Lately, blaming the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946 to 1964) for the current troubles of society from climate change to racism, economics to the breakdown of civility has become a favorite pastime on social media by some members of Gen x to Gen Z. One need only witness the placating use of the term “OK Boomer” to see the unexpected depth of hostility that erupted towards Boomers deemed as the most selfish generation in history. That this animosity conveniently blossomed during Covid, an illness that plagued Boomers disproportionately, is as disturbing as it is highly suspicious.

Newfound Boomer hostility is so unfair and potentially dangerous to senior life and limb at the extremes, it is perhaps engineered by bad foreign actors like Putin seeking to further divide our fractured nation and our youth from its elder wisdom. The attack on seniors also seems in fact so conveniently timed as to have been fostered by a small but well-funded cluster politicos on the extreme right seeking to end Social Security and Medicare. Yeah, I am looking at you Boomer-sellout Rick Scott and those in GOP being less than honest about their true motives.

Fact is, the Baby Boomer generation was raised in a world that was vastly different from the one we live in today, and they have done the best they could with the information and resources available to them at the time. For example, the Baby Boomer generation was subjected to a heavily biased media that often downplayed the importance of issues such as racism, climate change and rights for women. In the past, mainstream media outlets were largely controlled by a homogeneous group of white males, who often had a narrow Christian perspective on the world and a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

Growing up, Boomers were fed diet of TVsteady staple of white as snow shows like THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, set in the deep south without a single black member of the cast. This meant that many important issues, such as racism and women’s rights, were either ignored or dismissed as unimportant. As well, nightly news was highly sanitized to focus attention away from social issues like climate change and overpopulation that were already well known in science circles the 60s.

Additionally, the Baby Boomer generation grew up in a time when access to information was quite limited, and the internet and other forms of modern technology were not yet available. This made it much more difficult than today’s internet era for people to seek out diverse perspectives and understand the true impact of the choices they were making. In an era when most people relied on whitewashed television and newspapers for information, it was much easier for the establishment media to control the narrative and shape public opinion.

Of late, conservative-Fox-News-Trump-loving-brainwashed-Boomers have made things more difficult for liberal and independent Boomers because of racist and sexist disinformation programming. For over 7 years Trump, a Boomer himself, has done an epic job of tarnishing the Boomer image almost single-handedly. Indeed, all the hate filled Trump inspired programming has even produced a group of people of color working against their own best interests. A fact which we saw horribly come to light in the recent killing of Tyre Nichols at the hands of a Black squad in Memphis.

It is difficult to determine an exact percentage of Baby Boomers who are liberal versus conservative. Political beliefs can be complex and can change over time, and different surveys and studies may produce different results. However, in general, Baby Boomers are thought to be a fairly evenly split generation in terms of political ideology, with some leaning towards liberalism and others towards conservatism. This balance in left/right voting power has canceled out some of the politcal power of the Boomers. Nonetheless, Boomers remain a large voter block and it’s important to note we’d never have had a President Obama or President Biden were it not the more liberal minded half of the Boomers.

The Baby Boomer generation has faced numerous challenges in their own right, such as economic recessions, racial awakening, a sexual revolution, equal rights for women, political upheaval, and technological change. Despite these many thorny challenges, Boomers have worked hard to create a better world for future generations and opened the way for future generations to take up where they left off. Many Boomers were, and still are, actively involved in the civil rights movement, the women’s rights movement, and other important social and political causes. They have made sacrifices and taken risks to make a positive impact on the world, raising the best educated generation of progeny in history.

Please take moment to appreciate this small sampling of Boomers accomplishments efforts to make this a better world. Let’s start with inventions that are allowing you to enjoy this tribute to Boomers.

Technology Achievements: Here are just a few of the many important inventions and technological advancements that were developed by individuals born within the Baby Boomer generation.

• Personal computer: The first personal computer, the Altair 8800, was developed by Ed Roberts in 1975.
• Internet: The concept of the Internet was first developed by computer scientist Vint Cerf and engineer Bob Kahn in the 1970s.
• Global Positioning System (GPS): The GPS system was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s and 1980s, and became fully operational in 1995.
• Compact Disc (CD): The CD was developed by Sony and Philips in the 1970s and 1980s, revolutionizing the way people listened to music.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI research was conducted by computer scientists and engineers in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, leading to the development of expert systems and machine learning algorithms. Used to assist in this blog.
• Mobile Phones: The first commercially available mobile phone was developed by Motorola in 1983.
• Video Games: The first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, was developed by Ralph H. Baer in 1972.
• Genetically Engineered Crops: Genetic engineering of crops was first performed in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to the development of crops that are resistant to pests and diseases.
• Barcode Scanner: The barcode scanner was developed by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Social Accomplishments: The Boomers were the generation that introduced America to new and at time dangerous forms of protesting. Many Boomers of all races, genders and creeds sacrificed their very lives in these great causes.

• Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw significant gains for African Americans, with many Baby Boomers actively participating in protests and demonstrations to end segregation and discrimination.
• Anti-Vietnam War Movement: Boomers were at the forefront of the anti-Vietnam War movement, with many of them participating in protests and demonstrations against the war.
• Counterculture Movement: The counterculture movement of the 1960s, also known as the hippie movement, was largely a product of Baby Boomer youth, who sought to challenge traditional societal norms and values.
• Women’s Rights Movement: The Women’s Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s saw significant gains for women, with many Baby Boomer women advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
• LGBTQ Rights Movement: The LGBTQ rights movement also gained momentum during this time, with many Baby Boomers advocating for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Space Exploration: The Baby Boomer generation saw significant advancements in space exploration, with the United States landing astronauts on the moon in 1969 as part of the Apollo program.

• Robert C. Springer – American astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including the first night launch and landing of the Shuttle.
• Jeffrey A. Hoffman – American astronaut who flew on five Space Shuttle missions and was part of the crew that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope.
• John M. Grunsfeld – American astronaut and physicist who flew on five Space Shuttle missions and was part of the team that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope.
• Kathryn D. Sullivan – American astronaut and geologist who became the first American woman to walk in space.
• Jerry M. Linenger – American astronaut and medical doctor who flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour and spent over 115 days aboard the Russian space station Mir.
• Ellen Ochoa – American astronaut and electrical engineer who flew on four Space Shuttle missions and served as the first Hispanic woman to go to space.
• Eileen Collins – American astronaut and military pilot who became the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle.
• Linda M. Godwin – American astronaut and physicist who flew on four Space Shuttle missions and spent over 34 days in space.
• Robert L. Curbeam – American astronaut and electrical engineer who flew on three Space Shuttle missions and has logged over 45 days in space.
• Rex J. Walheim – American astronaut and veteran of the United States Air Force who has flown on three Space Shuttle missions and has spent over 47 days in space.
• Note: While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were not technically baby boomers (born in 1930), they are often associated with the Baby Boomer generation due to the timing of their historic moon landing in 1969, during the peak of the Baby Boomer years.

Medical Advances: Here are some scientists and medical professionals born between 1946 and 1966 (within the Baby Boomer generation) and their notable accomplishments:

• Dr. James D. Watson: Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist who is best known for co-discovering the structure of DNA in 1953.
• Dr. Jon Spence: Spence is an Australian-American oncologist who has made significant contributions to the field of cancer research. He is best known for his work on the genetic basis of cancer and the development of targeted cancer therapies.
• Dr. Joanne Liu: Liu is a Canadian physician and the international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing medical aid in conflict zones and other areas of need.
• Dr. Anne Warren: Warren is a Australian psychologist who has made important contributions to the field of child development and is best known for her work on the cognitive and social development of children with Down syndrome.
• Dr. David Baltimore: Baltimore is an American biologist and virologist who has made significant contributions to the fields of virology and immunology. He is best known for his work on the replication of retroviruses, which are the cause of many serious diseases, including AIDS.
• Dr. Robert Gallo: Gallo is an American virologist who is best known for his role in the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the development of the first test for AIDS.
• Dr. Richard Schlegel: Schlegel is an American gynecologic oncologist who has made important contributions to the field of reproductive health. He is best known for his work on the development of new surgical techniques for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
• Dr. David Helfet: Helfet is an American orthopedic surgeon who has made important contributions to the field of trauma surgery. He is best known for his work on the surgical treatment of fractures and traumatic injuries to the skeleton.

• Medical Advances: There were also important advances in medicine during this time, including the development of vaccines for diseases such as polio and measles.

Environmental Accomplishments: Your author, a Boomer himself, was making posters to convince people to use mass transit in college. The environmental movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, with many Baby Boomers advocating for greater protection of the natural world and raising awareness about environmental issues.

• Al Gore: American politician, environmentalist, and climate change activist who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States under President Bill Clinton. He is best known for his work on climate change, including the award-winning film “An Inconvenient Truth” and his advocacy for sustainable living.
• James Hansen: American climate scientist and former director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He is widely recognized as one of the first scientists to raise public awareness about the dangers of climate change and is credited with being one of the earliest and most vocal advocates for action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
• David Suzuki: Canadian scientist, environmentalist, and broadcaster who is best known for his work as a science writer and broadcaster. He has been an outspoken advocate for environmental causes, including action on climate change, and has received numerous awards for his work in raising public awareness about environmental issues.
• Van Jones: American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, and attorney. He is best known for his work on environmental justice issues, including the Green Jobs Act, which aimed to create jobs in the clean energy sector.
• Tim DeChristopher: American environmental activist who gained national attention for his actions in disrupting an auction of oil and gas drilling leases on public lands in Utah. He has been an outspoken advocate for action on climate change and has been involved in a number of other environmental campaigns, including the Climate Disobedience Center.
• Bill McKibben: American environmentalist, author, and founder of 350.org, an organization focused on fighting climate change. He has been an influential voice in the environmental movement and has been recognized for his work in raising public awareness about the dangers of global warming.
• Lester Brown: American environmental analyst and founder of the Earth Policy Institute. He is best known for his work on issues related to sustainable agriculture and the environment, including climate change and the transition to renewable energy.
• Michael Mann: American climatologist and geophysicist who is best known for his work on reconstructing past climate patterns and studying the causes of climate change. He has been a vocal advocate for action on climate change and has been widely recognized for his contributions to the field of climate science.
• Katharine Hayhoe: Canadian climate scientist and professor of atmospheric science at Texas Tech University. She is a leading voice on the issue of climate change and has been recognized for her ability to communicate complex scientific information to a broad audience.

Rock and Roll: The Baby Boomer generation had, and still has, a profound impact on popular culture and shaped the music industry. Here are but a few Boomers who brought us music that will one day be played on earth space ships exploring the galaxy one day.

• The Beatles
• The Rolling Stones
• Bob Dylan
• Jimi Hendrix
• Janis Joplin
• Led Zeppelin
• The Who
• Pink Floyd
• The Grateful Dead
• The Doors
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Authors: The counterculture movement of the 1960s was reflected in the literature of the time, with many Baby Boomers writing works that challenged traditional societal norms and values. Boomer writers such as the following explored a deeper knowledge of the human psyche.

• Stephen King
• Michael Crichton
• John Grisham
• Dan Brown
• J.K. Rowling
• Stephenie Meyer
• David Foster Wallace
• Mary Higgins Clark

Film Achievement: The film industry saw a significant shift during the Baby Boomer generation, with the rise of the “New Hollywood” movement, which saw a new generation of actors and filmmakers producing films that broke from traditional norms.

Actors:

• Tom Cruise
• Bruce Willis
• Tommy Lee Jones
• John Travolta
• Jeff Bridges
• Michelle Pfeiffer
• Tom Hanks
• Michael J. Fox
• Harrison Ford
• Kevin Bacon
• Robert De Niro
• Meryl Streep
• Sigourney Weaver
• Goldie Hawn
• Morgan Freeman

Filmmakers:

• Steven Spielberg
• Oprah Winfrey
• George Lucas
• Martin Scorsese
• Ridley Scott
• Francis Ford Coppola
• Brian De Palma
• Tim Burton
• Oliver Stone
• Woody Allen
• David Lynch

Meditation and Yoga: Here are some of the names of Boomers who led the growth of the meditation and yoga culture in America.

• The Beatles
• Richard Hittleman
• B.K.S. Iyengar
• Paramahansa Yogananda
• Swami Satchidananda
• Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
• K. Pattabhi Jois
• Chögyam Trungpa
• T.K.V. Desikachar
• Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
• Ram Dass (formerly known as Richard Alpert)
• Sharon Gannon and David Life (Jivamukti Yoga)
• Ana Forrest
• Seane Corn
• Baron Baptiste
• Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (The Art of Living Foundation)
• Deepak Chopra
• John Friend (Anusara Yoga)
• Gary Kraftsow (Viniyoga)

That’s just a small sample of our most famous Boomers, or people on the cusp of the true Boomer birth years but who contributed to society during the peak of the Baby Boomer generation’s primary influence, who have worked tirelessly, often at the risk of their lives, to make this a better world. Boomers are a generation that certainly deserve to be treated with a greater degree kindness and respect than they’ve been granted of late. So the next time you see a younger person make attack on entire generation, on that like any other is mix of good and bad, I hope you refer them of this story by a Boomer who has been fighting for climate change, peace and other daunting social issues since college.

If you’d like to a support this blog’s gentle form of activism through meditation that helps people awaken to the dangers of runaway climate change in particular please donate at CoolestMeditationEver.com or pick out some cool New Age tech we’ve curated in our filming of stars of the conscious community like Dr. Patrick Flanagan and Jonathan Goldman on our sister site CoolestTechEver.com.