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To me, decades ago is the 1980s! My childhood. That was the best times. It was still like the days of old, but with modern conveniences for the most part.
As a 27 year old millennial sometimes I think I've been misplaced. Big part of me wishes we can go back to the relative way things were at least couple decades ago in America and the west. I don't want this world to end in tyranny. Why can't we get spared? In history that has always happened, but it looks like we will never recover and sink into the abyss. Why can't I have been born when my parents or grandparents were born?
Don't despair, and for sure don't believe those who'll tell you how everything used to be better.
I was born in the 1960s, with a Soviet Union in full swing and a Cold War that was quite hot. That was fun, let me tell you - the idea that one mistake was all that it would take to get the warheads flying, and that everyone walked around 30 minutes from the end of the world. That's to say nothing of the needless suffering of those living under that regime, nor the other problems of the era - no one gave anything but lip service to the environment, we had to freakin' raise our voices to get legislation passed to keep people from destroying the ozone layer because spray cans were so convenient, acid rain was a thing, and everybody smoked indoors.
I was born in the 1960s, with a Soviet Union in full swing and a Cold War that was quite hot. That was fun, let me tell you - the idea that one mistake was all that it would take to get the warheads flying, and that everyone walked around 30 minutes from the end of the world. That's to say nothing of the needless suffering of those living under that regime, nor the other problems of the era - no one gave anything but lip service to the environment, we had to freakin' raise our voices to get legislation passed to keep people from destroying the ozone layer because spray cans were so convenient, acid rain was a thing, and everybody smoked indoors.
Well, what has changed from then to now?
We are STILL living under the threat of being nuked (or being the victims of an EMP caused by another country); we STILL have many people living in poverty, not only in other countries, but right here in the U.S.; and the pollution is STILL bad (but just not as bad, I think).
The only thing that you listed that is much better today is the decrease in smoking -- although I could come up with a long list of things that are better now than they were then (mostly in the areas of tolerance of people who are not part of the majority in some way).
However, everything being considered, I still think that things were MUCH better fifty years ago -- but that is only because, as I said before, that I was part of the majority. I am sure that I would have a much different view if I had been poor, black, and/or homosexual, for example!
As a 27 year old millennial sometimes I think I've been misplaced. Big part of me wishes we can go back to the relative way things were at least couple decades ago in America and the west. I don't want this world to end in tyranny. Why can't we get spared? In history that has always happened, but it looks like we will never recover and sink into the abyss. Why can't I have been born when my parents or grandparents were born?
At 27 you don’t know the terrible injustices that were happening at that time- as a woman - H no!!
Really. The 1990s were great. Clinton's troubles and corruption weren't as bad as Trump's. The country was never the same after 9/11.
Clinton was the democratic "yes" man for corporate america's NAFTA agreement and as a result the United States became a country dependent on globalization.
It was the beginning of the political selling out of the working and middle class by politicians for global corporate power and global wealth of which all incumbent politicians have financial interests.
The main reason that fellow politicians are upset with trump winning is that it has upset the continuation of their plan.
The existing political fight is not between democrats and republicans. It's between wealthy vs all other social classes.
“My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.” -- Forrest Gump
Back in those glorious days of the past there was no box of chocolates. One's options in life were much more narrowly defined. Women were expected to do one of a handful of things...stay home, teach school, be a nurse, maybe a secretary. I recall going to a public university and women students could not wear slacks on campus during the daylight hours. Blacks were expected to adhere to the norms and not overreach their allotted roles. Everyone was expected to conform to the standard expectations and those that didn't were kicked to the curb or were labelled in some derogatory fashion. Jews were not allowed in certain places. Only the privileged class had options -- white males could do almost anything they wanted as long as they loosely conformed or went through the motions. Being Gay was not an option and was mostly off the radar of most people.
People who want to go back to those days either never experienced what it was like or see themselves in that privileged group and long for the time when they had undisputed control over social behavior. Things like unbreathable air or undrinkable water, polio and iron lungs, bomb drills and air raid shelters, and widespread prejudice based on religion as well as race are glossed over and ignored.
As a 27 year old millennial sometimes I think I've been misplaced. Big part of me wishes we can go back to the relative way things were at least couple decades ago in America and the west. I don't want this world to end in tyranny. Why can't we get spared? In history that has always happened, but it looks like we will never recover and sink into the abyss. Why can't I have been born when my parents or grandparents were born?
You've been watching too many old sitcoms.
Would you like to have children die of simple things like measles? Or be restricted in who you're allowed to marry (especially interracially)? Or have to do nuclear bomb drills at school? Or be forcibly shipped to be blown up and maimed in hellholes around the world?
You've taken it for granted how much better life is now in so many ways. Even world hunger in the poorest countries has drastically decreased.
Last edited by ohhwanderlust; 09-30-2019 at 12:39 PM..
I think as opportunity widens, as it has for women (a good thing), it is very easy to define one's self (and thus happiness) with successes; looks, accomplishments, money .. etc.. .. furthering with comparison to other's looks, accomplishments, money etc... Doing so makes happiness a carrot on a stick scenario that is hard to achieve and easily to disappoint. I'm guilty of this... and I think men in the competitive workforce have been learning to deal with this for decades.
Well duh.. ... I did. I'm specifically interested in the studies YOU found interesting. Don't need to be like that.. you mention studies, you'd better be ready to link them.
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Globalization is the real issue
