Just Thought You Might Be Interested

[cobrashoch]

Generation "I" (The Other Opinion)
OK, You are now 23 and grown up
You smoke a bit much, drink alcohol at nights, "Do" weed and have tried other "stuff". You refuse to admit that the alcohol is a problem and rationalize that the harder stuff is off limits even though you have tried some of those things. Chances are some of you have had a child by now. And of course you are tired of hearing all the "stuff" your parents have been harping about since day one. The net result is you have driven a car while you were drinking, and smoked in that car, both of which while carrying your trapped child in your car.
Chances are by now you have had some run in with the law, but that's ok, because you managed to get out of that. You've had about 8 or 9 no count jobs by now and it's starting to dawn on you that one of those jobs was the good one that got away. You run all night long, come in late, and sleep till well into the afternoon. You owe money to everyone with no possible way of ever paying any of it back. So you would like to find a job that supports this life style preferably working nights, since you are up during these hours anyway. Along these lines your finding job opportunity slim pickings, and I wonder why? You have tried to move out from your parents by now but you are “back home" for the moment. This is of course, till you can get your feet back on the ground. There's more, but why bother going there because you are only going to deny these things anyway.
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That's because while you may recognize some of these behaviors, you continue to deny any responsibility for them by rationalizing that you are only hurting yourself. I'm not your parent, I‘m a in your neighborhood baby boomer. And as a boomer I say to hell with you. I truly mean this,,,,,, F #%& you! What makes you think that these things just happened to you? Each of us in the boomer generation was there once. Some of us did even worse things, but somehow each of us got past this ridicules stuff. What you don’t realize is the answer to these problems for your parents was for the most part in you. But in a strange twist of fate in turns out that you are now their problem, not their past.
This is because I can think of no greater loss to any parent that the loss of their child. This is especially true if that loss was due to parental neglect of that child. And what you don't understand is neglect is what is what your parent(s) are thinking right now about you. Yes, all of this is happening because we as parents have somehow failed you. What could your parents do to get you through this? You are still a child in their eyes even though you have a grown up body. Always will be that child, like it or not. Your parents are currently witnessing a long, very painful, and destructive goodbye. But others have recently observed a change in this very ancient formula of destruction. We now know using science these behaviors are not only self destructive, but destructive to others.
So I'm not going to bore you by telling you that these behaviors are wrong. Chances are you know this already even if you refuse to admit it. Besides, you know better and are smarter than we boomers are anyway. I don't presume to know you personally, together with your own set of personal circumstances. What I do know is this. It is one of life's greatest mysteries that when you quit thinking of yourself, and start thinking about others, great and permanent rewards return back to you. It takes time. Indeed, sometimes it takes a long time, but this is always true.
Another truth of the baby boomers is things didn't just happen that were beyond our control. Right or wrong, baby boomers did something about issues through their actions. I submit that just maybe it's time for generation "I" to change the way they are thinking when they stick out their hand for perceived entitlements from others. And that by the way is a sticking point that boomers may need to address. Because for those that have cared enough to read this letter to this point, a warning now looms from the boomers.
As boomers get older, many in this generation will begin using what outwardly will seem to be inappropriate amounts of valuable resources with their advancing age. As of right now, many recourses are scheduled be administered through government entitlements. That means social security and medical costs as well as other benefits will be paid for directly on the backs of the “I” generation.
For the self possessed "I" generation that I described in my opening statements I stand firm with my opening derogatory remark. Boomers will only be practicing the same selfish behaviors you demonstrated so far. For the few in the "I" generation that have transcended into responsible behavior, the time is short. Soon boomers will be retiring. But till then maybe there is something we all can do about these problems. You either accept things as they are or work towards changing them. It's now your choice; I'm getting to old.
Unknown Baby Boomer