Choosing your generation?

[David Horn]

(06-01-2019, 09:30 PM)Hintergrund Wrote: If it works at all, only with generations without a sharp border. Like with between Xers and Millies. Earlier in the 20th century, it was obvious: The Lost were old enough to fight in WW1; the G.I. were too young for WW1, but old enough for WW2; the Silent were too young for WW2, but too old for Vietnam; and the Boomers, you know.

You forgot Korea, which is sad but common.  Many of the Silents participated; many died.  Following your scenario, then: … the Silent were too young for WW2, but old enough for Korea, Boomers were too young for Korea, but old enough for Vietnam. After that, the paradigm changes, because Richard Nixon deemed it so. When the draft ended, we moved from a citizen army with all it's limitations, to a poor-person's army with different limitations, but no demand on the service of hoi polloi any longer. It's also when the hyper patriotism started.

There will either be a return to shared sacrifice, in some form, or nation will splinter. If the nation splinters, the state will either splinter with it, or become more and more authoritarian. Option 2 seems to be the current choice. I certainly hope it does not hold.