OK Boomer!

Imlisanen Jamir

When is the first image that comes to mind when you think of a politician?


It’s usually an older dude in a suit. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this image, which comes to mind because it is a stereotype, albeit one that is informed by history, and provides evidence that for a very long time, our world has been run by older dudes in suits.


And along with that comes another stereotype about those who wield power must wield wisdom; age legitimizes office. Life experience is certainly a crucible in which is forged the ability to develop a greater understanding of the world. But wisdom isn’t some mystical juju you collect as you age; more years on earth doesn’t necessarily equate to greater wisdom.


A critical mind comes from consistently exposing oneself to new and novel situations, opening up to new ways of looking at things. 


In this backdrop, look at the some of the things that have recently made international headlines—from fights for civil liberties across the world to major judicial decisions closer home to an innocuous two word meme—‘OK Boomer.’  


Boomers are the ones that led suffrage rights, who toppled dictatorships and fought for workers rights; heck, they even gave us the electric guitar and weed. But they are also the ones who now (those in power specifically), are in the way of robust global climate action, freedom of identity and basically being just too thinned skinned and indecisive. 


So what’s OK Boomer?


It’s a symbol of the collective exhaustion of multiple generations set to inherit ever-amplifying problems in an ever-diminishing window of time. It is a response – as is par-for-course – to a barrage of heckling by older men in suites engaging in politicking.


Each generation has used cultural change through the available media and education to declare what is just not good enough. Across the fluid nature of social change throughout history, one element has remained constant—humour.   


And no other generation has embraced absurdist humour more that the young people today. 


Good comedy is supposed to make people reflect on privilege and power structures, to open conversation about things we take for granted, things that we don’t question about the culture and the society we’re deeply imbedded in.
But it’s reached a point where these two words are meant to shut old men (and women) in suites up. We’ve heard enough is what these two words connote. 


We’re at a generational timeline where the young ones have figured their forbears out. They can see the seams in the historical finery with which boomers often like to drape themselves. They can see through the costume to the unfinished business, the papered-over problems, the kicked cans, the compromises, the cover-ups. They can and do (and should) call them out on their cop-outs and their humongous hubris.

 

Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com