The hardships and trials which were endured by the generations before ours (70 and above) were essential to the forging of their character. The manner and morality with which the previous generation approached each and every problem before it were purely a function of the trials which they endured.
We have it too easy.
We have not had the basic trials which were faced by those before us. In the absense of any real, obvious, day to day plight, we seek it out elsewhere in an attempt to identify with it and internalize it as our own. This ends in hollow defeat and greater gulfs in understanding as the effort to identify is not in earnest, but in vain. I speak of course of what is largely recognized as "civilized" portions of the world such as the major areas of Europe, the Americas, some of Asia and Australia
We have no day to day struggle facing us so we build up trite occurances to mammoth proportions in order to manufacture the strife and us vs. them mentality which solidified those before us to an iron resolve. I honestly don't think anything else can happen on this planet to effectively and genuinely reproduce that atmosphere. I find this troubling and quite sad.
We ride on the coat tails of those before us and leave rags as a vessel for those behind us. I do not pretend those before us were without fault, but the majority of the mistakes made were a function of ignorance and innocense. The mistakes we willfully propogate fly in the face of knowledge and good sense.
Look at your grandparents and learn from them.
We have it too easy.
We have not had the basic trials which were faced by those before us. In the absense of any real, obvious, day to day plight, we seek it out elsewhere in an attempt to identify with it and internalize it as our own. This ends in hollow defeat and greater gulfs in understanding as the effort to identify is not in earnest, but in vain. I speak of course of what is largely recognized as "civilized" portions of the world such as the major areas of Europe, the Americas, some of Asia and Australia
We have no day to day struggle facing us so we build up trite occurances to mammoth proportions in order to manufacture the strife and us vs. them mentality which solidified those before us to an iron resolve. I honestly don't think anything else can happen on this planet to effectively and genuinely reproduce that atmosphere. I find this troubling and quite sad.
We ride on the coat tails of those before us and leave rags as a vessel for those behind us. I do not pretend those before us were without fault, but the majority of the mistakes made were a function of ignorance and innocense. The mistakes we willfully propogate fly in the face of knowledge and good sense.
Look at your grandparents and learn from them.