AKIE BERMISS: We, twenty-somethings! They speak ill of us. Our youth, our beauty, our unbridled exuberance. They are jealous of us, of course. It was ever thus. To be old is to be cynical — and much of that cynicism is aimed at the young. Of course, dependents are off-limits. Even 18, 19, and 20 are still considered childhood (mostly) in our society. Soon as you his 21 — that magic number — suddenly you are no longer above (or is it beneath, perhaps) reproach. Everybody knows how to do it better and everyone thinks you’re doing it wrong. That’s fine — that’s what being 20 is all about. Gotta let all the old-timers take pot-shots at you.
NAVA BRAHE: For those of you who are of my generation: born in the late 60s, screwed over in the late 80s, prosperous in the late 90’s – until the bottom fell out 2 years ago, you’re probably wondering what all this “emerging adulthood” business is about. Let me put it in a somewhat generational perspective for you, reminiscent of Gilda Radner’s beloved Saturday Night Live character, Emily Litella: “What’s all this I’m hearing about ‘emerging adulthood?” Well Emily, it’s just the 20-somethings’ way of postponing the inevitable; winding up like me.
THOMAS DELAPA:: I agree that generational generalizations can be simplistic and even misleading, but it’s one way (of many) of grappling with and understanding social trends… A lot of what we’re discussing seems to involve the changing American Dream for ordinary workers, young and old, if not its collapse. The financial stress and crushing foreclosures many people are experiencing mirror the monstrous national debt the country is facing. Individuals spent all that money on whatever (SUVs, big homes, home theaters, college, stuff) without thinking about the consequences, betting their home prices and wages would continue to rise. Likewise, the US of A. $1 trillion for a war in Iraq? No problem. Just borrow it. Whatever you do, don’t tax anyone to pay for it. In fact, lower taxes to get (re)elected.
