Dreams of a generation in an era of prosperity

The year 2008 is for all Chinese one of joy and sadness, both in extreme. The huge disaster caused by the earthquake in Sichuan in May and the ongoing Olympic Games offering a sense of accomplishment and pride for many are the major causes for such sentiments.

While these events catch global attention, people cannot move their eyes away from the new generation of Chinese. They waved the national flag to cheer the Olympic torch relays in London, Paris and San Francisco; they saved numerous lives out of the rubble in quake-affected areas, they formed long queues to donate their blood and money for the victims and they are now most active participants in the Olympic Games, as athletes and volunteers.

More and more media reports, Chinese and foreign, newspaper, broadcast and Internet, mention the Chinese youngsters born after 1980. Almost every piece wonders since when the kids badgering their parents for a dinner at a McDonald or KFC have grown up as a major power in the society. Who are they? What's their difference from the older generations? How could they influence the society?