Sentiment

Gramma, God love her, sent me one of those nostalgic e-mails again.  You know what I mean: the kind that longs for the ‘good ol’ days’ when times were simpler, people were more virtuous, and there was less evil and sloth in the world.  I found myself really resenting this person’s sentiments.  The world was not simpler fifty years ago just because the Pill didn’t yet exist and schoolkids regularly started the day reciting the Lord’s Prayer.  This is the part that really got me:

"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."

As if the rest of us who came after were not reared with these values.  Bullshit!  While not only patently false, if he’s bemoaning the fact that his children and grandchildren are not adhering to these values whom can he blame but himself?  I think the disconnect is found in the application of these values.  A staggering stereotype holds that we become more conservative as we age.  I can only guess that this man’s grandparents felt similar concern about the growing presence of talkies and the influence of Jews.

So I expressed these feelings to Gramma.  She has chosen not to comment.  Probably a good thing for our relationship.