I had a Twitter debate last night with a man who considered life was better back in the past. That is, he looked back to the early 50s, a time when you could leave your door open, people did not knife you in the street, and life was generally better all round.
I disagreed.
I too look back to the early days of my young life and consider life was better then. However, we had had a war that killed 52 million or so, nuclear bombs were beginning to become popular, and we had an even larger police force than we do today, so was it better?
Our childhoos was occasionlly bothered by the 'Penny Gang,' a group of yobs who came up from 'over there,' causing trouble and bothering the world. Was this what he saw as 'better?' If we had gangs so did he surely. My dad could not take a day off work for flu, and I mean flu, because he would lose £1 and mum could not feed us if he did, so he went, and it was not an easy thing for him to do in winter and walking miles to deliver milk. Was this better?
Certainly free school milk. the NHS, polio jabs, and other benefits, from a Labour government, remember them, improved life. But crime existed, murders occurred, thieves stole. What was different bar the perception that things were improving?
After two wars and the depression certainly people looked to create a better world. The residue of a Judeo-Christian society meant a form of agreed culture covered much, but not all, of the land. For many after the war a sense of 'right and wrong existed, especially for those who had seen the results of the Nazi regime.
The main difference I wonder could be the loss of the agreed Judeo-Christian moral stance, even if a loose one, and wealth! When the nation loses the need to work together to survive and wealth covers the land people lose morals. Having enough they now want more. Producers offer more and we desire every glittering thing on offer and come to believe we have a right to obtain this. With no agreed God laxity in morals creeps in over time, the results, aided by greedy incompetent politicians lies before us.
The world looks worse than in the past, however, what we see now lay just under the surface awaiting a chance nto escape. Encourage the lowest moral outlook and you find it everywhere.
Murdoch plays a big part in this, the so-called sexual revolution helps, easy divorce and lessening ofresponsibility, though that was often avoided before, and crime is encouraged as there is no agreed morality. Parents less keen to teach children, happy to defend them more.
Human nature lies at the root, and that never changes.
Christmas has certainly changed. When I was young in never cost me a penny! Now I am emptying the piggy bank! However, the cards are almost done, all the presents to go have gone and been received, and I am now watching the van drivers knock on my door to bring things for me! This is good!
One mug, one book and one bottle of Single Malt, 'Jura' no less. has arrived. With this I am well pleased.
Less pleased when the driver had to ask my year of birth before giving the box to me. It took me a minute tor ecall that far back, which made him laugh! I suspect I will see him again soon with another book expected.
Life is not bad at all really, in spite of the bad things that are always with us.
