'Tom Brokaw Reports: Boomer$'

I was disappointed in Tom Brokaw’s recent broadcast about us Baby Boomers. He stated we are “unrealized” particularly in comparison to our parents, the “Greatest Generation”.

In many ways he is correct: we have not achieved world peace, true equality of the genders or races, eradicated poverty, nor lived more spiritual, unmaterialistic lives. Though relatively less important, it is remarkable that the attitude towards marijuana is just beginning to change.

But we did raise our children to be truly color-blind, not at all homophobic and free of gender-role expectations while the Greatest Generation remains somewhat racist, homophobic and tied to traditional gender roles.

We also attended Graduate School in record numbers and became doctors, scientists, engineers, teachers, professors, social workers, journalists, etc. We made enormous strides in medicine, pharmacology, technology and engineering.

We spent our more lavish incomes on larger homes, luxury cars, and for a time in the 80s, on Rolexes. But we also invested heavily in our children’s educations and recreation.

Brokaw is only 6 years older than the oldest Boomers. He might have looked in the mirror for this report or at least re-read his book, “2007 Boom!: Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today”. His college and young adult years were in the 60s and he describes participating in many of the same phenomenon as us Boomers. He did not come across as sanctimonious as he did in this broadcast. He projects himself as very ethical and principled and I am not suggesting otherwise. But, he has enjoyed great financial success, way beyond most Boomers; and he has made the necessary compromises to achieve that success. For someone who believes he is a journalist, he has managed to have an entire career without offending anyone. I do not how any real, truth-seeking, journalist could avoid offending the powerful. He also reveals in the book a remarkably close social relationship with many of his news subjects. A number of well-known journalists and editors have always followed a policy of avoiding socializing with any of the people that could be their subjects.

Watching the Academy Awards a few nights later also reminded me that a generation that may have a self-indulgent need for self-expression has produced so many film-makers, many of whom communicate important messages. Likewise, Rock and Roll is alive and well and many of the artists who spoke for our generation have withstood the test of time and speak to and for our children.

So yes, it is disappointing that more of our dreams in the late 60s and early 70s have not been realized. But we have made important incremental progress on many fronts and have every reason to believe that our children will make further progress.