High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : What’s a Good Name for the Generation of the ‘90s?

Those who came of age in the ‘60s were known as the peace-and-love generation. For those who grew up in the ‘70s, it was the me generation; in the ‘80s, the materialistic generation. Hot Topics wonders: “What will the generation of the ‘90s be called?”

“The world generation because everyone is recycling their recyclables and praying for peace.”

Victor Gomez, 16,

junior, Santa Ana Valley

“The confused generation. All the other generations have left us confused about peace, love and being materialistic.”

Nira Baer, 15,

sophomore, Sonora

“The age of indifference because people lack the care to improve our society.”

Aaron Moskowitz, 16,

junior, Los Alamitos

“The man-we-really-screwed-up-the-world-so-we’d-better-fix-it generation because the growing global awareness of the world’s state of ruin has caused us all to rethink our ways.”

Gino Daddario, 16,

junior, Loara

“The re-evaluation generation.”

Saji Junawardane, 17,

senior, Valencia

“The radical generation. People are tired of what was going on in the ‘80s and are going to revolt against current institutions, much as they did in the ‘60s.”

Noah Lang, 15,

junior, Irvine

“The do-anything-you-want generation.”

Anh Ha, 16,

junior, Orange

“The safe-sex generation, what with all the controversy and concern about AIDS.”

Jimi Nguyen, 16,

sophomore, Saddleback

“The trend-setting generation.”

Monique Miranda, 16,

sophomore, Ocean View

“The carbon-copy generation; everything seems so retro now.”

Brad Davis, 17,

junior, El Toro

“Generation of change.”

Sarah Wue, 17,

senior, Orange

“The generation of religion because this world will be so messed up we will all begin to pray.”

Bill Uechi, 15,

sophomore, Loara

“The relive, repeat and review generation.”

Mona Javayeri, 15,

sophomore, Woodbridge

“The high-tech generation.”

John Butler, 14,

freshman, St. Michael’s Prep

“At periodical intervals throughout history, we have had rebuilding periods. The ‘90s is our reconstruction period after the Persian Gulf War is over.”

David Unitan, 16,

junior, Los Alamitos

“The messed-up generation.”

Kaliki Petersen, 16,

sophomore, Orange

“The I-want-to-be-everything generation. Everyone will be for themselves.”

Garo Papazian, 18,

senior, Sonora

“The decade of restlessness. “

Tim Baldwin, 14,

freshman, Ocean View

“The back-to-nature generation.”

Kim Atkinson, 17,

junior, Irvine

“The carefree generation, where people do only for themselves.”

Jennifer Iossi, 17,

junior, Ocean View

“The movers-and-shakers generation.”

Jennifer Y. Hwang, 17,

senior, Valencia

“Another ‘60s generation, because we want peace.”

Michelle Samson, 14,

freshman, Connelly

“The freed-man’s generation. This decade will see the fight for freedom prevail for all nations, cultures and people.”

Rebecca Lopez, 16,

junior, Santa Ana Valley

“The open-hand generation, due to a lack of prayer.”

Mark Kern, 15,

junior, St. Michael’s Prep

“The greedy generation.”

Michelle Corona, 17,

junior, Sonora

“The fitness generation, because people are a lot more conscious and concerned about their health.”

Lien Tran, 16,

sophomore, Saddleback

“The new-beginning generation, because after the war, the Middle East will have to start over with a new leader, and most leaders will think in new ways.”

Allen Tu, 15,

sophomore, Loara

“The awareness generation.”

Maura Johnston, 16,

junior, Connelly

“The environmental generation, because now people are realizing what’s going wrong.”

Jim Eichsteadt, 17,

senior, Irvine

“It will be a more futuristic version of the ‘60s.”

Lori Ann Francisco, 14,

freshman, El Toro

“The questioning generation, because everything that is going to happen is going to be questioned. People will be more cautious of things that will influence their lives.”

Peter Vo, 17,

junior, Santa Ana Valley

“The uh-oh generation, because we have to make up for past mistakes.”

John Kim, 17,

senior, St. Michael’s Prep

“The war-and-violence generation.”

Inez Cardona, 15,

freshman, Saddleback

“I’m not even sure if there is going to be a ‘90s generation. We might all end up getting ourselves killed.”

Grant Price, 17,

senior, Fullerton

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Responses gathered by Janet Bester (Connelly), Tiffany Chin (El Toro), Colleen Cruz (Fullerton), Sonal Kapadia (Irvine), Marie Suchy (Loara), Trisha Ginsburg (Los Alamitos), Jennifer Blue (Ocean View), Betsy Burbridge (Orange), Regina Hoang (Saddleback), Dan Alvarado (St. Michael’s Prep), Ginny Chang (Santa Ana Valley), Lani Kent (Sonora), Michael Chen (Valencia) and Katy Leeper (Woodbridge).

DR ,EFRAIN ISLAS