Generation gap

Today the media announced new research showing that there is a huge gap of understanding between teens, those in their twenties, and the so-called "Greatest Generation" (those 65 and older). Well, what a surprise. Let's look at these points of view in America today.

On one hand we have the youngsters: tattooed, nose rings, live-ins instead of marriage, prevalent drug use, unintelligible music, sexual promiscuity, lack of respect for teachers and/or any authority, lack of patriotism or respect for the flag. Who are their icons? Madonna, Spears, and now out in rabid force to honor a mental misfit with the media feeding all their frenzies and let's not get into their incessant protests.

Now on the other side of this gap of understanding we find the old "geezers" that love their flag and country, marry and mostly stay that way, respect their pastors, the law, teachers, dress with some decorum, enjoy music and musicians with some semblance of reality, whose icons are FDR, Ike, John Wayne, and Glen Miller along with a great distaste for illegal drug use. This is the generation that survived the Great Depression, served in the armed forces (with pride,) worked, brought up their children, and now sadly watch as our nation sinks into the slime of present day America.

It would seem that the results shown by this latest research are perfectly obvious without the research. The gap between these generations is too great to ever be bridged. Unfortunately, as Shakespeare noted, "never the twain shall meet."

Hugo T. Pereira
Sebring