[redwitch]

I think every generation has its good and its bad. I honestly think my parents' ethics and values were better than my generation's. We started out right but something happened in the 60s and 70s -- while we forced many good changes (Jim Crow laws, equal rights), we also took away some basic family ethics. The next generation saw too much of "me" and not enough of "us" because both parents worked, things became important, the not my business attitude. My daughter's generation is an interesting mix -- many are very altruistic; many are complete and total slackers.

It does seem that kids of today expect things to be handed to them. They got a C in history, fight it and get it knocked up to an A, regardless of what was earned. They do something wrong and their parents are quick to defend them, blame the other kid who was involved, blame anyone but their own child. This makes it hard to learn responsibility. Yet, these same kids manage to grow up and become wonderful, responsible adults. So, obviously, they are learning true values somewhere along the line.

What I find disappointing is that someone will know a thing is wrong and do it anyway or not do the right thing because it is easier, cheaper, whatever. This seems to cross generational lines nowadays -- when I was growing up, your word was your bond. Not today. I've seen it in children, teens, young adults, the middleaged and the elderly. I don't like it and I don't understand it. So, I don't think it is necessarily a generation thing but rather an era and this era (starting with at least the late 70s) seems to be of the type that you get what you want however you can.