What made the “greatest generation” so great? The fact that they killed nearly half their generation in war is what most view as the defining achievement of this generation. Not to say that they didn’t do great things but they should not be recognized as the greatest generation. Every generation will have differences but they also have similarities, the most common trait between the “greatest generation” and the “millennial generation” is hard work and motivation. The “greatest generation” may have had their downfalls but they did leave behind values that have become virtually nonexistent in the ecent years. The true greatest generation has not come around yet. The “greatest generation” is not great because of what they did nor should they be recognized as such.
The havoc and destruction of World War II was not a great accomplishment it was a massacre for both sides. Members of the armed forces who saw combat in WW II are looked upon as heros. What in our society caused the public to look at war as a heroic and good thing. Hollywoods glorification of war films such as “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down” cause people to look at these films and believe that is an accurate portrayal of war.These movies push along the values of war and violence as a good and honorable. The soldiers who did these things did not even view them as honorable, to them it was merely their job.
The American society put these soldiers on a pedestal with huge homecoming parades and celebrations. To the “greatest generation” the most important values were hard work, responsibility, and self reliance. There are a lot of similarities between the values of the “greatest generation” and the “millennial generation. ” Although these values are looked upon in different way by the two generations, they do have things in common. For the illennial’s the major values are being motivated, ambitious, and self-motivated.
In the millennial point of view having three or four jobs in a year is not looked at as a bad thing, rather it shows the determination and motivation of that person. In the greatest generations eyes once you found a job you usually stayed with that career for their lifetime, which showed determination to provide for their family.The millennial generation has the same motivation of family behind what they do. According to Morley Safer of 60 minutes “Some of them [millennial’s] are the greatest generation. They’re more hardworking. hey have these tools to get things done. They’re enormously clever and resourceful.
” Along this same line millennial’s are now coming of age and moving into adulthood, and a study conducted by the Pew Research Group stated that “they [millennial’s] have begun to forge theirs: confident, self- expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living. ” While the millennial’s do have some things in common with the “greatest generation” the major thing that the millennial’s have is the advances and use of technology in the workplace and in daily life. For example instead of going out to get a ewspaper, many now just go online to the news website.In a similar fashion television is also losing some of its viewers to the convenience of the internet.
The greatest generation has not yet happened. What we currently consider the “greatest generation” is not truly that. Greatness can not truly be defined by military valor alone, there are many other ways to achieve greatness. A generation can be defined by its spiritualism, its social reform, technical advances, or uses of technology.
In a way millennial’s have taken the past and have moved in a different direction embracing change, technology, with confidence and determination.
