"The Greatest Generation" is Sometimes Uncomfortable with the Title

My friend George Anderson is proud of his service in the 318th Infantry Regiment in World War II but he is not fond of the term "Greatest Generation." George says that today's generation — or any generation — would perform comparably to his in wartime, and that we should let all our veterans know that we honor them and appreciate their service.

I thought of World War II veterans like George and my father when my friend April Moore sent me a link to a wonderful article called "High-Five Nation," written by David Brooks in the New York Times.

"It made me think of your dad," she said.

After reading it, I wondered if the soft spot we have in our collective hearts for that generation might come, not just from our admiration of the sacrifices they made and the success they ultimately had, but from our appreciation for their humility. See it on Andy Schmookler's blog at www.nonesoblind.org/blog?p=4174/