Category: Psychology

Share with your younger friends.

I was born in 1958. A lot has changed in those past 61 years. I remember:

A time when it was rare to see a child born out of wedlock.

A time when executing murderers was sad but acceptable and killing babies was not.

A time when you were considered a racist only if you judged someone based on the color of their skin.

A time when segregation was bad, not a time when segregation is considered a safe space.

A time when actions and results spoke louder than words.

A time when children understood sticks and stones can break our bones but names can never hurt us.

A time when being old indicated a higher likelihood of wisdom regardless of the color of your skin.

A time when history teachers taught the Republican Party was created to free the slaves.

A time when colleges and universities both students and faculty stood for free speech.

A time when Americans on the left and right were ready to die to fight Socialism.

A time when Federal Investigators could either prove a crime or not, if not they shut up.

A time when if you wanted to watch the news it was at 6 and 11 or you read a newspaper.

A time when people understood the difference between a fact and an opinion.

A time when journalists reported the news and kept their opinions to themselves.

A time when we received warnings from scientists of the coming ice age.

A time when the average teacher educated students better and for low wages.

A time when you stood for the American Flag and National Anthem unless you were unable to do so for physical reasons.

A time when your sex was determined by genetics.

A time when we understood; "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" did not mean the government should prohibit religious symbols within the boundaries of Federal land.

A time when a Democrat could say: "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." and remain in the Democratic Party.

There are many other things that have changed but time, space and the average attention span are limited. This was likely already too much :)