Who Does This Sound Like?

Who does this sound like: a generation of “idealists” who came of age attacking their elders’ institutions; who were the best-fed, best-housed, best-educated generation in U.S. history; who refused to compromise over principle; were often seen as moralistic; often accused of “radicalism;” perhaps “strident” or “extreme” in their search for truth, while others were inner-absorbed seekers of spiritual growth; who were known for seeking “altered states of consciousness;” “inner truth” and the “stream of consciousness.”

“Finding myself” was always considered important and worthwhile. Communes appealed to some. 

Their student leaders were “preachy;” the females often rebellious career women. They were certain of their truths, so sometimes riots or bombings happened. Campus rebellions and redefining the role of women are associated with this  generation. 

“Any opinion was a religion once they decided it was right.” So the phrase “which side are you on?” was relevant. 

You’d probably pick “baby boomers.”

But you’d be wrong. All those descriptions were of Americans born in 1584 to 1614; 1701 to 1723; 1792 to 1821; 1860 to 1882. All those exact personality traits, in those generations, are described in Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584–2069, a 1991 non-fiction book by William Strauss and Neil Howe.

People born in those generations do, however, tend to share a peer personality with baby boomers (born 1943 to 1960). Whatever positive attributes you might think they have, they have some unfortunate attitudes as well. 

They are narcissistic, smug, self-righteous, intolerant (“puritanical” in the sense of being rigid and intolerant). I’m a boomer myself, and I’ve had lots of time to ponder the particularities of my generation. Not all of it is in any way “good.”

Looking at today’s political culture, the polarization is a reflection of our attitudes. Since nobody instinctively will compromise on a matter of “principle,” (on “either side,” however you define the sides), you have sharp division. 

Perhaps tragically, certainly ironically, a generation that thinks of itself as tolerant and accepting is actually the very opposite. We have a genuine tendency to be smug, self-righteous, intolerant and actually closed-minded, because, of course, “we are right and they are wrong; we are moral, they are immoral.” 

The odd thing is that people seem to have no self awareness, as hard as they seem, on some matters, to try. Self deception, hypocrisy and moral failure know no bounds, even for a generation that often seems convinced it is accepting, tolerant, principled, moral and just.