What We Are - Reagan Brats

For years “consensus” labeled my generation “Generation X”. The time to begin correcting that record has arrived.

We are REAGAN BRATS™ .

What are REAGAN BRATS?

People of my generation are Reagan Brats.

We grew up when Ronald Reagan was president.

We grew up knowing America is the greatest nation in the world.

We grew up knowing America’s greatest days lay ahead for we are Americans.

I use this term REAGAN BRAT affectionately. “Brat” usually applies to a spoiled child. We were spoiled.

So what were we spoiled with?

My generation grew up when Ronald Reagan was president. He and our grandparents' sacrifice spoiled us with love and liberty. They taught us greatness has no limitation.

Wikipedia uses the following when talking about my generation, what “consensus” labeled “Generation X”:

Generation X is generally marked by its lack of optimism for the future, nihilism, cynicism, skepticism, alienation and mistrust in traditional values and institutions.

The “consensus” that applied the title "Generation X" was likely describing itself.

My generation grew up overwhelmed with optimism. Our childhoods were full of courage, confidence, and hope. I was too young to experience Jimmy Carter’s “Misery Index”. President Reagan’s leadership launched an economic and morale rebirth that provided a wonderful childhood. We grew up during prosperous times never witnessed.

When we heard the acronym M.A.D.D., it had two D’s. It stood for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. We did not know Mutually Assured Destruction. President Reagan taught us missile defense was possible. We witnessed the Patriot missile shoot down incoming missiles in the Gulf War. Today the Strategic Defense Initiative has evolved to the operational system President Reagan described.

Ronald Reagan talked about ending the “Evil Empire” and taught us “Peace through Strength”. As a kid I remember President Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate. The world map had two Germanys: East and West. President Reagan told us, “Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.” Before I finished grade school liberty crushed that wall. President Reagan helped end the Cold War and not a single shot was fired.

Not all of my generation may agree with this assessment, but it is undeniable.

Theirs was the Greatest Generation but they taught us that title could belong to us. Humanity has no limitation on greatness.

Perhaps us Reagan Brats will one day become The Greatest Generation.

Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.