Skittles; attacking police and referring to them as "pigs;" celebrating promiscuity as "free love" and worshipping musicians who glorified all the above. One of the generational slogans was "Don't Trust Anyone Over 30." And now some of these same people think it's fine to clamp down on teens, who just want to meet their friends and drink fruit smoothies with protein boosts?
Can it be true that these are the same folks who are now upset at a little coarse language, the sight of some baggy jeans or a strap from a little thong underwear? At least, today's kids are wearing underwear!
That's why I love getting older. It is so much fun seeing what goes around when it comes around. Jump in on the River Park discussion. It's fun. Our editorial is here.
My blog is here. Jim Boren's blogging here. Mike Osegueda is blogging here.
Comments
Not everyone behaved as such that's a boomer and you can see the problems that such behavior has produced...Drug addiction, Aids and an increase in STD's, broken homes,suicide, lack of respect for authority, etc.. Things sure have escalated since those "Glory Days".
Some boomers realize those activities did not have positive results while others, such as yourself, laugh and say it was and is cool. Some of the activities I have heard reported are not only illegal but disgusting.
More boomer rear-ends should have been spanked back in the day and I'm glad to see the Riverpark folks take an aggressive stance. More than likely my fellow boomers will summon their lawyers and scream like the spoiled brats they are about their children's rights rather than address the problems.After all, who wants to give up free daycare and deny their child the "Mall Experience"? Think about it boomers- How has all that freedom and lack of accountability worked out?
Posted by: Brian Murray | July 21, 2007 12:51 PM