How did "society" fail them? I was born in England right after WW11. We had little to eat and played in bombed out bldg"s. Surely former generations were failed by society. Two class system and not allowed to move up, etc. Difference is we didn't have media telling us we had been "failed" ! Read Main Street.....by Sinclair. Obviously the…
How did "society" fail them? I was born in England right after WW11. We had little to eat and played in bombed out bldg"s. Surely former generations were failed by society. Two class system and not allowed to move up, etc. Difference is we didn't have media telling us we had been "failed" ! Read Main Street.....by Sinclair. Obviously these kids had life too easy. Even in the 1950s kids delivered newspapers. Mowed lawns etc. Whatever went wrong happened after we became a two car, TV in every room and of course computer and games society.
I appreciate your question and I understand the validity of your perspective. My mother was born several years before you, recently deceased, and I get it.
The difference is this, modern children are not, in majority, in the US, given the options or the culture to succeed as you did.
The problem isn't that times are hard, they are in many ways too easy. What you went through breeds fortitude. What these kids are going through breeds entitlement.
Parents fault. Baby Boomers wanted children to have a better life. We over did it. Letting a kid play video games for hours or days is not anything a responsible parent would have done. I have spent time with parents who allowed 1 hour down time after school. Then homework and chores. Kids ate turning out as individuals who will make their own way. These kids are of all ethnicities. They have educated parents. Bernie Sanders suggested parenting classes. I agree with that.
"Whatever went wrong..." -- I appreciate your view and experience, similar to my own, but need to point out that in many places in the US, delivering newspapers (which are essentially defunct) and mowing lawns, as well as other jobs that involve kids working outside the house can be dangerous. One of the "whatever went wrong" things is kidnapping, pedophilia and trafficking of children. A society that tolerates this is "what happened", and what is tolerated today would never have been when you and I were growing up.
Those abuses have always existed.Are you aware that until 1965 Christians were taking Native children awsy from parents to breed the indian out of them. 3 out of every 10 died. . They were subjected to every kind of abuse. I was molested at age 6 by a stranger with a knife against my throat. We didn't have the media coverage. Clergy molesting children started centuries ago. We are careful today and for children born into decent families the abuse is less. The
Newborn babies sent home with drug addicted 14 year old mothers and those coming across our border unaccompanied are at great risk. Mowing lawns has been turned over to paid adults. In rural areas the kids still work in the fast food restaurants. Only in the cities have people taken them as a job for life. We can all pay our own children to perform chores. They can mow the lawn and trim the bushes. But we don't.
Post WW2 Britain was a tough time. I was born in the UK in 1956. The stories my dad told me (British Navy WW2) were interesting and his experiences shaped his tough mindset. Going through war can do that to people. I hate war but like the COVID experience it can bring out the best and worst in people.
My dad decided that as a working class dude in England, he'd be better off in the "colonies". It was Canada instead of New Zealand because flying back to see family was easier. It wasn't because Canada was so great. But at least here it was more about what you did than who your parents were.
My Dad Royal Navy Submarine Division WW2. Yes, England a 2 class system people were expected to stay in the low class if born there. We immigrated to USA because my Mom loved American films. It was a mistake because we left behind a very large and loving family. Plus i was almost 13. Lost my very close friend's.
We started off a lot poorer in Canada than if we'd stayed in England. I liked my country but it's become a woke hell with a trust fund Prime Minister who has no connection with the real people of Canada. This is what happens when you elect elitists who have less than average intelligence and no knowledge of the real world and what it takes to survive when you don't have a rich family to bail you out.
Very beautiful area. I would have missed it. My cousin immigrated to Canada then applied to come into the USA. Was given legal immigrant status. Late 1960s. 2 weeks after he arrived he was drafted and sent to Vietnam.
My dad was offered a good job in the US. He didn't take it. It was during the Viet Nam war. He told them, "I have a son". We stayed in Canada.
Two rules with the old man. Don't go into the military and you're not to own a motorcycle. He knew what I was like and he wanted to keep me alive. God bless you dad. You're in heaven now. I say that about everybody I loved. Who knows if it's true? Who cares? That's what you say.....it's sappy but it's all you can say when you love somebody and they pass.
How did "society" fail them? I was born in England right after WW11. We had little to eat and played in bombed out bldg"s. Surely former generations were failed by society. Two class system and not allowed to move up, etc. Difference is we didn't have media telling us we had been "failed" ! Read Main Street.....by Sinclair. Obviously these kids had life too easy. Even in the 1950s kids delivered newspapers. Mowed lawns etc. Whatever went wrong happened after we became a two car, TV in every room and of course computer and games society.
I appreciate your question and I understand the validity of your perspective. My mother was born several years before you, recently deceased, and I get it.
The difference is this, modern children are not, in majority, in the US, given the options or the culture to succeed as you did.
The problem isn't that times are hard, they are in many ways too easy. What you went through breeds fortitude. What these kids are going through breeds entitlement.
And that is society's fault, if blame matters.
Parents fault. Baby Boomers wanted children to have a better life. We over did it. Letting a kid play video games for hours or days is not anything a responsible parent would have done. I have spent time with parents who allowed 1 hour down time after school. Then homework and chores. Kids ate turning out as individuals who will make their own way. These kids are of all ethnicities. They have educated parents. Bernie Sanders suggested parenting classes. I agree with that.
"Whatever went wrong..." -- I appreciate your view and experience, similar to my own, but need to point out that in many places in the US, delivering newspapers (which are essentially defunct) and mowing lawns, as well as other jobs that involve kids working outside the house can be dangerous. One of the "whatever went wrong" things is kidnapping, pedophilia and trafficking of children. A society that tolerates this is "what happened", and what is tolerated today would never have been when you and I were growing up.
Kids mowing lawns is dangerous now?
Those abuses have always existed.Are you aware that until 1965 Christians were taking Native children awsy from parents to breed the indian out of them. 3 out of every 10 died. . They were subjected to every kind of abuse. I was molested at age 6 by a stranger with a knife against my throat. We didn't have the media coverage. Clergy molesting children started centuries ago. We are careful today and for children born into decent families the abuse is less. The
Newborn babies sent home with drug addicted 14 year old mothers and those coming across our border unaccompanied are at great risk. Mowing lawns has been turned over to paid adults. In rural areas the kids still work in the fast food restaurants. Only in the cities have people taken them as a job for life. We can all pay our own children to perform chores. They can mow the lawn and trim the bushes. But we don't.
Post WW2 Britain was a tough time. I was born in the UK in 1956. The stories my dad told me (British Navy WW2) were interesting and his experiences shaped his tough mindset. Going through war can do that to people. I hate war but like the COVID experience it can bring out the best and worst in people.
My dad decided that as a working class dude in England, he'd be better off in the "colonies". It was Canada instead of New Zealand because flying back to see family was easier. It wasn't because Canada was so great. But at least here it was more about what you did than who your parents were.
Thank your Dad for me. He saved my family. Always grateful to the USA.
My Dad Royal Navy Submarine Division WW2. Yes, England a 2 class system people were expected to stay in the low class if born there. We immigrated to USA because my Mom loved American films. It was a mistake because we left behind a very large and loving family. Plus i was almost 13. Lost my very close friend's.
We started off a lot poorer in Canada than if we'd stayed in England. I liked my country but it's become a woke hell with a trust fund Prime Minister who has no connection with the real people of Canada. This is what happens when you elect elitists who have less than average intelligence and no knowledge of the real world and what it takes to survive when you don't have a rich family to bail you out.
Intelligence doesn't equal common sense.
Where did you come from in England. I was born at home. Dean Bank. FERRYHILL, County Durham. Industrial North.
Ipswich,Suffolk.
Very beautiful area. I would have missed it. My cousin immigrated to Canada then applied to come into the USA. Was given legal immigrant status. Late 1960s. 2 weeks after he arrived he was drafted and sent to Vietnam.
My dad was offered a good job in the US. He didn't take it. It was during the Viet Nam war. He told them, "I have a son". We stayed in Canada.
Two rules with the old man. Don't go into the military and you're not to own a motorcycle. He knew what I was like and he wanted to keep me alive. God bless you dad. You're in heaven now. I say that about everybody I loved. Who knows if it's true? Who cares? That's what you say.....it's sappy but it's all you can say when you love somebody and they pass.