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"The Greatest Generation" is guilty of creating the "Selfish Generation."

Gimme + Greed = Occupy Wall Street



Tom Brokaw spoke of "The Greatest Generation." My comments are broadly directed to what I refer to as the "Selfish Generation," acknowledging exceptions. Prior to both, there was the generation of immigrants who gave root to the above and to whom I can never express my profound gratitude for laying the foundation, making it possible for me and you to be called Americans. Not speaking the language and many with just the clothes on their back, they followed the process of strict rules and law for an orderly, legal entree into this wonderful country.
Unfortunately "The Greatest Generation" is guilty of creating the "Selfish Generation." Having endured and survived a deep depression and a devastating world war, the post war economic boom gave them opportunity to give their progeny what they could only dream of having when they were growing up. When things come easy it tends to corrupt. Gratitude is missing in a world that's becoming to look more like special effects and special interests. We have become a society of disposables, cluttering up land fills with things we have become bored with and items costing more to repair than purchase new. Achievement without toil is less appreciate but demanded, applying little exertion or effort. The sixties ushered in a less moral society of, do my own thing, and burying family values.

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Where thank you and excuse me are missing in their vocabulary. Civility took a hit when good manners and etiquette fell by the wayside, becoming eye rollers if applied, and the word God not be spoken for fear of offending somebody. In this selfish generation it is refreshing to come across the exceptions, of persons not caught up with themselves. Narcissistic celebrities have become role models to follow by our youth and for the older ones who refuse to mature. Venice, Ca., Miami's South Beach and Starbucks as examples, have become their pilgrimage meccas. They think by disfiguring their body with tattoos and piercing, they emulate the so called, " In Crowd," seeing themselves as a Paris Hilton or Lady Gaga, or male counter parts, not realizing how clownish, ridiculous and laughable they are. Modern technology and conveniences are the source for many ills as well as wonders. They have contributed to the deterioration of standards, having a two sided effect. One being used for the good of mankind and the other for ulterior motive. Between the end of the war and the sixties, technology was mostly commercial, yet to be released to the public for personal consumption, changing the world where yesterday's middle class is today's poor. One hundred dollar Nikes, ten speed bikes, PCs, flat screen TVs, Nintendo games, MP3s, cell phones with all the bells and whistles, microwaves, dishwashers and many other things yet to be invented prior to the sixties, have not been out of the reach of many on food stamps and welfare. If you are poor, act like it and don't demand entitlements. Don't try to be somebody you are not at the expense of others. I was raised to respect and show appreciation for what I have and for the kind deeds done on my behalf. Missing is the verbal phone call or hand written thank you note. These gestures are too much trouble and inconvenient to pursue, deemed archaic, triggering an eye roll when suggested. Abutting the greatest generation and the end of World War II were the children growing up with fathers trying to eke out a living during the depression years, or fighting that war. Unlike today's youth who are spoiled with all the paraphernalia mentioned above and other self indulgences, I never owned a bicycle, or a bat and baseball not held together with black electrical tape, nor roller or ice skates, new clothes when there were hand me downs. And the forty cents an hour after school job wasn't for personal indulgence, but for extra money contributed toward expenses for the whole family. There are not that many in the, "Occupy Wall Street" crowd with legitimate grievance, or good work ethic and humility from the trouble makers. aside from the anarchists, subversive organizations and those recruited by union thugs, there is the frat house type rowdies who want to stiff the tuition lenders. The concept of balance and fairness to most is contrary to actuality, fostering resentment because it require s that they work for it rather than have the government hand it to them. There are imbalances in a capitalistic system, but there are other ways to weed out the unscrupulous boardroom cheats and manipulators, many who may have been created by the greed of clients that could be among the demonstrators. Not by disrupting the lives of people caught in the middle who are playing by the rules and trying to earn a living. I'm nearing the end of the book and at my age I don't know if there will be another chapter to write in it, to be read within its spine of who I am. The years have given me comparisons to measure my beginning to the present. In spite of all of today's wonders of the world, life has taken a step backward and people have become less civilized, saddening me for not being able to have made a difference!


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George Giftos -- Bio and Archives

George Giftos is a retired travel agency executive, in management for agencies by Fugazy World Travel, U.S. Industries, Carlson Companies.
George is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.


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