My Generation
by Claire Zulkey

In general, young adults are too young to have responsibilities such as how to worry about their own children, but are too old to require special consideration as to how they will handle the tragedy. They're still clinging to some of the trappings of childhood, but they're also, by most measures, grown ups.

Most of them can imagine how they would have reacted to the terrorism if they were children, because not long ago, they were children. They would have felt terror about what the victims went through, the future of America, the safety of ourselves. However, while these fears are still tangible, they're old enough to rationalize and prioritize, too. Life does go on, and fretting about hypothetical situations doesn't accomplish anything. They're young enough to understand what the kids are going through, old enough not to go through it in full themselves. They're in an emotional limbo.

Their generation finds itself in a funny spot this week, even more undefined than ever. Those in their early twenties are the first to have missed a tragedy or international tension like this in their lifetime, excepting the Gulf War. They were not there for Vietnam or much of the Cold War. Perhaps, not surprisingly, they have also, often justifiably, been labeled blasé, unpatriotic, sometimes even ashamed of their nationality. Many of them view their history as dominating and imperialistic. It has never been very cool to love your country.

However, this week, they're realizing that being American is more than the way you dress, the music you listen to or the attitude you have. It's more than half-heartedly waving a flag at the Fourth of July parade. It's a shame that these are the circumstances that we find love for our country, but it's about time.

Meanwhile, our generation may prove to bear the mark of what occurred Tuesday. Several of the victims were — like many of those reading this piece — fresh out of college, beginning their first jobs. Many of us will possibly be called upon to defend our country and extract vengeance for terrorism. And, eventually, as the next generation to bear children, it will be up to us to pass on this tale, the good and the bad. Which means figuring out what it means first.

I'm glad I have no children to explain this to, and for that I'm glad for my youth. But I'm glad that I'm old enough to put it in perspective, that my loved ones and I are still alive. That I'm old enough not to feel personally terrorized. That I'm part of a generation that will handle this as best it can, making use of all its strengths and talents.

E-mail Claire Zulkey at clairezulkey@hotmail.com.