daily java

Daily Java:

Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. (Psalm 137:1)

I grew up in an alternate universe, one in a galaxy long ago and far away, almost a fairy tale world. It was called America in the 1950’s.

It was a bizarre place, one in which people prayed out loud, where people went to church and did church stuff – potlucks, revivals, Vacation Bible Schools – all the weird stuff. They even prayed at schools and in government meetings. In fact, people just didn’t trust someone who had no real church background.

It was one in which the Fourth of July was celebrated with parades and fireworks, people making long, useless speeches about freedom and other people flying little flags and wearing little flags on their lapels.

It was a strange place where no one had ever heard of homosexuality. Most people were not even sure what homosexuality was or how it worked or what “those people” were trying to gain. Until the 1960’s and Christine Jorgensen, no one had ever heard of a transgendered person and then they were viewed, if at all, as freaks.

It was a strange culture in which there were normal homes that consisted of the father and the mother and children, maybe a dog and a cat. It was a place where teenagers grew up and got married, then had children. It was a place where men went to work each morning and women stayed home and took care of the house and children, even to having supper ready when the man came home.

Most homes had only one car and one bathroom and the family ate in the kitchen. The bedrooms were small and the family sat together at night and watched TV together or read or played games. As there were three channels on the TV, there was never a problem what to watch. You watched what came on and usually like it. It was rare for a home to be air-conditioned and no one seemed to mind or even notice. “It’s summer” they would say, “of course we’re hot.”

It was a country where welfare was unknown except for maybe a few poor people in shacks out in the woods. It was a country where girls who became pregnant out of wedlock were embarrassed and went somewhere else to have the baby and usually adopted it to people who would love it and care for it and raise it in a “normal” home.

Men traveled places and slept in the same bed for convenience and no one thought anything of it. Men roomed with men and women with women. People dated, and the dates consisted of going for ice cream or dinner and a movie. The boy picked the girl up at the door and had her back when the girl’s father said. And he treated the girl’s parents with respect.

Men respected women and women expected to be respected. They were usually offended if a man said anything off-color or inappropriate. Children respected adults in general and their parents in specific. “Yes, sir” and No, ma’am” were common comments made by a child to any adult.

If men had differences, they may settle it with a fight, then shake hands and go home. No one was called a liar without some penalty, whether a good smack in the nose or being shunned.

Children went to school and behaved. There was little or no disrespect for their teachers because the teachers would not stand for it. Offenses committed by boys were rewarded by “spats” with a paddle given by a teacher. To be sent to the principal’s office was a humiliating experience.

People had the freedom to do things they wanted to do, like smoking or hunting. Boys would carry guns to school in the backs of their pickups and then go hunt after school.

Girls practiced modesty and “lady-like” behavior. Boys learned to be gentlemen. They dressed up for special occasions, church, parties, dates and even, at times, school.

Pornography was almost unknown. It could only be gotten from special stores or theaters and it was impossible to go into them without someone recognizing you. And that would ruin your reputation.

A good reputation was essential to a person. Wild behavior was almost unknown. Children, in public at least, were behaved because if they were not, word could get back to their parents and they would be in trouble.

The police were respected and viewed as friends and guardians and they were always obeyed. And for the most part, police tried to return that feeling.

The government was far off and people took care of themselves. They expected nothing from the government apart from police and army protection.

It was an alternate universe, one almost inconceivable to our culture today, yet many of us lived in it and it was just a short time ago.

And the results of its loss are now becoming apparent. And our country may be doomed because of it.