For the generation born from 1945-1964, the Vietnam War was the tumultuous event which divided this group more than any other.  And while many were appalled before, and especially after the results of Woodstock, the three-day music festival was the one event during this era which best captured the zeitgeist of this time- rebellion- and whether boomers agreed with the war or not, many could relate to that on some level.  However, the aftermath of the festival still revealed a stark divide amongst this age cohort.

Naturally I ponder similar questions for my generation born from 1979-1990; what is our definitive era, what is the big day that had a profound impact, and did it divide us or unite us?
For First Globals™, our era is no doubt defined by the telecommunications revolution that started in the 1980s and advanced into the 1990s so that a near majority of homes had cell phones, internet, or both. 

But unlike the Vietnam War for our parents generation, the T.C. revolution brought us closer to each other both within our regions and to some degree around our country (think chat rooms for special interests, instant messaging- thus the greater possibility to network outside of our high schools and cities).  And it was this era of networking and keeping in touch which many of us spent much of our teenage years engaging in, that prepared us for the day that shook us just like our parents had been shaken by various shocking events of the 1960s and early 1970s- that day for us was 9/11.

In fact 9/11 was an existential moment for many of us.  Some of us started attending church services and looking inward, while many did the exact opposite and found meaning by looking outward- hence the explosion in college students majoring in International Studies, East Asian Studies, Middle Eastern studies, and traveling abroad.

In short, 9/11 was the event in our short-lived history that ultimately defined us as a Global Generation because it allowed us to apply our networking and ultra-inclusive communicative skills learned through texting, instant messaging, and chat rooms, and apply them on an internationally practical level.  This is why we see countless members of the First Global™ generation who have made friends abroad and maintained through various social networking sites. 

Furthermore, 9/11 was the event that ultimately put the final nail in our parochial coffin and helped usher many of us to be more active in something more powerful than we had previously ever known- the global exchange of ideas.

While many Baby Boomers get much slack for continuing their indulgent behavior into their mature adult years; what are the behavioral tendencies of the Global Generation and are they likely to tarnish their image down the line, or have they already?

Jeremy first globals communication, evolution, first globals, history, international, internet, middle east, music, travel, war, work

From the moment he was sworn in as the nation’s 44th President, President Barack Obama made clear his resolve to get right down to work to deal directly with a huge order of both the United States’ and the rest of the world’s emergencies and predicaments.

Despite the scope and depth of these crises, he has promised solutions for the withering economy and two abysmal wars that have created far more bad than good. With plans laid forth to create and save millions of jobs, repair our image as aggressive hardliners through diplomacy and talk of shifting to soft power — and perhaps to take inspiration from European models of social welfare through leading Congress to pass Universal Healthcare — Obama has shown the kind of determination to meet these problems head-on and to change business-as-usual in Washington by fostering an atmosphere of bipartisanship and consensus.

Even with all of this, the President showed no display of hesitancy when we saw him speak before Chief Justice Roberts had a chance to finish the ritual. But since he created such a aura of hope, there have been some difficulties with problematic Cabinet appointments, a Republican Party that is more ready to revert to ideology than be cooperative, and now in this new era of lightening-fast news cycles and exceedingly high expectations, to face questions as to whether or not his presidency has already failed. That question comes from respected economist Martin Wolf in the Financial Times.

And so with reality in full gear, the public awaits the President’s stimulus plan to kick in. He has a comfortable job approval rating (67%), but a slight majority with public approval of the stimulus bill (51%), both according to Gallup, and we all wonder what he thinks now of his ability to accomplish ushering us into a new era?

Looking at history makes it even more interesting.

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Jeremy politics animals, economy, health, history, ideology, Obama, war, work, zogby

While it is possible some young people in countries like China and Russia may revert back to some protectionist policies and many could latch on to ultra-nationalist attitudes — especially in the face of recent U.S. policies — it doesn’t seem likely in the case of America’s First Global Citizens (i.e. those born in the U.S. between 1979 and 1990) will be bitten by that bug. Despite the culture wars over evolution and creation, a “my country, right or wrong” tradition of American Exceptionalism, and a dismal short-term financial future,  more and more of them are becoming estranged from these traditional mindsets.

But what makes Zogby International so sure that this age group in America won’t experience a backlash of nationalist attitudes, as seen among youth in burgeoning super-powers like China and Russia, anxious to flex their own education and consumer power?  It is clear from our data that First Globals are more exposed to a range of ideas, cultures, and enabling technologies pushing them to a more planetary worldview and a greater appreciation of diversity.

This phenomenon of Global Citizenship is not only being experienced in the U.S. Tomas Etzler, a Czech journalist reporting in China, states that the youth in China have an interest in material goods from the West, a factor that can indeed create a counterforce against their desire to see China as the dominant world power. And in various capitals throughout Europe, you can meet Russian students who strive to speak with an English accent.

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Jeremy Uncategorized culture, education, evolution, first globals, future, Generations, international, marriage, music, Obama, sports, war, work, zogby