In yet another generational skirmish, Generation Z is now characterizing us boomers as “angry” for unreasonably resisting their demands that we shuffle off to the graveyard and bequeath them our homes and assets.
Perhaps they are just confusing the term “angry” with the word “no,” which they are apparently just now hearing for the first time.
A piece on the Yahoo! News website on June 21 explored the responses given by boomers to the Generation Z accusation that we are always “angry” despite having had “the happiest lives of any generation.” Some of the young accuse us of having had it easy, of hoarding all of society’s wealth, and of taking an irresponsibly long time to die.
I avoid anger myself. Like hatred, anger usually only hurts the holder and doesn’t usually impact the subject. I may get momentarily peeved or annoyed, but it generally evaporates as soon as I turn off the news and tune in to SpongeBob SquarePants or Three Stooges clips. Intense anger or hatred is a terrible burden to bear.
And I always remember that some of my favorite people are good, intelligent younger folks who, although often disagreeing with me, will undoubtedly conquer their “chronological challenges” and gain wisdom as they age. Just as I did.
The boomers who commented offered references to Vietnam and the draft, which could get you sent off to war and killed or maimed, even if you didn’t want to go. Imagine that in this day and age.
The constant threat of nuclear annihilation also came up, as did our recessions, skyrocketing inflation, gas lines, assassinations, and riots. We lived under the threat of the polio epidemic, and all knew kids who had contracted it, often distinguishable by leg braces and crutches.
The work environment was different then, as you couldn’t take off “mental health days” just because you felt like it, were expected to be reliable, could easily be fired, and didn’t expect to work from home in your pajamas. We had some pretty shitty minimum wage jobs, often involving a grill, gas pump, broom, or some uniform. Instead of living at home, we shared an old house with friends to save rent. When we finally bought houses, they were in dicey areas, needed a lot of work, and required far more than the recommended 30 percent of our income.
In distinguishing themselves from the young, some boomers mentioned suffering chronic pain, disease and disability, and the accelerating loss of family and friends to death or dementia. Some mentioned not being praised and affirmed for just doing the job they were paid for or not expecting “trophies,” constant recognition, and affirmation. The term “entitlement” came up.
But after listening to the complaints of the youngsters, it occurred to me that perhaps the biggest generational difference is that we boomers acknowledge the hardships and struggles that our parents’ generation faced and usually recognize how much easier we had it.
World War II had just concluded, with the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and the wounding of many more. Living near a VA facility, I recalled seeing disabled veterans, as well as those suffering from “shell shock,” now known as PTSD. Most of the fathers in my neighborhood had served in the military, and many had seen combat and sometimes shared stories of their experiences. A few, such as my father, had been badly wounded and suffered disabilities.
Civilians also suffered hardships and challenges. Food and gas were rationed, many products were not available, and many women were forced to work in the defense industries, both to serve the war effort and to supplement the meager military incomes of their husbands who were serving overseas.
Abroad, the situation was more dire with the Holocaust and the slaughter of civilians. Many of us had Jewish friends and can recall hearing of the murder of their families in the camps. Today, it is a lot different when someone shows you their tattoo.
Before that, there was the crushing poverty and desperation of the Great Depression. People were desperate for any work, and hundreds of thousands migrated from the dust bowl to places like California, willing to take any job in order to support their families and themselves. My grandfather moved his family across the country for a job as a railroad switchman and was grateful to have it. Add to that a world that was quickly racing toward yet another world war.
Growing up with a backdrop like that, it was pretty difficult for us to overlook the suffering and hardships that our parents’ generation had endured and to fail to feel gratitude for our good fortune in living in safer and more prosperous times.
So, yeah, we boomers had it easy relative to earlier generations, and you Z’s have had it easier still.
John Donegan is a retired attorney in Pismo Beach who vents by shouting at the news and lecturing his cat. Respond to letters@ santamariasun.com.
This article appears in July 2 – July 9, 2026.
