I would be remiss if I did not devote this week’s blog to remembering the life of Senator Edward Kennedy who passed away August 26th, 2009 after a year long battle with brain cancer. Kennedy served 47 years in the Senate and was a strong advocate for healthcare reform, education, civil rights and immigration.
I spent this weekend watching all of the inevitable biographies, past television appearances and speeches that come on whenever someone famous passes on. To be sure, Kennedy’s life had its ups and downs. He suffered political setbacks and at times, personal setbacks as well. However, as I watched, the one thing that struck me was how much Senator Kennedy had seen and endured throughout his lifetime. I thought of the assassination of his two brothers, and Dr. King. I thought about Senator Kennedy having to pick up the slack while a whole nation watched. I thought about Vietnam and the revolution of the 1960’s. I thought about Nixon and the Watergate scandal that rocked our country to its core.
It got me thinking about how our generation will define itself. Years from now, what will be our legacy? So my question to you this week is, “What do you think defines our generation? What will you be telling future generations about the events that you lived through?” Answers are due no later than Monday, September 7th, 2009. Have a Happy and safe holiday weekend!
I think the biggest event that has happened in my time was the 9-11 attacks. It shook every American that heard about it. It's one of those events that you know where you were and what you were doing when you heard. I was actually taking my I-STEP and heard about it on a break. When it was over, there wasn't a classroom that wasn't glued to the television or radio. I thin k that is the event that will define us. The day the U.S. stood still.
ReplyDeleteZAK
I agree with Zach about 9/11 defining our generation. The war on terror will be looked back on as one of the most controversial times in our Nation's history. The U.S. really did stand still; the panic in New York and our Nation's Capital that we all viewed on TV are images that will stick with us forever. People running through downtown Manhatten and the White House in sheer panic; we will all remember those moments. The stock market closing down for a week, which is unheard of. 9/11 defies our generation and will never be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely September 11th, we all remember where we were when it happened. Those of us who were alive during that time will always remember the tragic events of 9/11. Also, another major event was the death of Michael Jackson. This was something that affected our generation, but also those from other generations. It brought an end to someone irreplaceable. Non-event related that our generation will be remembered for is technology. Technology has never improved and changed so much within a generation, it's ridiculous! We have phones with internet, and a lot of us get our news via phones and internet. I know I will be telling my children and grandchildren of 9/11, Michael Jackson, and probably how much better their phones and computers are compared to now. :-)
ReplyDelete--Kristen Rice
The three events that come to mind right away are of course 9/11, The War in the Middle East, and the election of Obama to Presidency. Those are probably only a few of the events we will look back on. It seems like we are due for something drastic to happen. I'm talking about something that out weighs the three I mentioned. I'm not sure why right now, but I feel like something huge is going to happen during my lifetime.
ReplyDelete-Nicholas Alexander
Well of course 9/11 will be remembered and of course our first African American President. Also we are the generation that started the internet. And I'm sure there will be more to come we'll just have to wait and see
ReplyDeleteI agree with the general consensus. September 11th will go down in history. Along with the quote "War on Terror." Also, I believe that the election was a major event. It was going to be a historical event no matter what the outcome was. The first African American President or the first female Vice President elected into office. We all know the outcome, and it was the first of something in this country for that fact alone it will be remembered. There's still time for something much larger to happen to define this generation even more, hopefully good.
ReplyDeleteI believe our generation will be known as the doomed generation because of all of the horror storys of the last ten years. 9/11...the war...hurricane Katrina...the stock market crash and on a good note the obama election, the extremely high gas prices, the big three...gay marriage becoming legal in states...the water crisis, global warming. I think this generation will be considered a very doom and gloom time to live.(kinda like the great depression)
ReplyDeleteWhat defines our generation? Most definately, 9/11, the War on Terroism in the Middle East, Extremely High Gas Prices, Hurricane Katrina, President Obama being elected and the Recession we are currently in. Of course there are many more important crisis that contribute my generation, I just named a few that stood out to me. Yes, this country has seen a lot of hardship but as a result we've also seen what this country is made of. Seeing once segregated citizens coming together and helping each other out in times of hardship...it's a nice change of pace. Granted there will always be many who don't contribute and stand on the side lines uneffected by major events, who don't give a rip about lending a hand. Unfortunately it happens...we've all been there. When it comes down to it, I love this country and I am proud to be an American through it all ( Going back to the very first Blog).
ReplyDeleteI once again agree with Dean. (I always agree with Dean, his thoughts are so profound lol). my initial thought was of 9/11 and how that the nation really came together as a whole and took on a sense of pride and how President Bush was like "you will not get away with this, we will kick your butt". But back to agreeing with Dean, my generation has been fairly depressing and at the same time shocking and new. First African American president, gay marriage being legalized and then on another note, the economical downfall and the Hurrican Katrina incident. These are definitely the things that will be talked about in the history books.
ReplyDelete-Casey Frederick
There are a few events that will be remembered throughout our history. The attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 are one of the most memorable events in history. The war, the devastating effects of Katrina, and the death of Micheal Jackson are also major events that have taken place throughout our lifetime.
ReplyDeleteWow! For me, there can be a number of events. Trough the 60's, I became aquainted with Vietnam, Nixson, and the Watergate Scandle, the wars that followed these events, (the two that stick out most, such as our current wars in Afganistan and Iraq, due to 9/11). Hurricane Katrina, and President Obama becoming the first African American President.
ReplyDelete-Richard
I'm not sure what would define my generation, but this week gave me the opportunity to think about all I've seen in my lifetime. Like Richard, I remember the Viet Nam War on the evening news as a child, on one of those three channels. As far as our society in the U.S., I remember Watergate, the first Presidential election I recall in grade school was the Carter adminastration. We just celebrated the 40th anniversary of Armstrong taking those first steps on the moon and to think I was alive for it. We've discussed President Reagan being shot and I was in high school standing in the hallway when I heard the news.I could go on and on about history, but I think technology probably defines my generation more so than the politics or tradgedy. Those three channels have become a hundred plus. I remember party lines on the telephone...I'll let ya'll ask an elder:)...and to think I carry a phone now with everything at my fingertips, directions, internet, I can text anyone, anywhere. My grandparents were amazed with a push button phone over the rotary dial, but never owned one. My parents, both died young, but still within the last twenty years never had a cell phone. Then there are radio's, kind of like the television. I remember eight tracks, cassette's, albums....who'd a thought we'd have satellite stereo. I can go on and on, but I think technolgy is what I've seen the most, have come to embrace and it has certainly been something I take for granted. Just think, most of you are in your twenties and twenty years ago when I was your age we couldn't have even had this discussion.
ReplyDeleteSome of the events that define our generation is 9/11 and the war on terror. The first African American president was elected. Also the recession we are still in will be a big part of our generation. As far as technology goes we are the generation when the internet started and electronics became mobilized.
ReplyDeleteI think for me the major events start with the Challenger explosion. This was the first major event that made an impact and I remember being heartbroken. I also remember the teacher strike in the 80's in L.A. The next most prominent memories are Desert Storm and the attack on the Twin Towers. The rally of our nation that for a short bit seem unified. Then the complete reversal and more disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the War on Terror. Then we come to the breakdown of the economy and the strong possibility of having a female run for president. We elect our first black president. Our generation has lived through the most intense changes with technology and information that is just a click away.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say there are a lot of events. As Trina stated, I remember the spaceshuttle Challenger exploding, the Oklahoma City Bombing, Katrina, Desert Storm, the unibomber, 9/11. There are just so many to list, not to mention the election of the first African American President. I think we have experienced alot, but I also think Nicholas is correct in the fact there is more that we will see. But each of these events define a time in history, things that stir certain emotions but good and bad.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at my generation and the events that have transpired, there are things that have defined us a nation and shaped our personal lives. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that a nation with so much hatred could perform the acts that we know as "9/11". After the initial shock, we came together and the War on Terror was commenced. Men and women have risked their lives and paid dearly for our nation and generation to be safe. I watched my oldest brother leave on a plane to serve in Iraq and I continue to support the troops that work day in and day out for us. This defines our nation, coming together for a common cause.
ReplyDeleteNot all events have been depressing. We elected our first African American President. In a sense, that shattered the glass ceiling and has allowed us to broaden our views.
The 9/11 attack will surely, without a doubt, be the single most important thing in defining our generation and its legacy. The Iraq War will also be a defining event in our legacy. It won't all be bad, however. Our generation will also be remembered for countless technological advancements. Also, I think that we will be remembered for how the country reacted directly after the 9/11 attacks. Before the war began, before things started getting worse, we will be remembered for the way the country come together in a way it hadn't in a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing our generation will be remembered for will be electing the first African American President. I'm not going to ignorantly proclaim that racism ceased to exist on that day, but I believe that that day did take us much further than we had gone before.
And, perhaps most importantly, there will be more events in the future that will define what our generation's legacy is.
I think we'll be telling future generations about 9/11 of course, but also our technology and how much it has advanced over our lifetime. I'm sure there's more to come that will definetly define our generation, but those are the things that I know of now.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing i have lived through is 9-11 I was in New York the day it happened. It was the most shocking thing to witness the smoke in the air of the buildings falling, how many lives were lost. Katrina is another huge event that many have died from and opened the eyes of many americans of the horrors of nature. I agree with Dean that our generation is like the great depression our children will look back and see nothing but sadness and grief.
ReplyDeleteI think that our generation is definitely defined by technology. We are so influenced by cellphones, computers, and other electronical devices. Also, I would say the attacks on 9/11 made a huge impact along with the War in Iraq. Many lives were lost and it brought our country closer together and to realize the things we need to do in the future
ReplyDeleteJust like everyone else, 9/11, is obviously the biggest event that has happened in my life, thus far. I think with everyone responding to 9/11 in their blog, you really do, in some way get an idea just how big of an event this was in everyone's life that lived through it. We have also had other major event such as; the devastating weather(hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires, etc.), the stock market being at it's lowest since the Great Depression, the failing economy, technology, etc. I just hope that future generations can learn from these events and try to better their generation. I hope for a better generation for my children and wish that they would never have to see, hear, or deal with all of the negative things that my generation has had to deal with.
ReplyDeleteWhat defines our nation today, is a group of people, that no matter the set-backs, has come together in several cases to help each other through crisis and conflict. We have been through terrorist attacks, natural disasters beyond proportion, and even a few government scandals. To tell the younger generations our stories will be honorable and rememberable. We can tell them stories of how people came together to help out in 9-11 and in New Orleans. The government not so much in New Orleans, but the people came and helped as they could.
ReplyDeleteWhat defines our generation is still to come. I feel that we will talk about 9/11 as well as the Iraq war and how technology has grown so rapidly. But we still have alot of living to do, so its hard to say what will eventually define us. Maybe we could talk about how we were almost in another great depression? I feel that compared to previous generations though, so far we have had it pretty easy.
ReplyDeletei know i for sure will be telling my kids about 9/11. that is the quintessential memory of our generation along with the first african american president. plus the characteristic that will define us is the internet and our ever present age of information. i'm sure our era will also be defined by the bush administration and all that happened during that time- the War in Iraq
ReplyDelete-Josh Hollandsworth