The Next Greatest Generation

by Daniel E. Garvey, Ph.D.

A couple of years ago Tom Brokaw authored a book titled The Greatest Generation. In this book he detailed the accomplishments of young men and women who came of age during the 1940s. He wrote of the extraordinary personal sacrifices and accomplishments of heroes and heroines who found themselves at a point in history when they were called upon to meet an identifiable foe and summon the courage and effort needed to positively affect the course of world events. Members of this generation returned from World War II and dedicated themselves to improving the standard of living in the U.S.  This “greatest generation” created the affluence and abundance of the 1950s. As a child of parents from this generation, I have profound respect and admiration for my parent’s generation and feel certain that this group deserves the credit and praise they are now receiving. 

But is this group truly the greatest generation? By what standard can we assess the greatness of any generation that has come before? And perhaps more importantly, how could we evaluate the potential of a new generation?

I would like to suggest that the success of any generation must be seen within the historical context it inhabits. Specifically, what significant societal question must be addressed by a generation? With this definition of greatness, every generation can be great because every generation is asked to help answer a set of questions that, once answered, will help advance the conditions of our lives.

In an attempt to understand the accomplishments of two previous generations, and the question that is facing our current generation of college students, I would like to offer the image of a large banquet as a metaphor. My parents and their peers can be credited with helping to create the feast. They had to prepare the table by making the world safe. Once that was accomplished, they set about amassing the bounty that would be enjoyed. The rapid development and accumulations of the 1950s set up, for better or worse, an excess of options to be shared at this metaphoric table of life. 

The question that faced the direct descendants of this generation, those who entered college in the 60’s was: who will be allowed to come to the feast? The 60s generation answered their challenge by attending to the invitation list. Despite the seeming chaos of the 60s, one central theme was present. This generation focused on making it possible for greater numbers of people from a much wider circle to be part of the feast. The 60s generation was great because it worked tirelessly for human rights. Race and gender, to name only two factors, had been obstacles to full attendance at the banquet table, and this generation can be hailed for the sacrifices they made toward a more inclusive society…invitation list. The young men and women who took part in voter registration in the South, those who helped expand the opportunities and expectations for women, and the strides toward international understanding are all examples of a generation attempting to do great things. The result of their work was that a more diverse group of people were expected to be at the banquet taking part in the feast made possible by an earlier generation.

Those who are now in college, and those I see daily attending Prescott College, confront their own generational question and opportunity. This generation focuses on the broad concept of sustainability. Now that a feast has been prepared and the appropriate people are invited, how can this generation help ensure we won’t run out of food? This generation of college students understands in the very marrow of their bones that the world we occupy has finite resources. They are the generation that taught their parents the importance of recycling. This generation is not content to go “first class on the Titanic”; they are busy trying to develop strategies that will help to keep our sometime fragile boat afloat. They have personal experience with the negative consequences of everyone attempting to eat all they can with little regard for the future.

At a recent gathering I attended, I was asked if I was optimistic about the contributions that will be made by the college students of today. My questioner cited the tendencies for self-absorption that he felt were present in students of today. Without hesitation I responded that my involvement with the students at Prescott College gave me unqualified optimism. Prescott College students of today are not merely observing the course of global affairs; they are earnestly involved in trying to offer positive alternatives that will lead to greater sustainability of our relationships with each other and the environments we share with all creatures. 

It is my personal belief that someday another book will be written about another “greatest generation,” a generation that helped us understand the need for civility and sustainability in all our relationships. I am optimistic, not because I am personally inclined to be so, but because I know this generation and I’ve looked in their eyes. Prescott College students and those like them will make positive differences in our world, and someday we will applaud their greatness.