The way you draw parallels between different generations' experiences, from World War II and the Cold War to Vietnam and political turmoil, is thought-provoking. Your words remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the responsibility we have to prepare the next generation even as we navigate this painful and uncertain world. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking piece.
I have been thinking about this today. I have to say that for me, after 60 years of life, nothing changed my personal day to day life more than the pandemic so I empathize with those kids. I can’t even imagine that happening to me as a teenager. All the other events were of note but the second most impactful event of my life was waking up after Election Day 2016 and feeling a sick sense of dread that has never left. It was the day I realized that all I believed about my country was not true.
This was very thought provoking... thank you for your article. I don't think I have ever thought about how each generation might not realize the importance of previous "events" we as an older generation feel strongly about. I would maybe think the thoughts of importance may be felt for two generations at once... the adults of that event, and their children. The grandchildren would not have the same feeling in my opinion. I grew up listening to the stories about World War II from my grandparents and the effect it had on my parents. That is the reason I say the previous thought about a two-generation feeling of importance. Then mine went through the assassination of Kennedy and Vietnam... my parents were still alive and so they did as well. My children wouldn't place the same importance on those two events except from my stories.... and on and on through the next generations.
I have been wanting an update to We Didn't Start the Fire since the GWB era! This one is pretty good! And also, your essay is really on point and goes well with Beth's essay in the Pantsuit Politics newsletter today, too.
This post offers incredible perspective! I'd never thought about what kids born after 9-11 would think about the event. I suppose it would seem less significant to them in light of a global pandemic.
I guess, even kids who were alive but young wouldn't get it. My son was 9 at the time and we're in western Canada, soooo far away from NYC. He never understood why I was terrified to leave him at school that day. To a 9 year old, NYC might as well have been Mars!
I ended up asking him on the way home today if they talked about 9/11 this week and if he had heard it before. He said this was the first year he had heard about it and that they watched a video about planes going into buildings but I’m not sure it got talked about. I’ll check out your book suggestion, Sarah! I need to be more proactive I think.
He's a good YA author and it deals with both the immediate attacks and the last years of the war in Afghanistan. A little heavy (so a definite step up from the I Survived series), but very well done.
My kid is 9 and I don't even know if he knows what 9/11 is. I have certainly never discussed it with him and I don't even know if they have covered it in school yet. He's never brought it up. It's kind of bizarre now that I think about it.
Agreed. It was the catalyst for the way the world is now. I think "never forget" is the wrong posture because it is defensive and justifies maintaining enemies and vengeance. I mean, Japan is an ally of sorts now, and after Pearl Harbor and two bombs that never would happen with that mantra. But it needs to be studied and remembered.
The way you draw parallels between different generations' experiences, from World War II and the Cold War to Vietnam and political turmoil, is thought-provoking. Your words remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the responsibility we have to prepare the next generation even as we navigate this painful and uncertain world. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking piece.
I believe it's important to remember that the more things change, the more they stay the same ☺️
I have been thinking about this today. I have to say that for me, after 60 years of life, nothing changed my personal day to day life more than the pandemic so I empathize with those kids. I can’t even imagine that happening to me as a teenager. All the other events were of note but the second most impactful event of my life was waking up after Election Day 2016 and feeling a sick sense of dread that has never left. It was the day I realized that all I believed about my country was not true.
Yeah, that was another before/after event for me as well.
This was very thought provoking... thank you for your article. I don't think I have ever thought about how each generation might not realize the importance of previous "events" we as an older generation feel strongly about. I would maybe think the thoughts of importance may be felt for two generations at once... the adults of that event, and their children. The grandchildren would not have the same feeling in my opinion. I grew up listening to the stories about World War II from my grandparents and the effect it had on my parents. That is the reason I say the previous thought about a two-generation feeling of importance. Then mine went through the assassination of Kennedy and Vietnam... my parents were still alive and so they did as well. My children wouldn't place the same importance on those two events except from my stories.... and on and on through the next generations.
Like I said, all about perspective.
I have been wanting an update to We Didn't Start the Fire since the GWB era! This one is pretty good! And also, your essay is really on point and goes well with Beth's essay in the Pantsuit Politics newsletter today, too.
I was thinking that too but I wrote this over a week ago 😂
This post offers incredible perspective! I'd never thought about what kids born after 9-11 would think about the event. I suppose it would seem less significant to them in light of a global pandemic.
Yep. They can't possibly understand how the event shaped their world because it's all they know 🤷🏼♀️
I guess, even kids who were alive but young wouldn't get it. My son was 9 at the time and we're in western Canada, soooo far away from NYC. He never understood why I was terrified to leave him at school that day. To a 9 year old, NYC might as well have been Mars!
I ended up asking him on the way home today if they talked about 9/11 this week and if he had heard it before. He said this was the first year he had heard about it and that they watched a video about planes going into buildings but I’m not sure it got talked about. I’ll check out your book suggestion, Sarah! I need to be more proactive I think.
He's a good YA author and it deals with both the immediate attacks and the last years of the war in Afghanistan. A little heavy (so a definite step up from the I Survived series), but very well done.
Good point!
My kid is 9 and I don't even know if he knows what 9/11 is. I have certainly never discussed it with him and I don't even know if they have covered it in school yet. He's never brought it up. It's kind of bizarre now that I think about it.
I cannot recommend this book enough, as a place to start: https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Zero-Alan-Gratz/dp/1338245759?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=8317462a-df36-48bd-8f6c-50583caf43a9
Nuanced and powerful at the same time. My son and I both enjoyed it.
That is a bit bizarre. I'm Canadian so I know it'll never become part of our official history but in America you'd think it would.
Agreed. It was the catalyst for the way the world is now. I think "never forget" is the wrong posture because it is defensive and justifies maintaining enemies and vengeance. I mean, Japan is an ally of sorts now, and after Pearl Harbor and two bombs that never would happen with that mantra. But it needs to be studied and remembered.