omega minimo (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 08:38 PM
Original message
Boom Icons passing on. Cronkite, Shriver, MJ :yoiks: Teddy... who will be the Future Icons, Gen XYZ?
Who is defining the times for you? Jon Stewart comes to mind. Slightly younger then MJ, maybe a tail end Boomer, sorting through all the Total BS as only someone awake before Reagan took office can, for comedic purposes and as a public service to those who come after. Ya can't make this shit up. A comedian/actor ends up being the news zeitgeist go-to guy pointing out the absurdity of absurdities spawned by policies of the comedian/actor who played Governor of California and then President.
When HIstory Repeats, when Ahnolt is the Fuhrer someday, who will sort it all out? Will Jon Stewart be the grizzled old grandpa of journalism that Cronkite was?
It doesn't need to be a "Who's the Next ________" thing. Who is inspiring, guiding, chronicling, leading, expressing this young generation now?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6406904Systematic Chaos (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 08:46 PM
Response to Original message
3. The Gen Jones-ers are going to be next, then us X'ers.
There are a lot of brilliant musicians which were born in the 60s and were influenced by the British Invasion and Progressive rock icons of the late 60s and on. Plenty of the "dinosaurs" from the Boomer/early Jones era are still going strong. Hell, even Yes is due to make a new album this year!
Jon Stewart has lots of time left in him, barring an unforseen tragedy. Us X'ers are barely hitting our 40s right now, and there's no reason why many of us can't be productive for another 30 - 40 years. Hopefully, the masses won't become too dumbed down to appreciate us in the meantime.
Ironic that DUmmy Systematic Chaos is only one who mentions productivity. Weighing in at a quarter-ton,
confined by his grotesque physique to a reinforced barcalounger, the enormous DUmmy's productivity is
less than zero. His mention of 30-40 years is kind of strange, given that he's unlikely to last another 5.
orpupilofnature57 (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 08:49 PM
5. Bill Maher , Keith Olbermann ,Rachel Maddow, Marilyn Manson
Anyone who hates Murdock.
How would you like to have that as your pantheon of heroes?
Keef, a couple queers, and a snotty atheist.
Pretty much the democrat party in a nutshell.
Withywindle (1000+ posts) Thu Aug-27-09 09:01 PM
10. Barack Obama, of course.
Gens X and Y came out in droves for him. Look at the election night photos again. Lots of old people weeping with joy - and lots of young ones too.
On the news or punditry front, I agree about Jon Stewart and Rachel Maddow. (Rachel actually is a Gen Xer, born 1973--wow, she's 4 years younger than me!) Stephen Colbert, too. (When does Gen X start - he was born in 1964).
Future politicians? Well, that's pretty mad speculation. Who had heard of Barack Obama 10 years ago? Maybe the first woman President will be Chelsea Clinton. Or Malia Obama. Or someone currently obscure who won't stay that way for much longer.
Ten years ago, the Kenyan was a young muslim just a few years out of madrassa, still brimming with
youthful dreams of beheading infidels. Two years ago he was still unknown, having done nothing that
would bring him to anyone's attention. Just a little over a year ago, he finally discovered his true talent,
which is simply being black.
