80's Guide for Millennials

Talking to a Millennial friend last week, he remarked how envious he was of Gen-X's 80s childhood.

It's all true, Millennials. We did what we wanted and stayed out till the lights came on.

Summer times we were outside till 10, bikes, kickball, and then flashlight tag.

The 80's were oddly pessimistic, though, and it took a while for Reagan's  Morning in America to set in. 

There was always talk of losing the peace to Japan and of course, nuclear war.

Anyway, for those interested, here's a pretty good representation of what the 80's felt like, at least from a Network News stand point.

So what do we see in this video?

Ethiopia (ah, We are the World)

Homelessness (that was a big one)

South Africa (everyone loved Tutu and Mandela)

Econ distress (closing factories and farms)

Vietnam (still an open scar in 1985)

Assassinations (JFK, RFK, MLK, also still an open scar) 

Polish Solidarity (Lech Walesa was always in the news)

Korean protests (also always in the news)

Lebanon and terrorism (Beirut, hostages, high-jackings)