Kim - Thank you. This is an amazing piece, both in concept and in the power of your writing. I was born in 1950: I remember Sputnik and Laika, Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn’s orbital flight, and, of course, duck and cover drills. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis like it was yesterday. I remember my father (a veteran of both WWII and Korea) watching the news and intoning “We’re going to have a war.” I remember “us neighborhood kids”, feeling like the cloud of doom was over us, but rallying for a pickup baseball game, thinking it might be our last. Like most “Boomers”, I’ve lived through and witnessed a lot of shit (and I use that word deliberately). What saddens me now is the realization that the hopes my generation might have d that my children and their children wouldn’t be faced with the same existential threats we’re seeing now seem lost. What’s even harder to accept (but we have to) is knowing that my generation dropped the ball on so many occasions politically, socially, morally, and climatologically. Nevertheless, (and I’m Speaking to Boomers) these are not times to cry over what we did or didn’t do: these are times to harness our experiences and NOT QUIT on dealing with the problems and find (or at least LOOK FOR ) solutions. Make the best, most thoughtful use of the time, resources and energies we have.
Thank you for sharing this, Jay. I knew there would be a lot of Boomers (sorry you guys get so much shit) and that you would have your own, even more calamatous experience with all this. The "we are all going to die, let's play baseball" rings so true!
I love this meassage so much: "Make the best, most thoughtful use of the time, resources and energies we have." This is it right here.
"You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it." Grace Lee Boggs
Time to recognize, embrace, and step up. We need to stop the cycle and make a real change. (And I remember being seven having drills where we had to bend under our desks at school. I think by the next year the teachers thought it silly and stopped.)
I just don't know. I tend to think too many are, that they've been taught that government and main stream media are not to be trusted, going to quick "news" instead, like TikTok (which tends to be slanted to the right - and to contradict myself it seems longer podcasts and writing is gaining in popularity again). There are those who are not, like Anderson Clayton, twenty-seven years old, who has served two years as chairman of the NC Democratic Party, and Zohran Mamdani, thirty-three years old, the NYC Democratic mayoral candidate. I think there may be more under the radar. People tend to focus on the negative as I believe you've pointed out: that survival instinct. Grace Lee Boggs was one hundred when she died, but she got busy in her twenties, and never stopped.
I was 11 when the Day After came out, and the Cold War dominated my childhood. I remember that we (children) used to say not "When I grow up," but "If I grow up." I knew that I would be 27 at the turn of the century, but I thought that my chances of making it to that point were less than 50%. Every night before I went to sleep I said goodbye to everyone I loved: my family, my cat, my current crush...
On the more hopeful side: Sting's song "The Russians" was the first time I had hope, especially with the lines "What might save us me and you/ Is if the Russians love their children too." I studied Russian in college in the late 80s and early 90s, hoping to be part of crossing the cultural divide. When the Berlin wall fell I had such an incredulous feeling of hope, for the first time in a long time.
Yes, we have been here before, on the brink of destroying human civilization, and we stopped it. For decades, I've used this story in my Environmental Studies classes as a hopeful sign that we can and will step back from the brink of a climate change induced civilizational collapse, but I'm no longer quite so optimistic. And now we're back to a higher risk of nuclear war than at any time in the last 30 years.
This quote: "Not when I grew up but if I grew up" is so resonnant. I thought a lot while writing this about the children of war torn regions, like Palestine, Somalia, who have grown up with death, dear, starvation, disease, hopelessness. I mean if this time has formed us as a generation, I can't imagine how their experiences are forming them. I'm horrified we let this happen.
I’m a 78 baby on the lower cusp of gen X, so the time described was mostly backdrop to my childhood when I was too young to register it. So this current state feels like the first time. It feels really destabilizing. Thank you for writing this to show it has been overcome before and some of the factors of how. My kids were asking about world war three, and this gives some context to the weight of those questions.
It hurts that our kids worry about things like nuclear war. And I do not underestimate how much their imaginations can take these anxious ideas and turn them into stories of fear and hopelessness. Glad you are talking to your kids!
Thank you for this post. I'm in that narrow river between Boomers and Gen X. Born in '63, right on the cusp. Generation Jones, I've heard my cohort called. I was on the brink of adulthood in the early '80s; the songs and tableau you spoke of formed the backdrop of my "coming of age" years.
Brilliant post Kim. I was one of those kids hiding under a desk as a first grader during the Bay of Pigs fiasco. I never thought I’d live to see 50 because of the threat of nuclear war yet here we are. Yesterday I met with a fellow retired scientist who oversaw the dismantling of the Russian nuclear arsenal. We discussed the risks of a rogue nation acquiring a nuclear weapon and using it. We agreed that the world has to do everything it can to prevent that.
Bob - I know it was worse in the 50's. I wish I was a fly on the wall listening to the two of you scientists talk nukes. Why does anyone need this? I mean, we are talking possible world destruction. uuuugh.
So good, Kim. I remember an asshole troublemaker kid who said in class (I was in 9th grade), “Russians just sent out nukes…”. I was dizzy with fear and was shocked that school didn’t let out. Later that nite, I realized that there were no nukes and cussed that idiot to myself (I remember his name but won’t give the pleasure). We all got thru just fine. Old protesters can kiss off. Are they trying to matter now? Many of em are OG hippies! Oh, nevermind. I’ll stick with being GenX.
Jim - that was a cruel joke, but I would've believed it too. I mean the culture just dripped with threats and maneuvers and ultimatums. You are forgiven for believing. It was plausible.
When you stated you watch the nightly news MSM and 60 minutes, it is understandable to me the fear you must feel. These propaganda outlets are comparable to the National Enquiror and cannot be counted on for truth or real news. I suggest you seek out Badlands News and BioClandestine on Telegram or X in which indepth research is done regarding Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Iran. The Art of War by Sun Tsu is in play as well as The Art of the Deal and the bombing actually prevented WW3 and had China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and India's blessing to name a few. Trump is smarter than the msm makes him out to be.
Hi Sandy - I mention MSM in this piece from the 80's. Paula below is correct.
I have a wide variety of podcasts, programs, articles and videos where I get a lot of different perspectives (conservatives, independents, Repubs and former Repubs, dems, and socialists.) I like to hear a diversity of opinions. I did check out the outlets you cited here and I'm not seeing a lot of diversity of opinion, just one-sided MAGA stuff. Happy to send you my list of outlets if you'd like to broaden your reading experience!
I am still considering whether the bombing was the right thing or not. Time will tell!
You are correct. Politicians and Media’s job is to divide us. Many of us think with our emotions before logic takes over. It happens on both sides. Some of the smartest people I know are all caught up in the propaganda. It is a sad state of affairs.
Todd - I get your point about the propaganda from both sides But I do disagree that the job of media is to confuse. It's the opposite of that when the job is done right.
I remember the early 1980's as a young college student after watching The Day After and Testament, I knew wanted die in the first wave at home with my cat, Bible and TS Eliot poems. On Saturday and Sunday those thoughts came back - if it happens, let me go in the first wave, with my cats at home on my cotton quilts and with my music and books.
I know the media is reporting a cease fire and 47 is bloviating whatever nonsense pops in his head, however I doubt the bombing of Iran will be set aside this easily and not avenged.
Kathleen - I wrote this because I, too, flashbacked to that time! Like "Oh no, not this again!" It is complicated in the middle east and I suspect it will continue to be complicated and Trump will not get his nobel peace prize. :)
Kim - Thank you. This is an amazing piece, both in concept and in the power of your writing. I was born in 1950: I remember Sputnik and Laika, Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn’s orbital flight, and, of course, duck and cover drills. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis like it was yesterday. I remember my father (a veteran of both WWII and Korea) watching the news and intoning “We’re going to have a war.” I remember “us neighborhood kids”, feeling like the cloud of doom was over us, but rallying for a pickup baseball game, thinking it might be our last. Like most “Boomers”, I’ve lived through and witnessed a lot of shit (and I use that word deliberately). What saddens me now is the realization that the hopes my generation might have d that my children and their children wouldn’t be faced with the same existential threats we’re seeing now seem lost. What’s even harder to accept (but we have to) is knowing that my generation dropped the ball on so many occasions politically, socially, morally, and climatologically. Nevertheless, (and I’m Speaking to Boomers) these are not times to cry over what we did or didn’t do: these are times to harness our experiences and NOT QUIT on dealing with the problems and find (or at least LOOK FOR ) solutions. Make the best, most thoughtful use of the time, resources and energies we have.
Thank you for sharing this, Jay. I knew there would be a lot of Boomers (sorry you guys get so much shit) and that you would have your own, even more calamatous experience with all this. The "we are all going to die, let's play baseball" rings so true!
I love this meassage so much: "Make the best, most thoughtful use of the time, resources and energies we have." This is it right here.
"You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it." Grace Lee Boggs
Time to recognize, embrace, and step up. We need to stop the cycle and make a real change. (And I remember being seven having drills where we had to bend under our desks at school. I think by the next year the teachers thought it silly and stopped.)
Great quote. I wonder if our younger generations feel outside the system? What do you think?
I just don't know. I tend to think too many are, that they've been taught that government and main stream media are not to be trusted, going to quick "news" instead, like TikTok (which tends to be slanted to the right - and to contradict myself it seems longer podcasts and writing is gaining in popularity again). There are those who are not, like Anderson Clayton, twenty-seven years old, who has served two years as chairman of the NC Democratic Party, and Zohran Mamdani, thirty-three years old, the NYC Democratic mayoral candidate. I think there may be more under the radar. People tend to focus on the negative as I believe you've pointed out: that survival instinct. Grace Lee Boggs was one hundred when she died, but she got busy in her twenties, and never stopped.
As a fellow Generation Jonser, thanks for the trip down memory lane. And the reminder--it's very important now, in this climate.
Honorary Gen X, baby!
I was 11 when the Day After came out, and the Cold War dominated my childhood. I remember that we (children) used to say not "When I grow up," but "If I grow up." I knew that I would be 27 at the turn of the century, but I thought that my chances of making it to that point were less than 50%. Every night before I went to sleep I said goodbye to everyone I loved: my family, my cat, my current crush...
On the more hopeful side: Sting's song "The Russians" was the first time I had hope, especially with the lines "What might save us me and you/ Is if the Russians love their children too." I studied Russian in college in the late 80s and early 90s, hoping to be part of crossing the cultural divide. When the Berlin wall fell I had such an incredulous feeling of hope, for the first time in a long time.
Yes, we have been here before, on the brink of destroying human civilization, and we stopped it. For decades, I've used this story in my Environmental Studies classes as a hopeful sign that we can and will step back from the brink of a climate change induced civilizational collapse, but I'm no longer quite so optimistic. And now we're back to a higher risk of nuclear war than at any time in the last 30 years.
This quote: "Not when I grew up but if I grew up" is so resonnant. I thought a lot while writing this about the children of war torn regions, like Palestine, Somalia, who have grown up with death, dear, starvation, disease, hopelessness. I mean if this time has formed us as a generation, I can't imagine how their experiences are forming them. I'm horrified we let this happen.
I’m a 78 baby on the lower cusp of gen X, so the time described was mostly backdrop to my childhood when I was too young to register it. So this current state feels like the first time. It feels really destabilizing. Thank you for writing this to show it has been overcome before and some of the factors of how. My kids were asking about world war three, and this gives some context to the weight of those questions.
It hurts that our kids worry about things like nuclear war. And I do not underestimate how much their imaginations can take these anxious ideas and turn them into stories of fear and hopelessness. Glad you are talking to your kids!
The Day After impacted me more than I’d like to admit.
Same
ooof. Me too.
This piece is filled with lots of scary thoughts and realities. Lots to ponder. 🤔 Great writing!
Thank you, Sandra!
Thank you for this post. I'm in that narrow river between Boomers and Gen X. Born in '63, right on the cusp. Generation Jones, I've heard my cohort called. I was on the brink of adulthood in the early '80s; the songs and tableau you spoke of formed the backdrop of my "coming of age" years.
Lynn, I think a lot of "Boomers" are more culturally "GenX" and I welcome you all!
Brilliant post Kim. I was one of those kids hiding under a desk as a first grader during the Bay of Pigs fiasco. I never thought I’d live to see 50 because of the threat of nuclear war yet here we are. Yesterday I met with a fellow retired scientist who oversaw the dismantling of the Russian nuclear arsenal. We discussed the risks of a rogue nation acquiring a nuclear weapon and using it. We agreed that the world has to do everything it can to prevent that.
Bob - I know it was worse in the 50's. I wish I was a fly on the wall listening to the two of you scientists talk nukes. Why does anyone need this? I mean, we are talking possible world destruction. uuuugh.
So good, Kim. I remember an asshole troublemaker kid who said in class (I was in 9th grade), “Russians just sent out nukes…”. I was dizzy with fear and was shocked that school didn’t let out. Later that nite, I realized that there were no nukes and cussed that idiot to myself (I remember his name but won’t give the pleasure). We all got thru just fine. Old protesters can kiss off. Are they trying to matter now? Many of em are OG hippies! Oh, nevermind. I’ll stick with being GenX.
Jim - that was a cruel joke, but I would've believed it too. I mean the culture just dripped with threats and maneuvers and ultimatums. You are forgiven for believing. It was plausible.
Welp, once again, I don't need to say anything because you said everything in my head.
Thanks PJ!
When you stated you watch the nightly news MSM and 60 minutes, it is understandable to me the fear you must feel. These propaganda outlets are comparable to the National Enquiror and cannot be counted on for truth or real news. I suggest you seek out Badlands News and BioClandestine on Telegram or X in which indepth research is done regarding Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Iran. The Art of War by Sun Tsu is in play as well as The Art of the Deal and the bombing actually prevented WW3 and had China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and India's blessing to name a few. Trump is smarter than the msm makes him out to be.
Hi Sandy - I mention MSM in this piece from the 80's. Paula below is correct.
I have a wide variety of podcasts, programs, articles and videos where I get a lot of different perspectives (conservatives, independents, Repubs and former Repubs, dems, and socialists.) I like to hear a diversity of opinions. I did check out the outlets you cited here and I'm not seeing a lot of diversity of opinion, just one-sided MAGA stuff. Happy to send you my list of outlets if you'd like to broaden your reading experience!
I am still considering whether the bombing was the right thing or not. Time will tell!
I took that to mean she watched them in her childhood she was speaking from!
You are correct. Politicians and Media’s job is to divide us. Many of us think with our emotions before logic takes over. It happens on both sides. Some of the smartest people I know are all caught up in the propaganda. It is a sad state of affairs.
Todd - I get your point about the propaganda from both sides But I do disagree that the job of media is to confuse. It's the opposite of that when the job is done right.
I remember the early 1980's as a young college student after watching The Day After and Testament, I knew wanted die in the first wave at home with my cat, Bible and TS Eliot poems. On Saturday and Sunday those thoughts came back - if it happens, let me go in the first wave, with my cats at home on my cotton quilts and with my music and books.
I know the media is reporting a cease fire and 47 is bloviating whatever nonsense pops in his head, however I doubt the bombing of Iran will be set aside this easily and not avenged.
Kathleen - I wrote this because I, too, flashbacked to that time! Like "Oh no, not this again!" It is complicated in the middle east and I suspect it will continue to be complicated and Trump will not get his nobel peace prize. :)
Oh so nicely written and accurately.
Thank you, Nancy.
Oh Kim this made me cry and though being born in 54 made me a boomer, I relate to Gen X
more. My Grandfather worked with Oppenheimer in Hanford WA. I’ve rarely told anyone this due to its profound ramifications.
Holy cow! Oppenheimer. You need to write about that!!!
Also, I mentioned this in another comment, there are some Boomers who are cultural Gen X, so just tell everyone you are one of us! LOL.
Captured accurately, precisely, completely.
Thank you, Carey!