“I came of age in a world that was shifting beneath my feet.” The acceleration of life led to new challenges, opportunities and responsibilities. Change was becoming the norm. Our parents were at their wits end as everything they were taught now was suspect. Many held on tight to the past. Boomers not only were raised in change we became the drivers of change. We took the progress bestowed on us by Lincoln, the Roosevelts, Eisenhower seriously and followed leaders like the Kennedys, King, Johnson, Carter who lent the power given them to aid all people. I like many thought we were on our way to a better world. That was our mistake as the bigotry we beat down was just hiding in the shadows. The middle class we built was allowed to be chipped away. We have made and can continue to make inroads in building a better nation, but we face new and renewed challenges. That list unfortunately is getting longer now. Thanks for this retrospect. We did good. We wish we had done gooder.
The political leaders who passed the major civil rights legislation in the 1960’s were not Boomers. Math tells us that.
And if you look at a timeline of US history focusing on major federal legislation, you will find that Boomers were remarkably timid about changing the world that had been built for them.
What is annoying is all the rhetoric that doesn’t match the facts. The Boomers were labeled the “Me generation” and that’s being validated even as we speak with the political leadership, and going back quite a ways. Doesn’t mean the replacement will be any better, but it’s their future.
The younger generations blame Boomers bc they can. Bc they were given "participation trophies" implying all they had to do was show up...not work for things in life they wanted. Not put forth effort or even God forbid, sacrifice sometimes. Housing, cars, healthcare, even higher education are all too high in cost right now. I agree. But it is not the Boomers fault. I worked two jobs to afford a house with 13% interest. It is American greed by both corporations and individual wealthy persons. It is Citizens United that allowed money to buy candidates. It was Reagan who allowed health care to become FOR profit. It is private equity firms who buy housing and rental properties, squeezing out families and individuals seeking home ownership. IT IS GREED....pure unadulterated greed!
We're now in our 2nd generation of US kids born with phones in their hands. But until they put them down for a minute to make signs, march, get clubbed and tear gassed, jailed, or register voters, work on campaigns, or just actually vote, the complaint department is CLOSED!!
As a millennial researching; I find I don't blame boomers. However I do believe your generations politics is the last of its kind. We can not follow you like you told us we could. We just can't. You didn't have the technology, science, understanding and advancements that is the new world. Therefore we feel let down because we thought if we did what you told us we would be on the right path. But indeed that path is no longer. However it isn't your fault for not knowing what you could not have known.
I’m Xennial, and in my experience, the people who complain the most about boomers have the least to complain about. I know some argue that Boomers are to blame for Reagan winning in the first place (and every Republican after that). How do you respond to that?
Indeed, we are being fucked, but we can make it a quickie if we start strong opposition! Boycott, strike, and marches, before they become punishable by death!
In Buddhism, beginner’s mind (often called shoshin in Zen practice) refers to an attitude of openness, curiosity, and lack of preconceptions when approaching any experience, even if it’s something familiar. The term is closely associated with Zen Buddhism and was popularized by Shunryu Suzuki in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
The concept emphasizes approaching life with the mindset of a beginner — one who is free from arrogance, assumptions, or rigid expectations. This state of mind is considered ideal for learning, spiritual growth, and remaining fully present in the moment.
Suzuki famously wrote:
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
By cultivating a beginner’s mind, practitioners aim to stay open to new insights, embrace uncertainty, and avoid the trap of believing they already have all the answers. It’s a reminder that true wisdom often comes from humility and fresh observation.
A merciless ruling class of bankers, powerful families and imperial bureaucracies run this planet. The idea it was a bunch of boomers is preposterous.
Fucking A thank you
“I came of age in a world that was shifting beneath my feet.” The acceleration of life led to new challenges, opportunities and responsibilities. Change was becoming the norm. Our parents were at their wits end as everything they were taught now was suspect. Many held on tight to the past. Boomers not only were raised in change we became the drivers of change. We took the progress bestowed on us by Lincoln, the Roosevelts, Eisenhower seriously and followed leaders like the Kennedys, King, Johnson, Carter who lent the power given them to aid all people. I like many thought we were on our way to a better world. That was our mistake as the bigotry we beat down was just hiding in the shadows. The middle class we built was allowed to be chipped away. We have made and can continue to make inroads in building a better nation, but we face new and renewed challenges. That list unfortunately is getting longer now. Thanks for this retrospect. We did good. We wish we had done gooder.
The political leaders who passed the major civil rights legislation in the 1960’s were not Boomers. Math tells us that.
And if you look at a timeline of US history focusing on major federal legislation, you will find that Boomers were remarkably timid about changing the world that had been built for them.
What is annoying is all the rhetoric that doesn’t match the facts. The Boomers were labeled the “Me generation” and that’s being validated even as we speak with the political leadership, and going back quite a ways. Doesn’t mean the replacement will be any better, but it’s their future.
The younger generations blame Boomers bc they can. Bc they were given "participation trophies" implying all they had to do was show up...not work for things in life they wanted. Not put forth effort or even God forbid, sacrifice sometimes. Housing, cars, healthcare, even higher education are all too high in cost right now. I agree. But it is not the Boomers fault. I worked two jobs to afford a house with 13% interest. It is American greed by both corporations and individual wealthy persons. It is Citizens United that allowed money to buy candidates. It was Reagan who allowed health care to become FOR profit. It is private equity firms who buy housing and rental properties, squeezing out families and individuals seeking home ownership. IT IS GREED....pure unadulterated greed!
I didn’t ‘do’ Woodstock but was there for the Dead, The Band, and the Allman Brothers, WATKINS GLEN! 600,000 for ONE DAY!
The USA has had a nice run.
We're now in our 2nd generation of US kids born with phones in their hands. But until they put them down for a minute to make signs, march, get clubbed and tear gassed, jailed, or register voters, work on campaigns, or just actually vote, the complaint department is CLOSED!!
As a millennial researching; I find I don't blame boomers. However I do believe your generations politics is the last of its kind. We can not follow you like you told us we could. We just can't. You didn't have the technology, science, understanding and advancements that is the new world. Therefore we feel let down because we thought if we did what you told us we would be on the right path. But indeed that path is no longer. However it isn't your fault for not knowing what you could not have known.
I’m Xennial, and in my experience, the people who complain the most about boomers have the least to complain about. I know some argue that Boomers are to blame for Reagan winning in the first place (and every Republican after that). How do you respond to that?
Excellent article. The truth. Thank you. Btw. I'm 75.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E4W-yH5RHk&t=28s
Indeed, we are being fucked, but we can make it a quickie if we start strong opposition! Boycott, strike, and marches, before they become punishable by death!
All good points! Were you inspired by my Boomer article a few weeks back? I think mine and yours make a great matched set.
Beautiful
Thanks for this.
well said Brett, that’s what my 16 year old son, i’m 71, says about me to his friends, “my pops is seasoned”
Sounds like you have a pretty hip son!
hip kid and a great teacher, i'm learning a lot about love, so much i never knew that i didn't know.
In Buddhism, beginner’s mind (often called shoshin in Zen practice) refers to an attitude of openness, curiosity, and lack of preconceptions when approaching any experience, even if it’s something familiar. The term is closely associated with Zen Buddhism and was popularized by Shunryu Suzuki in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
The concept emphasizes approaching life with the mindset of a beginner — one who is free from arrogance, assumptions, or rigid expectations. This state of mind is considered ideal for learning, spiritual growth, and remaining fully present in the moment.
Suzuki famously wrote:
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
By cultivating a beginner’s mind, practitioners aim to stay open to new insights, embrace uncertainty, and avoid the trap of believing they already have all the answers. It’s a reminder that true wisdom often comes from humility and fresh observation.
i have kept Suzuki’s book that you mention for almost 40 years.