Why Us? Why Now?
and so we begin the tale...
It might seem a little ridiculous to think that a generation of late middle-aged people are finally on the rise. But perhaps it is also the most logical thing too. We’ve been minimized, co-opted into other generations, and ignored for far too long. If we don't speak up, our valuable contributions as a generation will be folded into a larger fabric of time and forgotten. It’s already happening on some level. The important bridge that we are, and the essence of who we are, will not be seen by future generations, because we are sociologically not visible to the majority.
With our two presidential candidates, so unique from those that have come before, and their perspectives fresh, and indicative of the flavor of our generation, we are fortunate to have this opportunity to make our mark. There’s a humility present in these candidates, a simple feeling of authenticity that may resonate with many of us. It certainly resonates with me. It’s a feeling of freedom. It’s like, “if not now, when?” And “how do we do this differently, more respectfully, kinder and simpler?”
Why it Matters
People need to identify with a unique time, when they came into this world, when they came of age, what was going on in the world around them during their growing up years. Without it, they’re a bit rudderless. When it goes unacknowledged, ignored, or sloppily grouped with another generation, there’s a left out feeling, or a lack of belonging.
Generation Jones was born into a period of unrest. The Civil Rights Movement, multiple assassinations, fathers and older relatives and siblings fighting in Vietnam, conflict abounding during our childhoods. But also Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room and only three channels on the television, except for the local PBS.
Birth control, as well as abortion was available all of my reproductive life. Abortion wasn’t even widely questioned until later in the 80’s. Oddly enough, around the time of our reproductive life ending, so was abortion access, making us the only generation of women who can say this is true.
We have the best music too. Growing up with Queen, Springsteen, Billy Joel, and everything from country rock to disco to punk and new wave. What other generation went to the midnight showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every weekend? (We started it, anyway.) And of course, I’d be remiss not to mention, “We are the Champions” and “We will, we will, rock you” blaring from the speakers during our basketball games and pep rallies in high school.
The point is that all people need to feel a sense of belonging. Belonging to a group or cohort. Belonging to a sense of time and significance. It matters.
What’s next?
We are becoming the elders now. We can take this moment in our history to continue our significance in a way that may help future generations to prosper and succeed. That’s certainly not nothing, after all! I hope we elect Harris and Walz. I hope that they invite more meaningful discourse into the public arena. I hope that they do things with more honesty and visible integrity, increasing public faith in the institution.
I hope that we bolster all the voices around us primed to make a difference and use their wisdom and experience, humbly, and for something bigger than our self interests.
In the next post, I’m highlighting a person of our generation, little known, but an important contributor to a sense of greater good. If you know of someone that should be highlighted and celebrated, send me a message! I’d like to write about them too. Every bit of good we put into the world matters.