Will The Silent Generation Remain Silent?

Three years ago we chose to call this column Boomers & Beyond. We've had fun discussing what so-called experts say about American generations. Among the interesting things we've learned is the fact experts don't always agree on their assessments of the generations or the timetables in which they fall.

For instance, some say the Baby Boomer Generation consists of people born from 1946-1964. Others call it the Boom Generation and classify it as those born 1943-1960.

What we dub as "beyonds" in this column would actually be Americans belonging to two specific generations. One is the GI Generation that Tom Brokaw calls the Greatest Generation. They were born from 1901-1924. The other is the Silent Generation. It's made up of individuals born 1925-1942 (or 1925-1945,) depending on the expert or the source of books and articles one may read.

As a couple, one of us belongs to the Silent Generation - the other, the Boom Generation. We've talked a lot about Boomer issues. We've been somewhat silent regarding the Silent Generation.

We've done some research and uncovered many interesting facts and opinions. Perhaps they are better kept silent, perhaps not.

Of his generation, Frank Kaiser, wrote in Suddenly Senior 2001, "Sandwiched as we are between the much larger, but quickly diminishing GI Generation (63 million) and the Boomers (79 million), neither politicians nor advertisers pay much heed to us."

He continued, "Although we produced '60s activists - Gloria Steinem, Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Betty Friedan and Ralph Nader come to mind - most of us went directly from school to risk-averse work. Conformity was success. As teens, few of us even rebelled, a common rite of passage for other generations."

He explained, "Postwar prosperity promised economic security. Those of us lucky enough to get jobs with Ma Bell, Sears, IBM and other enlightened employers of the era buried our fear under profit sharing, lifelong job security, fair annual raises, and retirement plans. All they asked of us was not to rock the boat."

Surfing the Web, we learned that indeed, the vast majority of "silents" wanted job security offered by big corporations. Only 2 percent risked self-employment. They were the earliest marrying group in American history. On average, men married at age 23, women at 20. Most women (94 percent) became mothers and stayed home raising an average 3.3 children. However, the Silent Generation is said to have started the U.S. divorce epidemic.

Silent Generation Web site asks visitors to take their visit to the site seriously. They proclaim, "No generation has so small a reputation as does the Silent. No generation since the American Civil War has been so misunderstood and underestimated." It goes on to state they are, "A 'bridge generation' of somewhat quieter but nevertheless industrious people."

Online at Silent People, we found hundreds of names of prominent "silents" under the headings Government, Politics, and Opinion-making. However, we were surprised to discover it's the only older generation that has not produced a U.S. President. Some may think Jimmy Carter is a "silent," but he was born in 1924.

Three first ladies were "silents"(Barbara Bush, Rosalynn Carter, and Jacqueline Kennedy.) The only VP so far is Dick Cheney.

There's still a chance for a member of the Silent Generation to occupy the Oval Office. McCain, Biden, and Thompson are among the possible "silents." Guiliani and Dodd (both born in 1944) could be claimed by the "silents" - depending on which so-called generation experts speak up.

Lyn and Bill live in Highlands Ridge. Visit their Web sites www.boomersandbeyondthecolum.com, www.thecaregiverscaregiver.com, and www.journeybookstorecom