It is something I haven't heard lately, ok boomer. It's a phrase of derision. I hate to admit it because I am a boomer, but for many, it is deserved. My thinking is, and always has been, they are the ones that were the hippies, or at least wanna be hippies. They were " dropping out " in the sixties, protesting Vietnam, expanding their minds with mushrooms and acid. Yeah but they were cool, hip, far out man. I was at odds with that bunch then and remain at odds with that whole scene. Apparently those " boomers " haven't learned much over the years. Consider this; these folks started to drop out and form communes. ( socialism ) It was all cool with the free love, great music. and the " man " wasn't hassling them. Worked well until they discovered some people didn't work at all but still ate the food. Then they discovered they didn't have any money either, bummer man. And all that free love, well it just turned out to be a hassle man, turns out a family is the best way after all. And so the communes slowly disappeared and everyone went home. For others the commune turned into a cult, and that all turned out to be a bad scene man. Like wow man, the whole commune thing just doesn't work! Like wow, could it be that commune and communism are like, well, the same thing? Well peace and love , keep on truckin'.
I'm writing about the boomers this morning because it is my thinking we boomers had better wake up. The party is over folks! It is our generation that has allowed a lot of this to happen. Indeed, we are responsible for a great number of the social ills of today. Remember all those things our parents tried to teach us but we just laughed? I say we because I'm guilty too. Our parents caught the tail end of the great depression. Many served in WW2 and Korea. They returned to a prosperous nation, the greatest nation on earth. They were the greatest generation after all. And many of us rejected all of that, dismissed it as being " square. " Our parents indulged us, wanting better for their children as all parents do. Some adopted the modern thinking, the space age way of doing things. In 1946 Dr. Spock wrote his baby book. New Moms flocked to read it and follow his advice. It really changed the way children were being raised. In all he wrote eleven books. He was a big proponent of Freud and his philosophy. In fact he changed Freuds words so as not to offend readers when explaining why children acted in certain ways. In many ways that undermined the traditional way children had been raised. Yes, it was new age thinking for sure.
We boomers are nearing the end of our political effectiveness. Are numbers are diminishing, no doubt about that. As we age the push is on, place us all in a home. Think about what is really being said there. Placed in a home that isn't a home at all but merely a care faculty, one operated solely for profit. But we are told it is for our own good, it's the very best care. Sure it is. And today listen to the news, the greatest number of people dying from this virus are where? In a nursing home. Listen to the ads on television, if you are over sixty it's time for " senior " care. You need prevagen to improve your memory, a scooter, a walker, a step in bath tub, right height toilet included free, incontinence supplies delivered discreetly to your door, life insurance to take care of those final expenses and the commercials drone on. But we still have time to be politically active. We need to grow up and vote for common sense, accountability and reason! Yes, all those things our parents told us about. You know when they said you had to buckle down, get a job and make something of yourself. When they told us about hard work, ethics and having moral values. They preached to us about God and Country and your obligation to both.
All I hear today is stay alive. Living isn't so important as long as you are alive. That's why we are shipped off to nursing homes, now called care facilities as though anyone really cares. Oh I suppose those working there have empathy otherwise they wouldn't work there. But I see it as not much different from rescuing animals. Yeah just 63 cents a day and the old people can be saved! The cost is significantly higher but you get my drift. But I say we boomers still have time to make a difference, return the country to the proper road. All we have to do is act like adults and make the tough choices. Do not allow freedom to be surrendered! Not on my watch. Remember the lessons of our parents, some are still with us. Listen to them now if you didn't then. Yes I've been called old, boomer and any number of things. Crazy old man. Oh I haven't been perfect, but I have been listening all these years. And you know what? Our parents were right for the most part. You do have to do what needs to be done, whether you like it or not. Buck Up! We can still teach these kids a thing or two.
People sometimes have last messages engraved on their tombstones. I wouldn't mind if mine said, I'm dead, I'm not surprised by it, knew it would happen one day, Boom. I am a boomer.
I'm writing about the boomers this morning because it is my thinking we boomers had better wake up. The party is over folks! It is our generation that has allowed a lot of this to happen. Indeed, we are responsible for a great number of the social ills of today. Remember all those things our parents tried to teach us but we just laughed? I say we because I'm guilty too. Our parents caught the tail end of the great depression. Many served in WW2 and Korea. They returned to a prosperous nation, the greatest nation on earth. They were the greatest generation after all. And many of us rejected all of that, dismissed it as being " square. " Our parents indulged us, wanting better for their children as all parents do. Some adopted the modern thinking, the space age way of doing things. In 1946 Dr. Spock wrote his baby book. New Moms flocked to read it and follow his advice. It really changed the way children were being raised. In all he wrote eleven books. He was a big proponent of Freud and his philosophy. In fact he changed Freuds words so as not to offend readers when explaining why children acted in certain ways. In many ways that undermined the traditional way children had been raised. Yes, it was new age thinking for sure.
We boomers are nearing the end of our political effectiveness. Are numbers are diminishing, no doubt about that. As we age the push is on, place us all in a home. Think about what is really being said there. Placed in a home that isn't a home at all but merely a care faculty, one operated solely for profit. But we are told it is for our own good, it's the very best care. Sure it is. And today listen to the news, the greatest number of people dying from this virus are where? In a nursing home. Listen to the ads on television, if you are over sixty it's time for " senior " care. You need prevagen to improve your memory, a scooter, a walker, a step in bath tub, right height toilet included free, incontinence supplies delivered discreetly to your door, life insurance to take care of those final expenses and the commercials drone on. But we still have time to be politically active. We need to grow up and vote for common sense, accountability and reason! Yes, all those things our parents told us about. You know when they said you had to buckle down, get a job and make something of yourself. When they told us about hard work, ethics and having moral values. They preached to us about God and Country and your obligation to both.
All I hear today is stay alive. Living isn't so important as long as you are alive. That's why we are shipped off to nursing homes, now called care facilities as though anyone really cares. Oh I suppose those working there have empathy otherwise they wouldn't work there. But I see it as not much different from rescuing animals. Yeah just 63 cents a day and the old people can be saved! The cost is significantly higher but you get my drift. But I say we boomers still have time to make a difference, return the country to the proper road. All we have to do is act like adults and make the tough choices. Do not allow freedom to be surrendered! Not on my watch. Remember the lessons of our parents, some are still with us. Listen to them now if you didn't then. Yes I've been called old, boomer and any number of things. Crazy old man. Oh I haven't been perfect, but I have been listening all these years. And you know what? Our parents were right for the most part. You do have to do what needs to be done, whether you like it or not. Buck Up! We can still teach these kids a thing or two.
People sometimes have last messages engraved on their tombstones. I wouldn't mind if mine said, I'm dead, I'm not surprised by it, knew it would happen one day, Boom. I am a boomer.
No comments:
Post a Comment