Gus writes, "I listen to the show on Sunday mornings here on 89.1 in San Antonio, TX. I like the show a lot but had never been motivated to write til I heard Charles Monroe Cain's spot railing against the nostalgic boomers. As a Gen X-er (I didn't even know I was one til his spot, but as a 37 yr old I guess I am, lol!) I say: RIGHT ON!!!!! He summed it up so well. I've come across several of my age who roll their eyes at the commercial flogging of the 60s. And really, was EVERYONE then a hippie?? The way pop history recounts it, you'd figure that was the case! If it actually were the case, why did Republican Richard Nixon win '68?? I guess no one wants to recount nostalgically about being conservative during the Summer of Love. I just about wanted to throw up when Fortunate Son was used in a clothing commercial during the highpoint of public support for the current Vietnam. The only lyric that made it into the commercial was "Some folks were born made to wave the flag, ooh they're red, white, & blue..." before the narrator came on to identify the product. I guess it was a preferable lyric compared to "some folks inherit star-spangled eyes, oh they'll send you off to war". All I could picture was John Fogerty somewhere going "Ka-ching!!" with glee upon each airing of that thing. Pfft...typical of the selling out of the hippie generation. That all written, we're also not without blame in the current state of affairs. We share in the complicity of a 2nd Bush administration as well as not more actively pushing for an end to the war and the rest of the administrations "high crimes & misdemeanors". Maybe not wholly complicit, but its something to consider before we opt to blame every current little thing on the "60s generation". It may not give us a wholly higher moral road but it'll at least be a more sincere one."
Danny writes, "This topic is close to my heart because I came of age listening to the 60.'s generation reminisces about their great accomplishment. I never could understand the significance of the cultural phenomenon know as Woodstock. How did a muddy rock concert attended by the self-proclaimed world's smartest generation change America? What was the attraction to the Kennedys? Baby-boomers had the best economic conditions of any generation of Americans that existed and still whined and cried about it. The ugliness of drugs and causal sex will be the destructive legacy they left to generations of Americans. It is wonder they haven't built a memorial to that in Washington, DC. If there is one thing Boomers are good at it would be to building memorials. They have built more than any generation in American history. I am sick of Boomer vague, artsy double speak. The unleashed the destructive genie that cannot be put back in the bottle and are proud it. This is one generation of Americans that will have a real fear of dying since they think they are going to live forever - perpetual youth even in death."
Seth writes, "I'm a regular listener of the program, long time public radio supporter (some years 2 or 3 stations at once). I live and grew up in San Francisco and my parents epitomize the 60s era archetypes to a T. If it's not obvious where I'm going with this, Charles Monroe Kane articulated feelings I have been struggling with for a substantial period of time, a significant one for my family, by which I mean to say other 60/70s offspring share the reaction against the boomers, as do many of my friends. Basically I've been ready to sever ties with the more extreme characters in my family about precisely the reasons Charles Kane speaks. I could not agree with his sentiments more. I thought the piece was bold, articulate and dead-on. Beyond that, it captured the rage that many offspring of the 60s, my friends and younger family, have in common, which we simply do not find reflected anywhere in the media and is consistently denied by our families. I do think this constant backdrop of rage is a common motivator for the higher functioning gen X'ers, I do think it's fair to say a crowd of gen X'ers that were exposed to the more extreme 1960s hippies turned themselves into smarter, wiser, more motivated individuals than our predecessors - we have a generation of fail to study for what to do wrong, ones that feel comfortable emotionally manipulating us whenever they desire ... talk about a good motivator for a backlash. I forwarded the link to my mother - never have I had radio, or any media, take such a positive personal role in my life. It was a brilliant piece and I applaud the author and whatever forces at the radio program allowed such a relevant viewpoint to be on the air. This is some of the best radio I have ever heard. Again, I deeply appreciate that the risk calculation to air such a piece was on the side that it was. 'To The Best Of Our Knowledge' has a new fan. Feel free to share my comments with the author. He seems like a friend of mine on the work alone."
Phyllis writes, "Listening to the "almost 40" year old take the "Boomers" to the woodshed on our generation was interesting. At first I was angry and then I started to think about how our generation really coined the idea that older individuals should move out of the way and let the young people run things. Remember, "Don't trust anyone over 40"? I do. We convinced everyone that our elders were uptight, martini swizzling, incompetents who had squandered the world that was handed to them. Now these kids say, we are sellout, marijauna smoking, corporate idiots and we need to get out of their way. I sure hope that they have a radio at the home in ten years when his kid gets to comment on Generation Next, who will be longing for the good old days of the 90's, Ecstasy and IKEA. Their kids will roll their eyes upward and say, "Hey Dude, we're here now, move out of the way.""
Johanna writes, "This morning as I headed around town on my Saturday errands...new bi- focals (OMG!!), sweet corn at the farmer's market and dropping a book at the library...I heard your wonderful piece on baby boomers and how they/we have dropped the ball. I agree. My son, a 25 year old Gen-Xer in Chicago, would love the story. Would you be willing to share a copy of your remarks?"
Barb writes, "I just heard your commentary on TTBOOK concerning and thought you described my generation very succinctly! I just turned 50 this year and am at the tail end of the Baby Boom. Many times I have told my daughter (she is 20) that her generation will invent a "Patriot Suicide Pill" and order each of us boomers to take because they are going to be so tired of us. The baby boomers were part of a movement and now feel it was the best thing that ever happened in this country. How about we take credit for the disaster that has been 8 years of GW Bush. Our complacency allowed the rise of the religious right as well as justification of torture in the name of fighting terror. And don't even get me started on the swooning ads featuring music from the 60's aimed at our generation. Ugh. However, lest you think your generation is off the hook think again. Gen X and Gen Y were positively swooning with man (and woman) crushes for Sen. Barack Obama. The movement that embraced his eloquent speeches made no demands of this candidate as they sought to purge the evil centrist Hillary Clinton. This enraptured electorate made no demands of Sen. Obama during the primary and now act surprised when he very quickly moves to the center beginning with his vote to extend FISA. The Nation, the once proud watchdog who spoke truth to power supported him so blindly, they are now asking readers to sign an online petition asking him (pretty please) to start acting like the progressive that he told us he was during the primary. How sad and pathetic for this once great publication. But I digress. I think your essay is worth a longer piece on TTBOOK. Keep up the good work."
Elizabeth writes, "I just listened to your sixties commentary and involuntarily commented on my own with a gutteral, "YEAH!" I cannot imagine saying all that with all the boomers you are probably surrounded by at work. You go bro! I would also like to lament about "The Secret" stuff that is running around boomer-ville. Just think positive and all your worries will be over. All this positive thinking makes me think boomers want to go back to the fifties, the very decade they wanted to obliterate. Ugh! Oh, and now that they are getting older, we're all required to hear lovely things about aging like bladders and skin collapsing and menopause and erectile dysfunction. Nothing like a topic like that in regular conversation to make you want to hurl off the edge of the planet. If you haven't already read it, "The Fifth Wave" is a great book about boomers and the impact on our generation. That book has been accurate, including the prediction of biparticism, Sept. 11 and, I think, the voting crisis of 2000. I hope you are not having to dodge slanted looks from people older than you as your words were refreshing, important and about time!"
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Listener CRITIQUE for The Rant
MB writes, "I listened to Charles Monroe Kane’s monologue on the Rethinking the Sixties. I expect more from the best of our knowledge. Give us listeners a break, we are not interested in hearing someone rant and rave about his hatred of the hippies. His piece was stupid and childish and self loathing – sorry some hippie broke his cookie when he was ten and he hasn’t got over it. What’s next – are you gonna give air time to ranting racists? (btw – your programming is great.)"
Peggy writes, "I am a 55 year old retired educator. I listen to your program every Sunday morning. I usually enjoy all of your thought provoking shows. But not today...
As I listened to this young man I couldn't help but wonder what he would think of himself if he ever replays this rant when he's my age. I would like to tell him to get over himself. Placing blame and judgement is like placing your head in the sand so you don't have to take a look at yourself. Who are you and what have you done?? What would you like to see for your children's future?? Why not take (what sounded like) anger, spite and frustration and make a difference in a positive way?
As I listened to this young man I couldn't help but wonder what he would think of himself if he ever replays this rant when he's my age. I would like to tell him to get over himself. Placing blame and judgement is like placing your head in the sand so you don't have to take a look at yourself. Who are you and what have you done?? What would you like to see for your children's future?? Why not take (what sounded like) anger, spite and frustration and make a difference in a positive way?
Thank you for providing a forum to express myself."
Joanna writes, "Hi there. I enjoyed your whole show about the 1960s. I was caught short by the guy who is 40 and is sick of us. I had to laugh but of course, I have to say we are not all like that! But most of all, I reject the idea that "generations fail." This is not an American idea, the same criticism is leveled at generations in Latin America (just one example). Generations are vastly too varied and complex and the circumstances in which they grow up and live are also too complex to be able to either congratulate or blame a generation as a whole. Getting old can be hard. And I can't blame people looking back at the "good old days," especially if those days were lived intensively. And there are many people for whom the 1960s were very intense. It really isn't different than my 93-year-old Dad recalling WWII. He lived it in Europe and the Middle East. Nothing could be more intense than that. Two more things. First, the changes effected in the 1950s and 1960s - especially for Afro-Americans and women -- were immense. But I am not surprised that younger people who cannot really imagine what it was like before don't appreciate it. In this too, history repeats itself. Second, there are still plenty of us who continue to work on social justice issues, human rights, etc. and don't own BMWs and never "sold out." Many of us don't look back at the 1960s with nostalgia because there is just so much to do and so many problems here and abroad that we need to try to change, knowing that maybe all we can do is change one life at a time."
Bill writes, "A long time listener, member and born in 1949 (no choice in the matter) I just listened to Charles Monroe Kane's rant about "boomers". I am sure he needs his diaper changed. I also am sorry I help support his salary. I greatly appreciate and often listen to your program but was saddened today that you let the village idiot on stage."
Stephanie writes, "I'd like to comment on Charles Monroe Kain's (or is it Cane's? or another spelling?) spewing of how he is "sick and tired" of the baby boomers' nostalgia regarding the sixties. I am a baby boomer and I believe Mr. Kain would benefit from really getting to know a diverse group of people from the sixties, not just a small sampling of guys who are willing to pick up a hitch-hiker. Mr. Kain talks about how the baby boomers lost the war, lost the civil rights movement, provides drugs (at least he thanks us for them), and women's lib. First of all, it wasn't our war. We didn't create it. Our friends, brothers, neighbors and classmates were drafted into it. Let me repeat that word - drafted. Something you personally may not know about and may never know about (possibly as a result of the boomers and the sixties). These soldiers were not old enough to vote, but they were old enough to fight in a war. The voting age has changed since then (You are welcome). Secondly, civil rights was not only about desegregating schools. Open your eyes and look around. READ history books. WATCH those shows on PBS (that you seem to loath) through their entirety and truly listen with your ears and your heart. Blacks were not allowed to sit next to whites in restaurants, drink from the same water fountains, use the same bathrooms and certainly never was it thought possible to run for President of the United States! You may not realize any of this because you have not had to witness the prejudices that were before your time. Because of the sixties and some boomers, as well as people who came before the boomers, you, hopefully, will never witness them. Thirdly, we didn't invent drugs. Drugs have been around for years prior to the sixties. Lastly, women's liberation was and is not just about equal pay for equal work. It is about freedom of choice for both men and women. It is the reason you feel comfortable as a dad pushing your stroller to the coffee shop to meet your friends and think nothing of it. In the sixties, it was extremely rare to see a man pushing a stroller any where, and certainly not to meet his buddies so they can talk about parenting concepts. You (and your children) have the women's lib movement to thank for that. (Again, you are welcome.) I am not saying that the sixties made everything better, but that era did more good than you realize because you seem to take so much granted. Take for example your major in college - Peace Studies. You wouldn't have found such a major in the sixties, but you do now. Another result of the era and the boomers. The boomers didn't give up, as you say. I certainly haven't. That is why I am writing to you. There will always be generational friction - that's normal. But to put all baby boomers down and tell us that we lost everything, well...that's just simply not true. If you are angry with the way things are today, don't blame that on all boomers or even on the sixties. The sixties didn't happen in a vacuum. Today's problems are the result of greed and the ego-centeredness of people of all ages, not just boomers. There is much that boomers can learn from Gen X and other generations, but there is much we have to offer as well. I'd love to read a piece that you might write on what Gen X has done for the good of humanity and what Gen X has to offer the next generation."
Patricia writes, "I listened to your comments about the Boomer generation. And I had to respond, although I don't expect to have much of an impact on your thinking. As a member of the group about which you were ranting, much of the protesting and the social change activities happened before most of us were 25. We were out there, taking a stand against the war, trying to bring some idealistic changes to an imperfect system. Some changes took root, such as civil rights & women's rights. The war was finally ended. We weren't interested in staying in Viet Nam endlessly. It was a bad decision on the part of our leaders, the same as the Iraq war. But we at least had the courage to face our leaders & try to influence them to end it. Even at the risk of injury or arrest, we marched. We made noise. We tried to make things better. You say you're nearly 40. You produce the show on which I heard your comments. What else has your generation done, besides complain about the prior generation? Are you trying to make this world a better place? Are you working for social justice? Do you speak up for the oppressed? The victims of this administration's war? It doesn't appear that you have anything on your mind, except whining about the mess in which we find this country today, and blaming the older generation. In case you hadn't noticed, no generation is encapsulated, isolated from the next. We live with the same problems you complain about. Most of the issues you mention were not the result of the rank & file citizenry. The boondoggles were choices and decisions made by the machinery of big brother. You'll find out, the same as we did, that changing the direction of bureaucracy is akin to trying to change the direction of a herd of elephants on the run. But your rant displayed an attitude of shameless selfishness and arrogance. You'll learn, hopefully, someday, that no man is an island, & neither is one generation. Until then, keep working on the future for all of us. Maybe with your help, instead of your whining, we CAN achieve the ideals for our beloved country and for future generations."
Rich writes, "I heard “to the best of our knowledge” yesterday. Someone named Charles Monroe Kane was ranting about baby boomers. Nasty, vituperative, really full of hatred. Kane made Rush Limbaugh sound like a reasonable guy. He had no point, no insight to impart, just rage. Why have this bile on the radio?"
Joanna writes, "Hi there. I enjoyed your whole show about the 1960s. I was caught short by the guy who is 40 and is sick of us. I had to laugh but of course, I have to say we are not all like that! But most of all, I reject the idea that "generations fail." This is not an American idea, the same criticism is leveled at generations in Latin America (just one example). Generations are vastly too varied and complex and the circumstances in which they grow up and live are also too complex to be able to either congratulate or blame a generation as a whole. Getting old can be hard. And I can't blame people looking back at the "good old days," especially if those days were lived intensively. And there are many people for whom the 1960s were very intense. It really isn't different than my 93-year-old Dad recalling WWII. He lived it in Europe and the Middle East. Nothing could be more intense than that. Two more things. First, the changes effected in the 1950s and 1960s - especially for Afro-Americans and women -- were immense. But I am not surprised that younger people who cannot really imagine what it was like before don't appreciate it. In this too, history repeats itself. Second, there are still plenty of us who continue to work on social justice issues, human rights, etc. and don't own BMWs and never "sold out." Many of us don't look back at the 1960s with nostalgia because there is just so much to do and so many problems here and abroad that we need to try to change, knowing that maybe all we can do is change one life at a time."
Bill writes, "A long time listener, member and born in 1949 (no choice in the matter) I just listened to Charles Monroe Kane's rant about "boomers". I am sure he needs his diaper changed. I also am sorry I help support his salary. I greatly appreciate and often listen to your program but was saddened today that you let the village idiot on stage."
Stephanie writes, "I'd like to comment on Charles Monroe Kain's (or is it Cane's? or another spelling?) spewing of how he is "sick and tired" of the baby boomers' nostalgia regarding the sixties. I am a baby boomer and I believe Mr. Kain would benefit from really getting to know a diverse group of people from the sixties, not just a small sampling of guys who are willing to pick up a hitch-hiker. Mr. Kain talks about how the baby boomers lost the war, lost the civil rights movement, provides drugs (at least he thanks us for them), and women's lib. First of all, it wasn't our war. We didn't create it. Our friends, brothers, neighbors and classmates were drafted into it. Let me repeat that word - drafted. Something you personally may not know about and may never know about (possibly as a result of the boomers and the sixties). These soldiers were not old enough to vote, but they were old enough to fight in a war. The voting age has changed since then (You are welcome). Secondly, civil rights was not only about desegregating schools. Open your eyes and look around. READ history books. WATCH those shows on PBS (that you seem to loath) through their entirety and truly listen with your ears and your heart. Blacks were not allowed to sit next to whites in restaurants, drink from the same water fountains, use the same bathrooms and certainly never was it thought possible to run for President of the United States! You may not realize any of this because you have not had to witness the prejudices that were before your time. Because of the sixties and some boomers, as well as people who came before the boomers, you, hopefully, will never witness them. Thirdly, we didn't invent drugs. Drugs have been around for years prior to the sixties. Lastly, women's liberation was and is not just about equal pay for equal work. It is about freedom of choice for both men and women. It is the reason you feel comfortable as a dad pushing your stroller to the coffee shop to meet your friends and think nothing of it. In the sixties, it was extremely rare to see a man pushing a stroller any where, and certainly not to meet his buddies so they can talk about parenting concepts. You (and your children) have the women's lib movement to thank for that. (Again, you are welcome.) I am not saying that the sixties made everything better, but that era did more good than you realize because you seem to take so much granted. Take for example your major in college - Peace Studies. You wouldn't have found such a major in the sixties, but you do now. Another result of the era and the boomers. The boomers didn't give up, as you say. I certainly haven't. That is why I am writing to you. There will always be generational friction - that's normal. But to put all baby boomers down and tell us that we lost everything, well...that's just simply not true. If you are angry with the way things are today, don't blame that on all boomers or even on the sixties. The sixties didn't happen in a vacuum. Today's problems are the result of greed and the ego-centeredness of people of all ages, not just boomers. There is much that boomers can learn from Gen X and other generations, but there is much we have to offer as well. I'd love to read a piece that you might write on what Gen X has done for the good of humanity and what Gen X has to offer the next generation."
Patricia writes, "I listened to your comments about the Boomer generation. And I had to respond, although I don't expect to have much of an impact on your thinking. As a member of the group about which you were ranting, much of the protesting and the social change activities happened before most of us were 25. We were out there, taking a stand against the war, trying to bring some idealistic changes to an imperfect system. Some changes took root, such as civil rights & women's rights. The war was finally ended. We weren't interested in staying in Viet Nam endlessly. It was a bad decision on the part of our leaders, the same as the Iraq war. But we at least had the courage to face our leaders & try to influence them to end it. Even at the risk of injury or arrest, we marched. We made noise. We tried to make things better. You say you're nearly 40. You produce the show on which I heard your comments. What else has your generation done, besides complain about the prior generation? Are you trying to make this world a better place? Are you working for social justice? Do you speak up for the oppressed? The victims of this administration's war? It doesn't appear that you have anything on your mind, except whining about the mess in which we find this country today, and blaming the older generation. In case you hadn't noticed, no generation is encapsulated, isolated from the next. We live with the same problems you complain about. Most of the issues you mention were not the result of the rank & file citizenry. The boondoggles were choices and decisions made by the machinery of big brother. You'll find out, the same as we did, that changing the direction of bureaucracy is akin to trying to change the direction of a herd of elephants on the run. But your rant displayed an attitude of shameless selfishness and arrogance. You'll learn, hopefully, someday, that no man is an island, & neither is one generation. Until then, keep working on the future for all of us. Maybe with your help, instead of your whining, we CAN achieve the ideals for our beloved country and for future generations."
Rich writes, "I heard “to the best of our knowledge” yesterday. Someone named Charles Monroe Kane was ranting about baby boomers. Nasty, vituperative, really full of hatred. Kane made Rush Limbaugh sound like a reasonable guy. He had no point, no insight to impart, just rage. Why have this bile on the radio?"
Charles Monroe-Kane's rant from Rethinking the Sixties
As me and the other dads push our strollers to the coffee shop we talk about a lot of stuff. Bottle-weaning, daycare providers, and how best to administer a time-out. But one topic that is sure to come up is you. And by you I mean the boomers, the 60s generation. And we know you well. You’re our parents. Our bosses. Our elected officials. As you celebrate your milestones on PBS please realize something is amiss with your children. Author Christian Lander calls is “the rage against the 60s” and it permeates the zeitgeist of Generation X. There’s a reason Obama calls himself post-60s.
So, truth to power – and you’re the power. Are you ready to listen?
Ok then. The 60s are over. You lost.
First, you lost the war. Congratulations.
And hippies, don’t get smug. Your painted faces and flag burning didn’t stop the war. The
The Civil Right Movement? Schools are just as segregated today as they were in the 60s. Women’s Lib? How about still only at 75 cents to a dollar ladies? You pushed, I respect that. But then you stopped. You capitulated under the weight of it all and frankly you gave up and sold out.
That’s one of the MANY reasons I am so sick and tired of this romantic nostalgia for the hippie. You allowed the capitalists you railed against to co-opt your culture for minivan commercials. No wonder you ran to Eastern mysticism and materialism after your summer of love. Fill the void kids, fill the voids. And oh yeah, thanks for the drugs.
Before college I hitchhiked to
God, to hold her again, joint in my hand, and hear Jerry and the boys playing Dark Star – son those were the days. Your sadness and guilt filled each car with the thick smell of sulfur. By the time I made it to
I’m a genXer. I majored in peace studies. After college I moved to
Look, sorry about the Kennedys but that was before I was born folks and I’m almost 40. I think it’s time for you all to move on. But don’t fret, I gotta suggestion. Two of them actually. Quit living in the past and get the hell out of our way.
You compromised. And then you romanticized your contributions to society. You celebrate your youth when you should be ashamed of your adulthood. You’ve left us with a legacy of materialism and cynicism. And you know what, we don’t appreciate it one bit. Enjoy your retirement. You failed.
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