Which would you deem the “Greatest Generation” in American history?
If someone were to ask you, which would you choose as the “greatest generation” in American history?
Walter Williams has a perspective on this question which I found quite interesting.
The “greatest generation” is a term sometimes used in reference to those Americans who were raised during the Great Depression, fought in World War II, worked in farms and factories and sacrificed for the war effort while maintaining the home front. Following the war, these Americans, many of whom were born between the turn of the century and 1930, went on to produce a level of wealth and prosperity heretofore unknown to mankind.
There’s no question that this generation made an important contribution. Let’s look at what else that generation contributed that might qualify them for the generation that laid the foundation for the greatest betrayal of our nation’s core founding principle: limited federal government exercising only constitutionally enumerated powers.
I believe that each generation has made significant contributions to society which have made us “great”, however, I do agree with Dr. William’s thoughts in his final paragraph.
If there’s an American generation that can justifiably be called the greatest generation, it’s that generation responsible for the founding of our nation — men such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington and millions of their fellow countrymen. This is the generation that threw off one form of oppression and laid the foundations for unprecedented human liberty. That is not a trivial achievement, for most often in mankind’s history, one form of oppression has been replaced with another far worse, as we’ve seen in Russia, China and Africa.
Just some food for thought!
Written by Sue
Big Mo Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 2:30 pmVisit Big Mo
Not being a member of the “greatest generation” or the one that followed it, I’ve sometimes thought that the bequeathing of the title “greatest generation” by boomers such as Tom Brokaw was done to assuage their guilt — guilt as having thrown away in the 60s and 70s everything their parents and grandparents created in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Created for THEM. The boomers had everything handed to them but they rebelled and tore down society’s standards and mores. Things just haven’t been firing quite right since the 60s.
(Oh, I don’t mean the end of institutionalized racism, segregation and such — that was very much needed. I mean the gigantic hissy fit that pampered generation threw and that aging hippies still venerate to this day.)
Big Mo Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 2:31 pmVisit Big Mo
As for an actual greatest generation, I don’t think any one generation qualifies more than another. Usually, American come together and get done what needs to be done, regardless of the generation. That’s the nature of the American character.
Sue Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 4:30 pmVisit Sue
I tend to agree that the selfishness of many of the “boomers” both in their morals and in many cases egos driven by wealth and power destroyed much of what was built during the years of the depression.
Even with all of that, there were those of that same generation who did contribute positively to society.
If we were able to look at percentages of those who have chosen to discard the values handed down to them, I wonder exactly what we would find. Is it primarily those who are in the spotlight and receive the attention who put a black mark on one generation? Sort of like that saying, “If it feels good, just do it.” Most of us could never live by that quote.
I think I agreed with you Big Mo in your assessment of the “greatest generation.” My way of thinking is it takes a lot of little people and events to shape any period in history. Greatness only comes to a few, but not without help along the way from others.