The new greatest generation?
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By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
Much has been written about the “Greatest Generation” – that generation who grew up in the Great Depression, fought World War II and built the post-war economic boom. That Greatest Generation was born between 1910-25.
They experienced the Great Depression starting at the ages of 5 to 20. They fought World War II as old as 30 and as young as 15. They raised their families in the first baby boom. People my age were their children.
Ninety years later, we are at a similar point. Today’s equivalent children were born from 2000-15. They are growing up in a world that looks rougher than the experience of their parents (just like the situation in which the parents of 90 years ago found themselves).
Touching the prosperity of their infant and youth years, they look to be in for a rough ride. Out in the future, they may face a menace akin to the one Europe faced in the late 1930s and the first half of the 1940s.
The Greatest Generation grew up in a world of new mechanical inventions. Washing machines, refrigerators, airplanes and automobiles were their wonder devices. They stuck their heads under the hoods and absorbed all there was to know about the new devices of the day, unknowingly preparing themselves for the greatest mechanically centric war ever fought. They were naturals with planes, tanks, machine guns and ships, whether building, deploying or using them.
They were gender and racially blind. The women built the weapons of war (my mother welded gas tanks for generator engines), and the men deployed and used them. When it was “all hands on deck” all hands were on deck. From the Tuskegee Airmen in the planes, to the women pilots who ferried the planes to Europe at night, crossing from Canada to Greenland to England. (I recommend the book “On Celestial Wings” written by former Indiana Gov. Col. Ed Whitcomb).
A pause for an aside, they had to ferry the bombers at night, for the only navigation aid they had were the stars. They took the guns out of the top turrets and a navigator would “shoot the stars” from these plexiglass windows to the heavens so they knew where they were going, hence the name “Celestial Wings.” They were blind in the daytime when they could not see the stars.
So what skills are the next generation acquiring? Well, just like their grandparents and great-grandparents who were enamored with the latest gadgets of their day, the next "Greatest Generation" has had their heads stuck in video games and smartphones. And guess what? These activities are likely giving them the skills they will be called upon to use as they face our future nemeses.
It is reported that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed on July 6 that the U.S. federal government “is ‘looking at’ banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.” India has already banned TikTok, Wechat and other Chinese Apps.
Yes, the next war is not waiting for our decade of discontent to pass, it is being fought right now in cyberspace. Our kids and grandkids are already at least halfway ready, through their own interests and skill development, to perform when their country calls.
So, we must take care of the next "Greatest Generation", just like our grandparents and great-grandparents took care of the first "Greatest Generation."
We are in the middle of a tough year. It is time for us, especially us older folks, to shake it off, be inspirational, and make sure we properly guide and support the next generation. We are all Americans; we don’t need identity politics to define us. We just need to focus on the real threats, just like the first Greatest Generation did. The things we think are the problems today will fade away (and be solved in the process) when we do.
Let’s focus all of our energy in a direction that will really advance even the least advantaged among us. We are a team. Teams don’t fight among themselves; they focus on external goals that allow all members to work together for the common good. This has been the strength of America in the past and can be our strength going forward.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at jthompson@taii.com.
HCP columnist
Much has been written about the “Greatest Generation” – that generation who grew up in the Great Depression, fought World War II and built the post-war economic boom. That Greatest Generation was born between 1910-25.
They experienced the Great Depression starting at the ages of 5 to 20. They fought World War II as old as 30 and as young as 15. They raised their families in the first baby boom. People my age were their children.
Ninety years later, we are at a similar point. Today’s equivalent children were born from 2000-15. They are growing up in a world that looks rougher than the experience of their parents (just like the situation in which the parents of 90 years ago found themselves).
Touching the prosperity of their infant and youth years, they look to be in for a rough ride. Out in the future, they may face a menace akin to the one Europe faced in the late 1930s and the first half of the 1940s.
The Greatest Generation grew up in a world of new mechanical inventions. Washing machines, refrigerators, airplanes and automobiles were their wonder devices. They stuck their heads under the hoods and absorbed all there was to know about the new devices of the day, unknowingly preparing themselves for the greatest mechanically centric war ever fought. They were naturals with planes, tanks, machine guns and ships, whether building, deploying or using them.
They were gender and racially blind. The women built the weapons of war (my mother welded gas tanks for generator engines), and the men deployed and used them. When it was “all hands on deck” all hands were on deck. From the Tuskegee Airmen in the planes, to the women pilots who ferried the planes to Europe at night, crossing from Canada to Greenland to England. (I recommend the book “On Celestial Wings” written by former Indiana Gov. Col. Ed Whitcomb).
A pause for an aside, they had to ferry the bombers at night, for the only navigation aid they had were the stars. They took the guns out of the top turrets and a navigator would “shoot the stars” from these plexiglass windows to the heavens so they knew where they were going, hence the name “Celestial Wings.” They were blind in the daytime when they could not see the stars.
So what skills are the next generation acquiring? Well, just like their grandparents and great-grandparents who were enamored with the latest gadgets of their day, the next "Greatest Generation" has had their heads stuck in video games and smartphones. And guess what? These activities are likely giving them the skills they will be called upon to use as they face our future nemeses.
It is reported that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed on July 6 that the U.S. federal government “is ‘looking at’ banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.” India has already banned TikTok, Wechat and other Chinese Apps.
Yes, the next war is not waiting for our decade of discontent to pass, it is being fought right now in cyberspace. Our kids and grandkids are already at least halfway ready, through their own interests and skill development, to perform when their country calls.
So, we must take care of the next "Greatest Generation", just like our grandparents and great-grandparents took care of the first "Greatest Generation."
We are in the middle of a tough year. It is time for us, especially us older folks, to shake it off, be inspirational, and make sure we properly guide and support the next generation. We are all Americans; we don’t need identity politics to define us. We just need to focus on the real threats, just like the first Greatest Generation did. The things we think are the problems today will fade away (and be solved in the process) when we do.
Let’s focus all of our energy in a direction that will really advance even the least advantaged among us. We are a team. Teams don’t fight among themselves; they focus on external goals that allow all members to work together for the common good. This has been the strength of America in the past and can be our strength going forward.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at jthompson@taii.com.