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Statement on Tom Brokaw and the Millennial Generation


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November 20th, 2008 10:19pm
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that's right.

Submitted by nicachu on Fri, 2008-11-21 01:47.

that's right.

Great speech

Submitted by Michael Connery on Fri, 2008-11-21 11:05.

Great speech/video. I fully agree with the sentiment and content, though I have to say that I think Brokaw was speaking in jest when he said that (see Craig's correction).

Of course, there are plenty in the media who still do think we suck, and this is a highly appropriate response. But if it was in jest, we shouldn't be humorless about it. Even if what he says now in jest was first spoken in all seriousness not more than a month ago.

There's power in humor (see: Colbert; Daily Show), but conversely, failing to recognize humor can also undercut you and take away power.

Brokaw unworthy of your passion! But he might have a point.

Submitted by EverydayCitizen on Fri, 2008-11-21 15:05.

Hi Kevin,

I enjoyed your video. You, Sarah and Michael do so much to teach us old fogeys about the Millenials. I love it - and your passion. I do think however that Brokaw is unworthy of your passion.

During my generation (the Boomers), Brokaw was the one to do exactly what he asked for from yours - in that Brokaw is one of the people who found fault with the boomers. His very conservative viewpoints often saturate his speech too, as one can easily tell that Brokaw is unable to feign any admiration for grassroots organizing, citizen activism, social safety nets or the common good. Brokaw, awash in his own millions, would be happy to silence the plebeians and in fact I think he views citizen activism as a nuisance. Brokaw also would like to see the destruction of New Deal programs like Social Security or some of the better results of the 60s, like Medicare, Affirmative Action and EEOC.

So, while Brokaw is on the furthest end of my continuum (from me), and while I didn't catch his comment on NPR, I will say this though - there may be some truth telling in his question.

See, in the late 60s and early 70s, there was enormous solidarity among young people, much like there is now. I remember if someone was youthful and had on on blue jeans, you made enormous safe assumptions about where they stood politically and you believed that they would stand with you against the corporate/military structure, against violations of civil rights, against unequal opportunities to the workplace and to education, and against the destruction of the environment. Since my peers not only served in Vietnam, but were plucked out of their lives by the draft, there was also huge widespread solidarity against that ridiculous war.

But here's the deal. We did not know that people like George Bush existed in our generation. We really didn't. Our dissidence was so strong and widespread, it seemed like everyone in our generation was of one like mind. All the polls of that time reflected this as well.

What we did not know is that the Newt Gingrich types, George Bush types, Rush Limbaugh types and the really scary Moral Majority types were about to launch a huge backlash against us. We did not even notice that they were there - simmering, scheming, becoming more and more determined by the day. So, in the 1980s when the conservatives ripped our country away from us (for good), we just didn't see it coming.

It's at least worth considering that Tom Brokaw might be suggesting that there's a backlash brewing in your generation too.

I love you guys! You teach us so much!

Pam

www.everydaycitizen.com