Re: The Truth!

[susanp@moscow.com]

For everyone on the list interested in understanding our history better, I 
recommend reading the highly acclaimed and well documented (85 pages of 
footnotes with cited sources so we can all check its accuracy) historical 
analysis by Stephanie Coontz "The Way We Never Were: American Families and the 
Nostalgia Trap." The empiricial data provided is difficult to refute, and 
leaves most readers a little humbled about how we mythologize our past.

Susan Palmer

> It is entirely predictable and sad that whenever someone attempts to point
> out how much our society has fallen into moral decay in the last few
> decades, those best described as "liberal" feel the need to deride the more
> conservative America.  Yes, there were economic problems, yes, there was
> more overt racism, yes, there was more disease, suffering, etc.  But, there
> weren't drive-by shootings, There weren't babies dumped in trash bins, there
> wasn't Marilyn Manson, there weren't school shootings, people respected
> their elders, they didn't need to install car alarms, or lock their doors at
> night.  Why can't we wise up as a society and learn from the past?  Why
> can't people with such supposedly "open" minds look to the past and find out
> what worked and what didn't??  Why do they feel the need to seek out and
> criticize everything that was negative?  We should learn to embrace the good
> qualities of our post-war American culture and seek to implement them in
> today's dysfunctional and politically correct cultural chaos.  Why do so
> many people that are supposedly educated and "compassionate" have to be so
> bitter and spiteful towards a time when life, for the most part, was less
> stressful and safer?
> 
> Travis Tonn
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Cooke" <scooke@uidaho.edu>
> To: "Travis & Julie Tonn" <vart@turbonet.com>
> Cc: "Vision2020 Listserver" <vision2020@moscow.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 8:13 AM
> Subject: RE: The Truth!
> 
> 
> >
> > Travis,
> > The early 20th century US was a time of wide spread KKK activities, jim
> crow
> > was the law, and lynching were common place in the South. Businesses
> > regularly used paid goon squads to beat and kill striking workers.
> > Internationally, it was a time Fascism, Communism, Imperialism, and the
> > introduction of the modern style of total warfare including the use of
> nerve
> > gas and attacks on unarmed civilians. It was also the time of wildly
> > fluctuating economic swings w/ extended depressions and hyper-inflation.
> > These are the "good old days?" I wonder.
> > Steve Cooke
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----t
> > From: Travis & Julie Tonn [mailto:vart@turbonet.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 5:34 PM
> > To: Moscow
> > Subject: Fw: The Truth!
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> >
> >
> > > >Return-Path: <tip55@magiclink.com>
> > > >From: "T.L. Tipton" <tip55@magiclink.com>
> > > >To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
> > > >Subject: The Truth!
> > > >Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 12:50:14 -0700
> > > >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> > > >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >One evening a boy was talking to his grandfather about current events.
> > He
> > > >asked what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age,
> > and
> > > >just things in general.
> > > >
> > > >The granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute...I was born before
> > > >television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact
> lenses,
> > > >Frisbees and the pill. There weren't things like radar, credit cards,
> > laser
> > > >beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers,
> > > >clothes dryers, electric blankets, air
> > > >conditioners, and he hadn't walked on the moon.
> > > >
> > > >Your Mom and I got married first -- then lived together.  Every family
> > had a
> > > >father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad
> > taught
> > > >him how to use and
> > > >respect.
> > > >
> > > >Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' -- and after I
> > turned
> > > >25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.'  In our
> > > >time, closets were for clothes -- not for 'coming out of.'  Sundays
> were
> > set
> > > >aside for going to church as a family, helping those in need, and just
> > > >visiting with family or neighbors.
> > > >
> > > >We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare
> > centers,
> > > >and group therapy.  Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments,
> good
> > > >judgment, and common sense.
> > > >
> > > >We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to
> > stand
> > > >up and take responsibility for our actions.  Serving your country was a
> > > >privilege; living here was a bigger privilege.
> > > >
> > > >We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.  Having a
> > meaningful
> > > >relationship meant getting along with your cousins.  Draft dodgers were
> > > >people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started.
> > > >Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and
> > > >weekends -- not condominiums.
> > > >
> > > >We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters,
> > yogurt,
> > > >or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and
> > the
> > > >President's speeches on radio. I don't ever remember any kid blowing
> his
> > > >brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
> > > >
> > > >If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term
> > > >'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut,
> > > >McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.  We had 5 & 10-cent
> > stores
> > > >where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream
> cones,
> > > >phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a
> > > >Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could
> > spend
> > > >your
> > > >nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy
> a
> > > >new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one?  Too bad, because
> gas
> > > >was 11 cents a gallon.
> > > >
> > > >In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was
> > something
> > > >your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your grandmother's lullaby.
> > > >'Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, 'chip' meant a piece of
> > wood,
> > > >'hardware' was found in a hardware store, and 'software' wasn't even a
> > word.
> > > >
> > > >And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think a lady
> > needed a
> > > >husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us old and confused --
> and
> > say
> > > >there is such a generation gap. And I'm only 60 years old.
> > > >
> > > >
> > All I can say is, Amen!!
> > >
> > Travis Tonn>
> > >
> >
> 


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