Older Americans, why was life so much more peaceful before?
I constantly hear people saying that the 50s anf 60s were a simpler time and there was less violence and problems. I believe its true because even like 20 years ago when I was growing up, if there was a mass shooting it was all everybody talked about because it was out of the ordinary. Now we have shootings like, every month and super violent protests every year. So what was different before? I think it might be that life was slightly easier then and the cost of living was lower, but I'm not sure
Christin K2020-07-22T13:33:11Z
Life in the 1950s was probably more peaceful SEEMING to a lot of people, but there were riots, protests and violence then, too. We had just come out of a world war. Lots of problems ensued after soldiers began to come home. There was prejudice, bigotry and racism everywhere. What we DIDN'T have was the internet, instant news, or idiotic conspiracy theories. What we DID have was Joseph McCarthy's "communism is everywhere", and segregation, women were treated as property, being gay was a crime, and the government was lying and corrupt as it is now--but we just didn't KNOW it.
The 1960's were one of the most turbulent times in our history. We had Vietnam, anti-war protests, students being shot by National Guardsmen, Women's marches, the rise of anti-authoritarianism and many assassinations of high officials and important people. There WERE mass shootings in the 1960's, too. The country quickly became divided and polarized. And the truth about our government began to surface.
People who look back on the 50's and 60s as a "peaceful" time are deluded. They simply don't remember their own history. The US has NEVER been a peaceful or happy place and rose-colored glasses are no help in understanding the problems that were faced then or now. And it does no good to pretend.
People seemed more honest and respectful of one another back then, in spite of the horrific separation between white people and black people, which is all day long wrong. There were many individually owned businesses...no malls or chain stores or big pharmacies. The communities wereally tight with locals wathing one another's backs. Whereas today, no one wants to get involved and we barely know our neighbors. Life was simpler and people were more family orientated as mom's stayed home watching after the kids. But once all these machines and household gadgets were invented, mom's had to work to afford it all.I think that was the birth or corporate greed terrible inflation and the rest is history.
I'm old enough to remember. We live in a world of dichotomies. There are 2 ways to look at it ... you know, glass half empty/half full. In the microcosm of my world as a youth in my formative years/teens, it was the greatest time. The hippies were preaching peace, love, weed and THAT'S what resonated w/ me. The Chicago land suburb where I grew up had the 15th lowest crime rate for cities over 50,000. It was the middle America suburban dream coming true. I am so blessed to born when/where I was. I remember the park filled w/ dozens of kids on a Sat. engaged in good/clean fun activities. I ride my bicycle past that park today (Sat.) and if there's a kid there (rarely is), it's w/ adult supervision.