Events that helped to create the GenX attitude.
- vcorson1976
- Jun 25, 2024
- 2 min read
As we get going, let's throw in some modern events that have helped to shape those in my generation. This is why we have issues with the mental insanity afflicting those under 25 today.
1980: Mt St Helens explosion which blew out the east side of a volcanic mountain just North of the Oregon border. The ash cover extended over 25 percent of the rest of the US. (I was 4 and living in north-eastern Montana, we could not go outside for about 3 days...detrimental to a kid that just wanted to be out of the house). 57 recorded deaths.
2. 1986: The Challenger Explosion: At the height of space science with the shuttles, this was an event covered more than most due to a schoolteacher going up. Due to this many schools had the live launch feed airing in classrooms (this was before internet, no replays). I was sitting in my 2nd grad classroom watching it. Below is the link to the actual footage, raw. Hundreds of thousands of children watched this and then had to continue the school day. No counseling, no getting out early. Teachers left that up to the parents after school. 7 recorded deaths.
3. 1995: Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing: April 19th was a day like any other till boom. This was captured live on a local news broadcast at about 9 am that day. My class was watching that broadcast and we could see the building go down over the shoulder of the reporting journalist who was in downtown OKC. 168 recorded deaths.
4. 2001: World Trade Center attacks aka 9/11: This one while the most recent has seemed to slipped the minds of the American's. Foreigners remember it more than some of us. Where were you when it happened. Me and most of my peers were waking up getting ready for work or school. The attacks were at 800 central time where I was (900 Est or NY time). I woke up, turned on the TV and saw the 2nd plane fly into the 2nd tower. While watching the news I continued to prepare I had class within the hour, and it was not cancelled. Once class started, we did talk about it as some of my classmates had just returned from summer internships that were in that building, also this particular class had an instructor from New York. Once again, the world kept turning, we continued the day, woke up to a united country and ready to put a boot in someone's ass as Toby Kieth said.
Add these events to daily life of latchkey kids, hose water, and free-will, as well as books like 1984, Animal house, and Bunnicula; it is no wonder we grew up to have strong beliefs and convictions and do not tolerate stupidity well.
#9/11
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