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War
of Two Worlds
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!!! Read on at your own risk. So, for you Baby `Boomers...here's
the "scoop."
Between the years of 1946 and 1964, 77 million baby boomers were born.
World War 1 ended in 1918. World War 2 ended in 1945.
This means that the Baby-Boomers came after two wars. And
baby-boomers...such as I...came during the Viet Nam war....which was
from 1955 to 1975. The United States entered Viet Nam in 1964.
(Statistics from Wikipedia).
I remember watching our planes unload our deceased from 'Nam. I
remember thinking the volume on our television set must be broken. No
one said a word while casket after body bag were unloaded on American
soil. I was probably 9 or so.
So, we "baby-boomers" were raised to pull together.
We were raised with a set of ethics.
We were raised with a set of morals.
We were raised to "see to" our younger siblings.
We were raised to take care of the elderly in our neighborhood..
keep their sidewalks cleared.
We were raised to take care of what you have.
We were raised to overlook a headache...or a scraped knee..
bruises and the like.
We were raised to see to our own health and not go running to the
Dr every time you sneeze.
We were raised to avoid "medication" and deal with life as it came.
We were raised to avoid people who did not like us...not keep
uttering "you're disrespecting me."
We were raised that the lawyer is NOT for suing because you got
hurt on someone else's property..whether they were home or
not.
Everyone's number one job was to keep themselves healthy.
We were raised to not cheat anyone..not the IRS..not the pop
machine...not taxes when you sell/buy a vehicle.
We were raised to tell the cashier when they gave you too much
change.
We were raised to respect the flag, the school, the police, the
community at large.
We were raised (or I was) to protect the innocence of children..no
cussing, no dirty jokes, no nudity.
We were raised that there is work everywhere...go work.
Largely..we were NOT raised in front of a television. Everyone
contributed somehow to the household in which they lived.
We were raised to respect another's marriage and not be a party to
it's demise in any form.
We were raised that "illicit" drugs would lead to your downfall..your
fall from grace.
We were raised that DUIs...cheating, etc are a black mark against
you.
We were raised to do your work throughout the week and enjoy the
weekend...maybe a camping or fishing trip.
We were raised with Boy Scout or Girl Scout ethics...whether or not
you actually were a "scout."
We were raised with an "anticipation" set of goals. When you were
12 or 13 you got your first wristwatch. You needed it to
keep you
on time for your odd jobs. A girl got to shed her bobby
socks for
nylons. You guys will have to fill in here...I had no
brothers.
Now Goodwill is filled with all kinds of "trinkets" that
were used
once or not at all...and no one wants to buy them.
There were Sweet 16 birthday parties for girls.
We were raised with family time.
We were raised with "proper" talk..girl talk..menfolk talk..dinner
table talk.
Now this "New World" screams and yells to you about your "rights."
The "right" to be pain free...to be hassle free...to be problem free.
It's not your fault ...you're a victim. You have a disease. You did not
get the long end of the stick. They made fun of your braces...your
hair...your clothes...the way you walk...the way you talk. You don't
need to try to help yourself...take these pills.
This New World tells you that you deserve to buy a nice home...forget
that you can't make the payments and you should get a more
modest-priced home to start.
All should have a credit card...even if you have an income that can't
be garnished.
The "war" here is: One side (for us baby-boomers) gave us a set of
ethics and morals. The other side says to forget those...there's a new,
better way. Some baby-boomers went the new way. Some baby-boomers
stayed with the old beliefs and watch the "pull" every day...every
where. There are a couple of generations now who do not know the
"baby-boomer" way...as it were. There are those that do not know what a
dinner table is.
I've heard that those who do "recreational" drugs or "hard core"
prescription drugs realty want to "escape." I wonder: "Escape from
what?" There's no snow-shoveling..no leaf-raking..no watching
after the kiddies or the elderly...no back yard ball games...no
cookouts with games and a transistor radio with the antenna (don't
break that antenna!). There's no kiddies riding bicycles in groups like
there was.
So, could it be that this "escape" is really an escape from their
conscience? That they know what they should be doing?? That it's just
easier to "follow the crowd" than to exchange your short end of the
stick for the longer end? That the "disease" is easier than making your
mind remember something good?
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!!! MONA
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