Those recent bear attacks up in Montana were very near to where I stayed a couple weeks ago. In fact, the man we stayed with saw a grizzly swimming in the middle of Lake Hebgen this month! I guess that mama bear was pretty MAD, but no more so than myself after I read an ugly article yesterday which basically called Baby Boomers losers. Yes, it had to be something outrageous in the mainstream media to make me start writing on here again!
According to this article we are mostly a bunch of big fat heavy drug users who never exercise and are bad with money….EXCUSE ME??? Of course their data and quotes came mostly from North Carolina, hardly considered one of the healthiest states around.
From the very beginning we have been catching hell for being such a spoiled generation in comparison to our much tougher parents. Then we were the ineffectual, drugged out flower children. Say what you will, we did convince those idiots in Washington to get us out of the Vietnam War, a war that killed and maimed far too many of our own generation.
Since then we have been trying our best to create meaningful, fulfilling lives for ourselves while giving birth to the next generation of Americans. If you believe this article, nobody is addicted to “illegal drugs” like our generation. Well, first of all, many well accepted legal drugs like prescriptions, alcohol and tobacco have killed far more Americans than marijuana ever will.
I take great exception with their statement: “Substance abuse is seldom associated with individuals who are nearing retirement age.” As I recall, far too many of my elders were completely addicted to their cigarettes and martinis every afternoon. I for one believe it is high time we make Cannabis legal so we can continue to learn more about its amazing curative properties. Perhaps a cure for cancer has eluded us thus far because we have demonized THC as a drug.
I have a lot of respect for my own generation. We’ve taken a lickin’ and we keep on tickin’ in spite of some terrible recent experience in the stock market, a job market comparable to the Great Depression, rampant divorce and depression, major challenges raising kids, etc.
It is true that we may FEEL like losers at times, but we are a tough and resilient group. WE feel the pain and disillusionment and then move on to greater things. If you should need help with your own loser feelings, please do check out my new book for encouragement and support!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hear hear! Calling US the biggest druggies?! How about the 80’s and uh..cocaine? We smoked a lot of pot, big deal, so does everyone else these days, especially teenagers. As for financial loser status—-how many generations sailed through The Great Depression unscathed? And don’t let’s kid ourselves, recession my a**, this is Depression II, The Sequel.
Baby boomers are great! Good article.
There are soooo many of us, that how can you call a whole generation “big, fat, heavy drug users”? I’m neither big nor fat, nor a heavy drug user. I exercise regularly, and am pretty damn good with money.
And as a group (although herding cats might be easier than grouping Baby Boomers), do we feel like losers, I don’t think so!
Wait a minute….I forget. Wasn’t it us who started the…
Running Trend
Exercise Trend
Health Food Trend (at least brought it mainstream)
Didn’t a baby boomer bring us the iPad, the iPhone, and all that.
Somebody’s must have mistake us for someone else!