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I grew up in the 50's. I lost my dad to the war, my mom worked 2 sometimes 3 jobs to support 4 children. We didn't notice we were poor as kids as everyone in the neighborhood seemed the same. We played on the street, we roamed all over town without care, we all watched the same 3 TV stations as all the other kids. Native Indians lived nearby, they were friends with everyone as we depended on each other. Perhaps we were isolated because there was never talk of discrimination only "you are no better, no worse,than anyone else, just different..and different is good. It would be boring otherwise. Mom suffered. Later she started her own business but had to present herself as an employee to get attention as she was not a male. She complained rarely. I never heard of anyone on drugs other than liquor. Yes, it was better and worse depending on what issue you dwell on. It did seem more wholesome, more loving, less violent. I do think the media today promotes violence and claims it reflects society...but not society I see often. I would prefer the media show us society but emphasize the positive, what we are and can be at our best. It's much easier to let things go, live our animal instincts, but humans are of a higher order, not just animals, and that is what I would prefer to see emphasized.
We have gained much in the last 50 years, and we have lost sight of some of our excellence. The pendulum swings back and forth but never again to the exact same spot individually and collectively. IMHO, the question is "Who do I want to be? Who do we want to be?"
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