Jonesing for Obama
One further thought...
As I'm watching and reading the inauguration coverage, political bloggers and reporters keep referring to Obama as a "Baby Boomer." Although that's technically correct — the traditional cutoff for the post-World War II Baby Boom is 1964— as Obama's immediate peer (we both were born in 1961; he's a few months older than I), I don't think it's sociologically accurate.
Those of us born in the late 1950s and early 1960s better fit the description of "Generation Jones," as defined by pop culture savant Jonathan Pontell. We have far more in common with today's young adults, a.k.a. Generation X, than we do with the more conservative Boomers who arrived in the decade before us.
Like our younger colleagues, we Jonesers tend to be more liberal politically, more tolerant socially, and more savvy technologically than our Boomer elders. (Obama's infamous Blackberry is an excellent illustration of this latter point.)
We mark a striking transition between the children of WWII veterans — the generation that voted Ronald Reagan and both Bushes into office (as well as Bill Clinton, who ran as a conservative Democrat) — and the enthusiastic youth who helped sweep our new President into the White House.
It's an important distinction to make, I think.
Our generation elected Barack Obama. The Baby Boomers would have elected John McCain.
So let's call Obama, not the last President of the Baby Boom generation, but the first President born of Generation Jones.
Now, my fellow Jonesers, let's go change the world.
As I'm watching and reading the inauguration coverage, political bloggers and reporters keep referring to Obama as a "Baby Boomer." Although that's technically correct — the traditional cutoff for the post-World War II Baby Boom is 1964— as Obama's immediate peer (we both were born in 1961; he's a few months older than I), I don't think it's sociologically accurate.
Those of us born in the late 1950s and early 1960s better fit the description of "Generation Jones," as defined by pop culture savant Jonathan Pontell. We have far more in common with today's young adults, a.k.a. Generation X, than we do with the more conservative Boomers who arrived in the decade before us.
Like our younger colleagues, we Jonesers tend to be more liberal politically, more tolerant socially, and more savvy technologically than our Boomer elders. (Obama's infamous Blackberry is an excellent illustration of this latter point.)
We mark a striking transition between the children of WWII veterans — the generation that voted Ronald Reagan and both Bushes into office (as well as Bill Clinton, who ran as a conservative Democrat) — and the enthusiastic youth who helped sweep our new President into the White House.
It's an important distinction to make, I think.
Our generation elected Barack Obama. The Baby Boomers would have elected John McCain.
So let's call Obama, not the last President of the Baby Boom generation, but the first President born of Generation Jones.
Now, my fellow Jonesers, let's go change the world.
Labels: Aimless Riffing, Hero of the Day, Random Acts of Patriotism, Ripped From the Headlines, The Body Politic
SwanShadow was randomly pounding the keyboard at 11:34 AM
1 insisted on sticking two cents in:
I'm right there with you Uncle Swan.. actually it would be Brother Swan since we're only two years apart, you being the more mature brother of course.
Great day for America, great day for all of us.
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