Patriotism .. Question for the Aged Guys

[Boriqua]

I am 59. Born in 63. While I was aware of the Vietnam war I was really to young to have formed any real opinions about it or a bunch of other things going on in my youth. You saw the news and it was part of current events homework and not much more.

I was also aware of the Hippies. My Grandmother thought they were a hoot and would actually pile us grandkids in the car to "Lets go see the Hippies" and we would drive around Manhattan looking at hippies.

So here is the question for some of you guys that are older than I. Do you feel any worse about the country now or does it feel equally as filled with dread as during the Civil rights riots, Anti war protests, women's lib movement, watergate and the general fairly quick shift from the sensibilities and patriotism expressed after WWII to what was going on in the mid 60's through early 70's. I mean .. the 60's and early 70's was chock full of radical change.

Trying to convince myself that "Now" times aren't any worse than any other as my own pride in country waivers.

 

[NBC_LT]

Same drama - just more drama queens.

 

[brandyspaw]

Its a lot worse due to the leadership of the country. The idiot hippies that never matured have grown up and are now in charge of the country and the education systems. They seem to hate the country enough to want to push it into some kind of a Marxist/Socialist utopia.

Also, back then we never had the social media we have now. This makes everything seem more omnipresent than it is sometimes. Finally, a major concern for me is the economy and how it seems to have unsolvable parts to it now compared to previous times with other periods of high inflation.

At least for me, someone born in the very early fifties, it seems to be a much worse mess than anytime prior.

 

[thom]

I agree with brandspaw. It seems many times worse now. The black panthers were a small part of society. Now they are the black lives movement and society and the internet have terminated the rules on culture, morals and spank your kid for doing something bad. Hippies were tolerated as kids not grown up yet. But the draft changed those kids also. The leaders then wanted oil from SE Asia and that is a big reason the U.S. got involved in Vietnam. BUT Vietnam didn't last a whole generation like 9-11-2001 to last year.
Way too much government interference with families now and being lenient on criminals are the effects demonstrated now.
Just my $0.02
Thom

 

[Flash]

Yep, much worse now.

 

[knockonit]

certain aspects of society have gotten worse, tolerance has crept to an unbelievable point that well you know where that goes.
violence is off the chart,
social media has created most of the problems IMO,
born in late 40s, i grew up in the greatest time in America i believe, especially growing up with great grand parents and grand parents who fought in WW1, WW2, Korea, my father was a WW2 and korea vet, as were his brothers and most of his extended family,
them sharing what they went thru, the depression they grew up in, an what they did to survive,
vietnam, was ugly, especially for Veterans, we were treated like shite, and consider myself luck having married a gal, who got me squared away, as i had no issue attempting to beat the living dog screw outta anyone who gave me shite, nothing like a good ass whooping to change ones attitude or a tune up so to speak.

if only i could still do it, an occassional whooparse is good for the soul, just my opinion though

this little dipshits whining now about debt, and having to work 40 hours, have no idea how well they have it.

i'm retiring and shutting down my 40 plus year old contracting biz, that i had intended on taking to my grave, but finding reliable, responsible employees or even someone who gives a dammm, is rediculous,

But, i'm bascially still free, own and shoot my toys, can go almost anywhere in the world i can afford, so its better than being in a third world shitehole, of many i was in.


here in the southwest i believe we are much better presently than most of coastal states and liberal run shiteholes, if we can keep what conservative atmosphere for a decade or so, i'll die happy and content .

rant over, my father would or is rolling over in his grave with what the USA has become.

ww2, korea vet who struggled to survive the horrors he went thru in the south pacific.

anyways, life for me is awesome due to those ancestors.

Rj, glad to be alive and whining about shiteholes

 

[Manitu]

In 1963 and 64 I was going to Navy schools at treasure island. It was all antiwar burning campus crap. Panthers etc etc. Kent State came later govt. soldiers starting shooting students died, they had a big party in N.Y at woodstock the end. and got jobs. So citizens were actively trying to destroy Universities and black white tensions and ritoing cities on fire and army often in the cities ...there is a man with gun over there telling me I got to beware stop whats that sound.....pretty bad but I believe worse is brewing.