Many of us here at JU are Baby Boomers.  Others are Gen X, and Gen Y.  With the exception of Stevendedalus (and others less frequent members perhaps?), that Pretty much encompasses all of us (Steven is the Greatest Generation).  So what defines each generation? 

Well, for Steven it is easy.  The Great Depression and WWII.  Nothing can top those 2 for defining their generation, and the rest of us still are in awe at their sacrifice and tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds.  It was not eden, but there are a lot of heroes from that era that still dwarf anyone since.

For Generation X, they probably need to determine what their defining moment/event is.  They are now coming up on 40, and so need to think of what they have done that defines them (it need not be epic, or earth shattering - just what event/moment defines them).  Generation Y is yet young and it would be hard for them to define a moment/event just yet as they are just now coming of age.

Which leaves The baby Boomers.  And boy do we have a ton to pick from.  But I know history will judge most of them transitory and unworthy of inclusion into the defining moment of our generation.

Some may say The Vietnam war.  But I discount that one as America was not united, nor was the BB generation on that conflict.  That was not a defining event.  It was a divisive event.  Others may point to the moon landing, and that is certainly pivotal, but that was made by 3 people, not millions.  Then there is Woodstock.  Sorry, while umpteen million say they were there, only about 250k actually were (and no, neither I nor my sister was).

Watergate, Price Controls, Oil Embargoes, and a partridge in a pear tree.  Lots of things can be raised (and I am sure I have forgotten many), but they are not Defining (IMHO).

So what is?

Operas.  Don't laugh!  Other than Gilbert and Sullivan, what Operas have been written since the long hair age?  I am not talking fat lady and unintelligible words.  Any?

Well, we had Hair, we had Tommy, and we had Jesus Christ Superstar.  Yes, Rock Operas.  If there have been others, they have faded into antiquity.  Those 3 remain.  But alone among the 3 is Jesus Christ Superstar.  Why?

First, it is religious.  You cant get away with that any longer!  That would have been banned by today's MPAA as unfit for anyone under 17.  Then you have Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton decrying the fact Carl Anderson played Judas!  There you go stereotyping the blacks again (although he by far had the best voice in the cast!)!  And you had Tanks!  Sorry, that is an extreme example of the fascist mentality of America!

Yet you had all those factors, and a bunch of parents grumping (not really complaining) that "the book was better".  And you had a generation that made the Life of Jesus contemporary.  And those who saw it, Christians, Jews, Atheists (I don't know if any Muslims saw it) leaving the performance awed and humbled.  No, the non-Christians were not converting in droves.  You did not have to.  It was the message of the movie, and it was universal.  instead of being sac religious, it was highly spiritual without having to be Christian indoctrination.

So why is that are defining event?  because It was after the Civil Rights act when we could see people as people, and not colors, and before they took that innocence away from us with Political correctness and constant repression from the courts in being able to express our beliefs.  Judas was not black!  He was the tool of our Salvation.  And you felt for him and his doomed role!  The movie was not a Right wing Conspiracy.  It was an inspirational play for all people of faith or lack there of.

It was a time when we could forget the political handlers and the politically correctness of those who would be our new masters and bond as one.  And it hurt no one.

That is my vote for our defining event.