"You showed amazing restraint back then. It's kind of funny- you younger folk (not disparaging your age- wanna trade?) didn’t "fight" much, it appears. I know my son didn’t, nor did many of his friends. Back in the ‘50s- ‘60s, when I was a yute, it was damn near a daily occurrence. That’s how we settled our differences, mostly. I’m not saying that’s a good thing, but I wonder what happened? Now, of course, you’d have the swat team out @ the first sign of fisticuffs, & an army of lawyers right behind.
An interesting, albeit strange commentary on the "evolution" of civilization, no?"
The above was a comment left on a friend's blog, "MArooned"- good reading.
I guess my hypothesis is:
The rule of law in today’s society sucks. No one takes any responsibility for their actions, leaving it to "the gummint", courts, or other "supervisors" to take care of conflicts.
Back in "the day", we were obliged to show respect to those who required it, the requirements being set down by our parents & teachers. Those people included EVERYONE who was our elders, teachers, firemen, policemen, but curiously, not our peers. We were free to beat the livin’ shit out of anyone who crossed us, & at worst, someone’s mother would get a phone call later. Noone worried about "self esteem".
But the overall society was more "civilized" then, I think.
Does this mean anything that I’m not seeing? There is cause & effect; it is as simple as when kids beat on each other the society at large is a "kinder, gentler" one? In simple terms, I don't think so.
Please discuss, & enlighten me.
Later…
That ol’ pen-and-paper business
7 hours ago
3 comments:
reminds me of a line out of Bram Stoker's Dracula (the movie version). Van Helsing, while teaching a group of aspiring doctors remarks "'Civilization' and 'syphilization' advance together"...
Hmmm... I think this might make a good blog post. thanks for the idea! ;)
"He will die from lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly." Proverbs 5:23
"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." Proverbs 10:17
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." Proverbs 12:1
What else would a good warranted butt-kicking be but disciplinary? Back when fighting was not vilified as the root of all evil, we learned very young that a civil tongue spares much pain and suffering.
We learned that actions have consequences and sometimes those consequences are not pleasant.
Kids these days receive NO discipline from any source. Authority figures have no ability to provide real discipline without incurring lawsuits or criminal charges. Parents don't do it and the few that try risk having social services called for suspicion of child abuse. Kids are taught not to defend themselves but to place themselves at the mercy of authority figures (aka nannies) so they cannot even serve that function from within peer groups.
And then we wonder why we have to drug our kids to get them to act remotely civilized.
It's no secret why the "more violent" society of the past was much more civil and polite than the enlightened times we now live in.
"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death." Proverbs 23:13-14
Man, that's what I love about this Interwebz: it's full 'o smart folks.
Thanks!
& welcome.
Post a Comment