A question for the younger members.

[coriolis]

This is for the members that are in their early 20's or younger. I myself am 47 and have seen quite a few social changes through the years. Probably the 1960's were the most tumultuous of times, when the younger generation of that time made it their business to throw off the shackles of expectations and rules imposed by thier parents. I was too young at the time to be a part of it, but I heard plenty.

You have to understand that the older generation, that came of age in the 1940's, are called the "greatest generation." They are the ones that won World War 2. That was such an amazing accomplishment. World War 2 was probably the last "good" war, in which there were clearly good guys and bad guys. It was an epic stuggle of good vs. evil. The good guys won that one. They defeated the clearly evil Hitler, and avenged the attack of Pearl Harbor. My own father fought in WW2. They were proud. They deserved to be. Nothing was too hard for them. However this attitude carried through into the 1950's and 1960's. Having overcome the challenges, the attitude of righteousness carried over into their parenting and became too much for many of their offspring to accept.

The rebellion culminated in the late 60's, with the vietnam war (a really "bad" war by most measures - although there were lofty ideals involved and the older generation at that time embraced it) By the time the 60's and early 70's were over a revolution had occured. The rules of the earlier generation were largely thrown off, and the new generation had embraced a new philosophy in which authority was to be questioned and all things are relative.

Now I am wondering if things have come full circle. The generation of the hippies are now the establishment. My pet theory is that the 60's generation who embraced relativism, and doing your own thing, ended up without the ability to make any judgements or distinctions at all. Another possibility is that the hippies lost their rebellion and became their parents.

I'd be interested to get some feedback from some of you teenagers or young adults. Do you feel that your parents generation is relevant? Do their rules and values make any sense? Do they have any values that they would actually fight for? What will be the next battle of generations? Are there any visionaries out there? Does anyone have any thoughts that you can put into words?

[conestogo_flood]

I am 17.

My parents used to be party animals. Both born in 1960, my mom in Scotland thought, but my dad in Ontario. My dad had strict rules as a child, and when he became a teen he drifted into the world of drugs and what not. When he met my mom, they went to the bar all the time and stuff like that. I don't know where I am going with this.

But, my mom is still really cool, all my friends like her. My dad on the other hand, he has worked alone for 15 years, and I can tell it has really got to him. He is "dumb" as it is, meaning he lacks common sense.

I really didn't understand the question, it was not language I could understand, but I hope I answered it correctly.

[wxmann_91]

I am 14 and I have little idea what you are asking, but I'll try to answer the best way.

My parents are, well, different. My father spoils me, and I try to stop him from doing that. So, yes, I rebel against him a lot. My mom, OTOH, treats me more like an adult. She's already talking about who should I pick to marry, teaching me to be more independent, and tells me to not depend on others and form my own opinions. She stresses what she says are suggestions but in the end I lead my own life. My dad wants to stay with me in college. I almost never rebel against my mother, and I have a lot of respect for her.

My mother grew up in a poor farming family in China, one of six children. She grew up extremely difficult and led a very hard life when she was little. They grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China and dodged many attacks, and my grandparents were heavily ridiculed and tortured. I don't know all the details, and what I say may be a bit inaccurate. Anyhow my grandparents, uncles, and aunts from my mother's side endured unimaginable hardships. I'm not so sure about my dad's side since he never explained to me about his life. So yes, IMO, their generation was relevant (I'm assuming you mean to historical events).