BETWEEN THE LINES: Whatever happened to the good old days?
Life is not static. It changes, but so slowly it is hardly noticeable in the short term. It should be getting better, but the world I see is becoming more unrecognizable.
As a child, my family had one telephone. I don’t recall ever using it as a child. Television was a novelty. The picture on our family’s first set was black and white, and certainly small by today’s standards. As a youngster, the only programming interest I had was Saturday morning, which included the "Lone Ranger," "My Friend Flicka," "Sky King," "Superman" and, of course, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
My family rarely went to the movies, and when we did, it was usually during the summer.
Vacations were special because we got to eat out. Our favorite stop on our way to Cape May in southernmost New Jersey was a place that made homemade root beer and ice cream floats. I didn’t care much for the cold Atlantic waters, but I looked forward to drinking the float.
Growing up in the 1950s seemed simple by today’s standards. Christmas holidays were appropriately named, not referred to as a winter holiday. Halloween was popular in my neighborhood; we went door to door with no need to be chaperoned. We had no fear of our goodies being laced with arsenic or apples embedded with razors.
I had a happy childhood with most of my free time spent outdoors, even in the winter. In my neighborhood, my friend’s mothers were all housewives, and divorce was non-existent — just the way God intended it to be. I believe that created stability.
I never felt the world revolved around me or that success was guaranteed.
My parents taught through actions, not words. From them I observed that I was not entitled, that success came from hard work. For me, the federal government did not exist. If failure came my way, I was to keep on plugging away, never giving in. I was special only because my parents loved me unconditionally.
As I survey the 21st century, I see little improvement since my youth, with the exception of the remarkable technology available to all. I am fearful of the world my children and grandchildren will inherit. I pray they will have the courage to do what is right, not what is expedient or more profitable.
Life seems to be turning upside down and inside out. Two thousand years ago, Jesus talked to his disciples about just such a world when good is considered bad and bad considered good. We live in an age when blame is abundant because our shortcomings are somebody else’s fault. Politicians are more concerned about being elected or re-elected than what is in the country’s best interest. Quite frankly, I do not even think they know what the moral thing to do is. Everyone is more concerned about protecting their turf and being sure they get their share of the pie.
The current state of affairs is the result of a society that has abandoned the sound principles left to us by our Founding Fathers. Armageddon might be far into the future, but each passing day warns us that it might be closer than we think.
Laughlin is a Christian Libertarian. He is an economist, teacher, father, husband and most recently a grandfather. He has written a weekly column for The Tribune for 13 years. He and his wife Gina reside in Meadowlakes. To contact him, email ablaughlin@nctv.com. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company.