OK Boomer! … and old white dudes
By Kenneth J. Uva
In the past several decades, an increased awareness of, and respect for, a person’s identity has led to a change in the traditional ways we had referred to people. The use of the words “women” instead of “girls,” “African American” instead of “colored” or worse, are but two examples. In polite dialogue, members of the LGBT community can be openly gay without having to endure vicious words that do not recognize a person’s individual identity and values. (Caveat: Slanderous language is still used to put down others but there is a greater consciousness about such things and such language is no longer acceptable in mainstream dialogue in schools, the media, or public discourse.)
This change is clearly a good thing. It is wrong to lump people together because of their race, religion, or sexuality by labels that do not recognize their individuality and do not respect the fact that a person is a unique being and not a stereotype that can be defined by a word or expression.
In the face of a greater awareness of diversity and individual value, certain words and phrases are creeping into the language. One phrase that has been permeating social media is “OK Boomer.” Boomers are defined as people born between the time the troops returned from World War II and a generation after. Baby Boomers are considered to be people born between 1946 and 1964. As Boomers matured, they were responsible in whole or in part for many positive changes in our society such as women’s rights, reproductive choices, environmental rules, and LGBT rights, etc. Some members of that generation fought in Vietnam while others took actions to bring the war to an end. One need not, however, justify the achievements of a generation to object to the generic putdown “OK Boomer.” Argue the point. Explain why someone is incorrect. Express your point of view. What is wrong is to dismiss a thought or remark by a buzzword instead of engaging in a dialogue.
Frequently seen in social media is the phrase “old white dude” or “old white men” when discussing a public figure or a posted comment made by a man of a certain age or race. Is it wrong to dismiss a person because of age, gender or race but somehow OK if that person is white, male, and older than 65 or so? The same people who use these words to denigrate older white males take great umbrage if the flip side of those words are used to categorize and dismiss others.
A person’s age, race, and gender are not a choice. We have become more conscious of such matters as we have learned to respect individuals for whom they are rather than for their DNA. Persons born between 1946 and 1964, many of whom are also males who are now “old” in the eyes of some, and white, deserve the same respect. Knee jerk comments regarding identity are wrong regardless of the target, even when the target is a white man of a certain age.
Monday, Jul 6, 2020 · 6:13:36 PM +00:00
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KENUVA
July 6, 2020. Since this was last posted, another offensive shorthand has come into the social media dialogue. “Karen” is now the label for a “privileged white woman.” What I have said in the previous incarnation applies here. Attaching a label that denies the individuality of a person is wrong, regardless of the supposed status of that person.
