Big Dogs Weblog

Back in the Day

by Blake on May 9, 2009 at 12:03 Political

I guess in a way, this post is different from what I usually write about, but awhile back, I had a person of the liberal persuasion ask me what, in my opinion, was the real world I was talking about, and that did cause me to think, for our world is changing ever more rapidly. There’s a huge chunk of what it used to mean to be an American, live the American Dream, and grow up in America, three aspects of American life that are evolving, or devolving, depending on your point of view.

Let’s take the last one first, as I have many good memories of exploring the prairies and fields on my way to school in the late 50s and early 60s. My friends and I found many places we thought were almost magical, in their newness. Ponds, forests, even (and especially) Buffalo Bayou held promise for roaming boys who chased and caught fish, turtles, and snakes in that time. We had space to roam, and so we did.

When we wanted, we just hung out on the street corner. Mind you, this was not then the city, but the city limits. So we grew, and went to school, and our parents, by and large, taught us how to fish, and how to hunt. When we were of age, and got our driver’s licenses, we got used, and often battered trucks to drive, and almost every one had a gun rack in the back window, where we carried rifles and shotguns. These rifles traveled with us to school, and were there when we got out of class. Noone ever thought of using one on a classmate or teacher- we were taught better than that.

We (the boys) almost all carried a knife with us, because you never know when you might need one. We didn’t fight with knives- if we fought, and many of us did,it was with fists, and then the matter was settled, often with the opponents becoming friends, but at least with respect for one another.

We rebelled, as teenagers do, many of us smoking cigarettes, because our parents told us not to, but we knew better, of course. Some of us got liquor or beer, because our parents told us not to, but again, we knew better. And some of us got drugs, because that was the holy grail of Banned by Parents Substances, therefore it just had to be the best stuff. Of course, none of it truly was, but some still deny that today.

And, of course, when we as a generation, began to have children, we all said we would do it differently from our parents- none of that vicious spanking, no- we would be kinder and gentler and give them time outs.

In return, now some children feel entitled, and they take guns to school, where they shoot people because they feel so alienated, or they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas, or something is missing in their lives. That something is probably discipline, but you have a hard time convincing parents that they did not do enough in the area of discipline, and probably too much in the way of trying to be their child’s best friend. You cannot be both, until they become adults.

As for living the American Dream, this used to be that once you had the opportunity, it was up to you and your hard work to make use of that opportunity, plus a little luck might not hurt, but mostly it was hard work. I used to look at my father, who was not rich, but who invested as wisely as he could, and worked almost every day of his life. He managed to carve out a good life for himself and his family, all without compromising his innate honesty and I wonder where that ethic has gone. Oh, I know that many people still work hard and still get ahead, but there are more and more people, mostly young, who feel that they deserve a job, they deserve the new home, and they deserve to be rich. They are wrong.

These people deserve nothing more than the opportunity to achieve, and after that, it’s all up to them, but one thing I learned from my father, is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you work hard at what you enjoy, you will look up, and twenty or thirty years have passed, and you are a success- but there is no short cut.

And lastly, or first on my list, what do I think about what it means to be an American- a very complex issue, for it would mean something different to virtually everyone in specific ways, but for me, I feel that this is the greatest country in the world, bar none. I do not feel that we have to apologize to anyone- ever. I am proud of the strides we have made in overcoming mistakes we have made in the past, and unlike some others, I feel we are becoming better all the time. I am proud that we take the lead in much of the aid that flows to poorer places, and I am proud that we put our word and our blood on the line for principles that some will not ever understand.

I feel that all the Americans here are my brothers and sisters, and while I may squabble with some (you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family, right?), at the heart of the matter is the truth that no one from outside the U.S. can mess with my family without starting a fight they cannot win.

That is my truth.

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Tags: American, parenting, pride, the past