I am part of the "MTV Generation", although I term us the "South Park Generation" (explanation later). We grew up as the first generation with video games, cable TV and mass media. We were born under Reagan, raised under Clinton, and stepped out into the real world under Bush. WE make up the vast majority of the soldiers on the front lines. WE are the ones starting lives and careers in George W. Bush's America. We didn't have the luxury to have achieved success and stability, financially and professionally, under the Clinton years that can keep us comfortable through the hard times we are facing today. WE have to somehow put together a life for ourselves in the mess our parents created.
We are not a clueless generation, quite the opposite actually. We know more about the world than our parents. Maybe it's the internet, maybe the mass media, maybe even video games (SimCity, anybody?), but we hang our heads in shame at the cluelessness of our parents.
Now, on to why I term us the South Park Generation. South Park has been my favorite show since I was 14, despite it's sometimes obvious right-wing bias. What I get out of South Park is the idea that our parents have less common sense than an eight year old. Is that true? Probably not, but I can certaintly attest to times where I, like Stan Marsh, pinch the bridge of my nose, shutter my eyes and sway my head in shame at the stupidity that emerges from my parents' generation.
Where am I going with this? Well, I had previously spoken about how my family, who broke 50/50 for Kerry and Bush in 2004 are 100% behind McCain. Yes, Hillary supporters in my family refuse to vote for Obama, whom they toss aside as a political neophyte. Yes, these members of my family, all over 50, who consider the former two-term Governor of Texas (speaking of experience) the worst president in history still consider experience like his necessary to be a successful president!
My mom today, whom I'm slowly convicing to join us in the light, asked me "Why are you kids so gaga over Obama?"
Here's my answer;
Because Mom, your generation has screwed up this country enough. WE have been waiting this entire decade, preparing ourselves for the realization that WE will have to clean up the mess YOU made. WE cannot sit back and vote for another one of YOU. Barack Obama is the new generation President. HE is NOT one of YOU.
Ok, so Obama was born in 1961...he is only 4 years younger than my mom, but he isn't politically part of that generation. Perhaps it's because he rose to power as Bush collapsed and as my generation spread our wings for the first time and found it much harder to fly than our parents did. Perhaps he was born out of a new progressive era that we have yet to see, just as Reagan was born out of the maturing conservative era that started with Goldwater, but culminated in his election years later. Whatever the reason, Obama is a revolutionary figure to my generation, who find ourselves on the cusp of wrestling control from the generation before us, who have for the most part failed in leadership. (I would fault them for everything, they raised a hell of a flock of great children, after all).
Oh, I am the DKos Debbie Downer and a noted pessimist, and I still think it's entirely possible that our parents can quash our revolution this fall, grasping power one last time, but if anything, as long as this country can survive a few more cycles, when my generation comes to power, the world is going to be quite a great place to live.
For What It's Worth, my mom agreed with me. Her generation has been a failure.