It's a funny thing to me. When I was a kid in school, about twenty years after WW2 had ended, we were taught a bit about that. At that time there wasn't much sympathy for the Japanese people that had been interred, in fact that was barely mentioned. Mostly I remember hearing about Hitler and his treatment of the Jewish people and how those Japanese soldiers would always fight to the death. I don't recall a lot political rhetoric associated with any of that. We were the good guys and everyone else was bad. We wouldn't have got involved in European affairs if those Japanese hadn't attacked Pearl Harbor. We had no choice after that, so we went and kicked butt! That's what Americans do.
It's the time in this country that was "booming" economically. That's the boom you hear about and I am one of those boomers. It wasn't that we were all wealthy people then, it wasn't that we all could buy everything, it was that we enjoyed our victory. That is what that boom was all about, American dominance. We had proven that in battle and were now displaying our full industrial might to the world. We weren't humble folks when it came to that either, we proclaimed that to the rest of the world! Only Russia seemed to be a threat to us, the damn communists. Patton had warned us about them but Patton was dead. Some said, in whispers, it was no accident. But the thing overall was our belief in ourselves as Americans that we were superior in some way to everyone else.
Thinking back on that time and comparing it to what I see today there is a stark contrast. We are on the apology tour right now in America. We are sorry for everything that has ever happened in history it seems. In our 250 year history we take responsibility for at least two millennia of wrong doing in the world. Strikes me odd also that so many of our veterans today wear patches, pins, ribbons and whatever to let others know of their service. Back in the day I don't recall anyone doing any of that. The only time you knew about it was on Veterans day and maybe in a parade or something.
Those men that had fought across Europe and across Asia rarely spoke of that in public. There was no expectation of recognition or reward, no special treatment, they had simply done their duty. I'm a retired Navy man myself. I do have some of my things on display in my home but very rarely wear anything outside to let anyone know of that. I really don't feel like I did anything special, just served alongside thousands of others doing the job I was assigned to do. I don't understand that mindset of ensuring others know about that. I think it just has to do with being raised in that "booming" era. Almost every man was a veteran then. Since 1973 our armed forces have all been volunteers. That's the official term used to describe that as there is no draft, no conscription. I viewed it as taking the job.
As boomers were expected to do just that. We either went to college to get that higher education that lead to a high paying job, or we just got a job after high school, preferably learning a trade, or you joined the military. It was simply what was expected of you and anything else was frowned upon. There was no concern for your feelings about that, concern for your identity. No, things were pretty cut and dried and you learned to live with that.
Asking for a handout in any way was frowned upon. You really didn't want anyone else to know if you were receiving assistance of any kind. A stigma? No, it was pride that caused that bad feeling in you if you weren't capable of taking care of yourself. You didn't want assistance because you were proud to be an American, to be self assured in that knowing you are the best. Independence was the watchword of the day. Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps was the preferred method, not beholden to anyone. Certainly no dependence on government handouts! Welfare was a shameful thing to be on, not a lifestyle.
No, the objective was always the same, if you had less, don't let anyone know it. Dignity was paramount. I don't see a lot of dignity these days. I see a lot of whining, complaining and apologizing. I also see, in contrast to that, a lot of "look at me I'm so empathic and caring." That' makes me a far superior person than you. I willingly give your money away! I will tell those unfortunate souls it isn't your fault, you aren't to blame for failure, it's a systemic thing, not your fault. I'm better than you but I won't say that out loud, I'll prove it by giving you more free stuff. You don't have to thank me for that, you deserve it.
That surely wasn't the attitude if you were a boomer. I was taught you get exactly what you earned, what you had coming to you. If you acted irresponsibly, did stupid things and made stupid choices you got stupid results! You got what you earned! It is your fault. You made your bed, now lie in it. It is alright to ask for help, but it isn't alright to expect it. You have no inherent right to anything other than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In order to receive anything you first have to deserve it. And simply asking for it doesn't mean you deserve it. Being a human doesn't entitle you to anything. You are just another animal on the planet. It's up to you to survive.
When I was a kid we didn't have homeless people. What we had were hobo's. They were transient people constantly on the move. They would work to earn enough money to feed themselves or whatever and take a handout whenever it was offered. Those folks weren't camped out in the town square creating a nuisance and a health hazard. Even when they remained in one place for a while they hid out of sight of the law as much as possible. They weren't expecting sympathy, demanding services and complaining about systemic issues. They certainly weren't admired or encouraged in their "lifestyle." In polite company they were hobo's. In other situations they were just bums, a more apt description. Today we talk about the "homeless population" and how tragic that is. It's their fault! And that's the bottom line for me on that one.
But then, I'm a boomer. We boomers have got about 40 years and we will all be gone, another generation lost to time. In about two years all those of the greatest generation, parents to the boomers will have passed. I'm not going to make it to 2064, that's the year the last of the boomers will turn one hundred, I'll have to make to 2053 to be one hundred. There was a time when I thought 28 years was a long time, today it is just a little while. Yes, things certainly have changed over the years. I can now see for myself why historically speaking, a republic only lasts about 250 years. We are definitely on the decline.
It's been going downhill for a while now.
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