Jeffrey “Biff” Bergeron
They are referred to as the Greatest Generation.
The designation is meant for those born between 1901-1927, making them anywhere from early 40’s to late teens when World War II began. Now granted, this was back when the U.S. had a military draft, but regardless, men went willingly to the war while others lied about their age and occupations to join them.
And it wasn’t just the men who sacrificed — women served in varying capacities both home and abroad. In truth, the entire nation sacrificed for the war effort. There was rationing of gas, butter and sugar, to say nothing of the loss of life.
My father-in-law recalled that as a boy of 12, he pulled his wagon around Durham, North Carolina, collecting fat and bacon drippings from homes to be used to make explosives for the war effort. He told me this a few days after his 89th birthday as he lay bedridden in an assisted living home. A few minutes earlier he looked timeworn and frail, but as he shared that story pride returned to his demeanor as he said, “I wanted to do my part for America”.
Over 16 million Americans went to war and more than 400,000 were killed. I’m sure there were those Americans who did not participate, contribute or sacrifice. But I have to believe most did.
My parents, and many of my teachers and coaches were part of that Greatest Generation, but back then I did not consider many of them that great.
They supported Nixon and the Vietnam War, called Muhammad Ali Cassius Clay and made me get a haircut if I wanted to play football. I blamed them for turning a blind eye to all the prejudice and injustices that I was easily able to recognize from the lofty perch of my comfortable, middle-class life. It wasn’t until I was older and smarter that I realized their lives and beliefs were nuanced by a world I was ignorant of.
I am part of what’s called the Baby Boomer generation, born 1946-1964. Baby boomers are so named because after WWII and the Korean War ended, couples deemed the world safe enough to have children — plus, this was before cable TV.
I was at a party recently when my friend’s daughter, recently graduated from an Ivy League college, was bemoaning the sins of my generation and those before. Her contention was that many of the ills of the current state of our nation were either committed or enabled by cotton-tops like me. She mentioned divisiveness, inequality, climate change and corporate malfeasance. She claimed that it will be left up to her and her peers to fix the mess boomers like me will leave behind. She closed with the fact that we created a country so at-odds that we managed to politicize a deadly disease and electric cars.
Now to be clear, I am convinced this gal will do great things. And I will admit she is far more evolved than I was at her age. But all that said, I also found her as naive as I was at her age.
My generation, along with the generations before, orchestrated the evolution from Jim Crowe to a Black POTUS. We were born in a world where interracial marriages were illegal and watched and supported the rights of all to marry who they choose. Though it has been slow in coming, the rights and plight of women have improved but still have a way to go. We have at least recognized the dangers of a changing climate, though we’re not in agreement on the proper response. I admitted that mine wasn’t the greatest generation, but we were pretty dang good and the following eras have some big shoes to fill.
Truth is, for every epoch it is easy to point finger at those before. It is also easy for those of us in the twilight of our years to judge the next era with pessimism. I’m sure my parents and coaches judged my long hair, leather jacket and love beads like I view those younger than me with pierced spleens and tattooed foreheads.
From the time Columbus landed, our nation has much to be ashamed of but way more to be proud of. Each generation has learned from the mistakes of those before. Granted, it is sometime three steps forward and two steps back, but that could be said for all countries.
America is a young nation, younger than some buildings in Europe. That has not prevented us from making amazing economic, social and scientific progress. Are we the greatest nation? Depends who you ask. We have made great steps and I believe that will continue, as we will be leaving it in good hands — tattooed foreheads and all.
Jeffrey Bergeron’s column “Biff America” publishes Mondays in the Summit Daily News. Bergeron has worked in TV and radio for more than 30 years, and his column can be read in several newspapers and magazines. He is the author of “Mind, Body, Soul.” Bergeron arrived in Breckenridge when there was plenty of parking and no stoplights. Contact him at [email protected].
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Publish date : 2024-09-08 07:33:00
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