Letter: Sixties icons are not ours

Jon Mills
Thursday 26 December 1996 20:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Sorry to disappoint Polly Toynbee ("It's time to swing back to the Sixties", 23 December), but young people of my generation, born in the Seventies, have absolutely no interest in what Jagger et al have to say.

After making a few vague "anti-Establishment" gestures in their youth, most of the Baby Boom rockers have become part of that very Establishment.

The late-teens and twentysomethings of 1996/97 have their own ideas, their own beliefs, and their own heroes and heroines, and look forward optimistically to the year 2000, not 1964. The "legacy" of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties has indeed created a society very different from that of 30 years ago, and anyone who wants to get on with life doesn't waste time wondering whether this is for better or worse.

Young people do admire those like Nelson Mandela, who fought (and fight) for values still vital today. Most of us have a strong sense of morality and of doing right by others, and are sick of being told what terrible times we're living through.

The 21st century could be a great one. My message to the Polly Toynbees out there is this: help us build it, or leave us alone.

JON MILLS

Minehead, Somerset

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in