"Good Ole Days" Weren't
June 24, 2011
"It
was a simpler, more elegant time because people didn't divorce. My mother was on prescription drugs. I didn't see much of her; she
was sleeping." by Charlotte
(henrymakow.com)
I grew up in the sixties and seventies. My parents married in the fifties, so I was able to see at least some of how things worked in a more traditional western culture. The fact is, Henry? No one was especially happy, or functional then--either.
In fact, the only really good thing I can think of -- people just didn't divorce--which seems to always make a bad situation--worse. It just wasn't done. Like others from that era..I have good memories and really do wish we could have some of that back.
It was a simpler, more elegant time--and that could be..for that reason--because people didn't divorce. My mother, as was a number I knew of--was on prescription drugs. I didn't see much of her; she was sleeping.
My father wasn't happy; he found his solace in work. I could say well..it just wasn't a good home life but the truth is..it was similar to most kids I knew. I distinctly remember the family down the street with four girls.
This was when kids still wandered over to one another's houses to play, except--at their house--every so often, for no apparent reason..sometimes..you couldn't go there.
I was a lot older before I learned that it was because their father beat their mother on a regular basis; friends weren't allowed over around those times. I hate to say this but the only really content person we knew growing up--was "Dee Brown" who lived next door. She was a writer and an artist..and..you probably guessed--a Lesbian. She was the only one we knew of..who wasn't constantly wrapped up in some drama. It wasn't better; just--different than now.
Not long ago--I decided to go back to school. You're right; they're attempting to push a construed agenda. That's the bad news. The good news is--nobody seems to be buying into it.
I had to take a Women in History class, which I actually enjoyed immensely; everyone did, except--when she tried to push the agenda--you could look out over that sea of young feminine faces and see..they weren't buying it. And..according to their own account--for the most part--women don't buy into it.
The whole intent of giving women the vote backfired. Women should vote; they wanted women to vote for their causes. Didn't happen. The majority of women did exercise their new right but--they voted alongside their husbands.
I've had the opportunity to talk to many young gals..currently going to school. Since I'm innately nosey--I ask. Henry? For the most part? The only real change I can see in their idea of the feminine role is--go to school; get the degree so that if its ever needed, it'll be there.
Things happen. I've got friends who were widowed--young; one pregnant. They all still..just want to get married and have families. The education is just part of it--not a "career". Every career minded girl I talked to--all wanted jobs that would put a family first--like nursing..or social work. Maybe I'm asking the wrong gals but I haven't encountered even one that is shooting for a job that would challenge a man's traditional preferences..or that wouldn't work with raising a family in some way. The majority of them..want no part of Wall Street.
I agree wholeheartedly with you in the sense that the children aren't being raised correctly. Men see no real reason to be married except for the sex anymore--and..anymore..its getting to where the price is too high to pay for that. The men are either stunted neanderthals or--close to destroyed when they try to be decent; the girls are either insufferable brats, or..irretrievably damaged from "doing it right".
Both--lost. But..I don't think its the played out role that's doing it (though that really could use some work; bad manners are bad manners no matter how you look at it). I think that..the main reason this has fallen apart so badly is the very thing that makes it so attractive--the "perceived" role vs..the "practical" role.
Perceived roles run on feelings. If a man feels like he's got a partner that's working for him--he has good feelings and everything works. Same with a woman. If she gets all the right feelings--its working.
I'm actually amazed at how many marriages have broken up over the very thing that was holding it together--one's getting the right feelings; the other isn't..so..the "happy" partner is in utter shock when he/she comes home to find a "Dear John" note. Its all about--feelings, or..what they like to say nowadays.."communication". Very unstable; very unpredictable--and damn hard to keep going even in the best of marriages. Its a constant roller coaster that takes all of your energy.
JK said (June 25, 2011):
You all are mistaken, you all need to study history a lot better. The "boomers" are nothing compared to "The Lost Generation" that followed the ending of "The War to End All Wars", aka WW-I.
This is where the "Roaring Twenties" began and was one of the most lawless and corrupt times in world history. The men who had seen hell itself in the trenches of Europe came back disillusioned and burned-out. Every single facet of the evils of the modern world was present in post-war Berlin, or Paris for example- all of it, and sometimes much worse.