Memoir
/ˈmemˌwär/ noun. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Usually memoirs. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
Week 16 is on our doorstep. Next week’s Memoir Monday post was a particularly tough one for me. This question forced me to delve into some uncomfortable truths and deeply held personal beliefs. Working on this prompt stoked a lot of emotions, fear, frustration, and anger being among them.
Memoir Monday has grown so much that I won’t be able to comment on everyone’s posts anymore (and get my own work done) but I’ll still be supporting your posts with reblogs, votes, and shares on my other social media accounts (X, Facebook, etc.).
For all of those who’ve regularly participated in Memoir Monday - keep going, you’re making great progress in chronicling your very own life story for future generations to enjoy.
For those who missed the inaugural post explaining what the Memoir Monday initiative is all about you can find it here.
Now for next week’s Memoir Monday prompt:
How has your country changed during your lifetime?
My answer:
America – How It’s Changed During My Lifetime.
When I was born in the early 1970’s I don’t ever remember there being such a deep divide between people of differing beliefs as there is now. In the past, despite our differences we understood we were Americans first and foremost and recognized we all shared this common ground. People understood this commonality was worth preserving at any cost.
Today, those fellow Americans who disagree with us are seen as the enemy. The divide between the rich and the poor, Republicans and Democrats, and actions of our government and the will of the people who they’re supposed to be working for differ greatly.
I grew up on the lower end of the middle class and almost everyone we knew found themselves somewhere in that same economic spectrum. Although most families we grew up with had all of their basic necessities met, there was never much money left over for luxuries like color televisions, big vacations, or expensive clothes. We only knew a small handful of people who could afford to fly, vacations usually consisted of camping or a road trip. I never remember feeling like we were missing out on anything, on the contrary, we were generally happy with what we had and grateful for it.
Thinking back on my elementary school days at Fairmoor Elementary in Columbus Ohio, the country was still, ideologically, much as it was in the 1950’s.
Patriotism was widespread, a lot of people genuinely believed in and were proud of America. It was a commonly held belief that if you worked very hard in this country you could accomplish anything in America and many people did just that. It didn't feel like the deck was stacked against you but, rather, systems were in place to help you succeed.
As a small child I still remember standing in front of the flag with our right hand over our hearts and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. Much of that post-WWII patriotism, pride, and optimism were still very much alive and well. The future seemed bright, there was never any doubt or question. We still had our problems and things weren't perfect by any means.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” ― Abraham Lincoln
Adults weren’t seen as peers by children back then. It was still common to get paddled by the principal or your parents if you misbehaved. Rumors among the kids ran rampant about how our principal, Ms. Nettie McAllister, had holes drilled in her paddle (she called it the board of education) so she could get more velocity in her down swing. Some classmates said she would even lift kids off of the ground when she paddled them which was probably totally a myth, at least I hope it was. Adults and children shared a completely different dynamic back then, it was more of a clearly defined hierarchy. Authority figures and any adult were expected to be given a certain amount of respect from children.
There was a greater sense of community in America fifty years ago. Life was lived more slowly and priority was placed on socializing. Neighbors knew each other, had more trust in one another, they would borrow things from neighbors and regularly drop in for a chat over coffee. People weren’t as likely to be categorized in silos or shunned based on their political, social, and religious beliefs as they are today. The rules of etiquette that most people followed dictated that it wasn't appropriate to share your deeply held beliefs with others, especially people they didn’t know well. Conversations with strangers or casual acquaintances were generally kept more on the lighter side and what was considered volatile or taboo subjects were usually avoided.
During my childhood I think the general public was also much more naive in some aspects. Although people were beginning to wake up to some uncomfortable social and political truths about our country in the late sixties, that mindset hadn’t yet permeated as deeply into the strata of our culture as it has today. Most citizens had a certain base level of trust that their government was working on their behalf for the greater good and believed a majority of what the media, politicians, and people in positions of authority said.
Anyone who’s a student of history can tell you that corruption was just as common back then, although it wasn't as effective as it is today. Our general infrastructure was still in good shape and hadn’t yet deteriorated to the sad state it is in now. It felt like our taxes were being used to keep our country running smoothly rather than the tax revenue disappearing with nothing much to show for it.
Today, in many ways, it feels likely that America’s best days are behind it. I’ve done a fair amount of traveling overseas and in comparison to other parts of the world the US today seems stagnant in terms of culture and infrastructure, culturally divided, generally in decline, and inexorably corrupt.
I think a certain amount of this perception is false, clouded from the divisiveness and negativity continuously spewed by the media. Not all of it is a false perception though. No one who is paying attention can deny there is now a general distrust of politicians due to the unparalleled corruption. I have to think pretty far back to remember an election where I was truly excited and energized by a front running candidate and not just feeling as though I’m voting for the candidate who would do the least amount of damage. The candidates I’m excited about usually have so many roadblocks to overcome that it would take a miracle for them to get elected. To be fair, this is the case in many countries throughout the world right now. Corporatocracy is a global phenomena and knows no borders so the U.S. definitely isn’t alone in this respect.
The accomplishments of American innovators, like Elon Musk, should be celebrated as a source of national pride but are often demonized by the corporate-controlled media and government. Why would they do this? Because their ideas threaten to upset the status quo, meaning they threaten the profit margins of the entities that are part of the established ecosystem of the global corporatocracy. Today around half of the American public regularly believe corporate funded misinformation campaigns as the truth (such as the anti-EV smear campaigns that have been funded by the Koch brothers and other oil industry insiders for almost a decade). Because of these many challenges and the massive societal friction they cause, cutting edge innovation is fleeing to other parts of the world that are more welcoming and easier to do business in.
Paradigm-shifting ideas like blockchain, cryptocurrency, and renewable energy are also thwarted and punished by federal agencies who regulate them because these new ideas threaten to disrupt companies and industries that are part of the established corporatocracy.
We simply can't change America's course without more of us waking up to some harsh realities and curing ourselves of the mind viruses that years of misinformation have infected them with.
It pains me to feel this way about the country I was born in but I’m no longer afraid or ashamed to say it out loud. We don't have time to be afraid. As an American I feel it's our duty to voice our disgust. Nothing will change unless more people find the strength to be honest with themselves. The American experiment is an incredibly ingenious idea that has been completely derailed by mistrust, corporate greed, and corruption that have infiltrated every layer of our government. If something isn't done quickly I fear it'll be too late.
I haven’t completely lost hope the American public will take an honest look in the mirror, wake up, stop being so gullible, and demand substantive change from our elected officials. Maybe we can transform America into a place we can all be proud of again, a place where younger generations can feel like they have a chance to prosper, can be hopeful about their futures, and raising a family is possible.
As of today, I don’t know too many of us who feel good about the current condition of our country. The truth is we’re all too complacent, busy blaming and hating each other, distracted by our phones, believing whatever the media tells us, or just plain too busy trying to survive to do what it takes to start taking the steps needed to change things better.
Ever the optimist, I still think there’s time to preserve the wishes and ideals of those who created this country and the countless people who’ve sacrificed for it. Time is of the essence for not just Americans but for citizens of many other countries around the world. Solving this conundrum is on us. With each year that passes there will be fewer and fewer of us who remember the eternal hope of the America that used to be.
Rules of Engagement
- Please reblog this first post and share on other social platforms so we cast the widest net possible for this initiative;
- Pictures paint a thousand words. Include pictures in your posts if you have them;
- Answer each Memoir Monday prompt question in your own post. If possible, the prompt question will be published in the week prior so you'll have the entire week to answer and publish your own post;
- Have fun with it, don't worry about getting behind, or jumping into the project at any point after we've begun; and
- Lastly, be sure to include the tag #memoirmonday.
It's that simple.
At the end of the next twelve months we'll have created something immensely valuable together. It's so important to know our "whys" in life and there's no better way to do that than this.
Someday all that will be left of our existence are memories of us, our deeds, and words. It's up to you to leave as rich of a heritage as possible for future generations to learn from. So, go ahead, tell your stories. I can't wait to read them.
Be well and make the most of this day. I want to sincerely thank all of the participants thus far. I've really enjoyed reading your posts!
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It's interesting how so much has changed in America since the 70s. Back then, I think unity felt stronger, and optimism about the future was a lot in everyone's hearts. But today's challenges seem daunting and I never thought somethings will be happening, but I believe in our potential to steer things back on track. It's close to election and I'm hoping for the right people to win
Born a wee bit before you I hear what you saying, things have changed in many places for all the wrong reasons.
After WWII one would think some lessons where learned, eg. Russia fought alongside America, United Kingdom and British Colonies!
Here we are back to East/West, cold war, sanctions new kid on the block (South Africa had this through 1970-1980s) threatening each other, we are all living on the same little earth called home.
Time is now to accept/respect each other work together pulling each asunder is a mind of the mental!
Another great topic to hear how people around the world feel within their countries.
Thanks, Joan. I can't wait to read some of the entries next week. I'm guessing people across the world feel similarly since the huge megacorps are one of the main drivers of all this negative change. I can hardly stomach the news anymore and social media isn't much better.
Prior covid, during, now after my son and I do have some folk we will listen to, avoid normal media and social media... Perhaps if you have time something to look at Neil Oliver: How Banks Took Over Empires, and the Truth About WWII, Brexit, & COVID
Thanks for the link! I'll check that out. I have a few independent media outlets that I listen to regularly that give a pretty fair/balanced view of the goings on of the world. I don't think there's a mainstream outlet left that does that.
Mainstream media all brainwashed I rely on some very good independent outlets for overall world view with comings and goings today, you have to!
In the past I probably would have said that things like racism are worse now than they were back then. I don't think that is entirely accurate though. I think they were still there. People just weren't so bold as to voice their opinions out loud. You could have been surrounded by bigots and you never would have known it. These days though, it's a free for all. I was listening to Obama speak the other day and it really made me sad that he didn't get a fair shake. He already had the deck stacked against him going in. The fact that he was black along with the growing vilification of the other side was just too big of a hill to climb. I'm sure there are people who will point to things he did wrong or bad decisions he made, but I think a lot of that is propaganda fueling that continued vilification. I also think anyone how knows how government works is smart enough to realize sometimes there is a no win situation. The way they bundle bills and laws makes it a virtual sophie's choice to actually do anything positive for the country.
True! I think there are two worlds, really. The one portrayed in the media and then the real world. I think a certain segment of society take the faux, media-driven negativity to be reality and that in a way makes that media created circus world spill into reality. The stuff that some people believe is just hard to comprehend sometimes. Conspiracy theories are floating around about the Obamas in the alt right media about how Barack is gay and Michelle is really a man, they call her "Big Mike". According to them their daughters were "donated" by another couple for show during their time in the Whitehouse. Oh, and Biden isn't really Biden, he's a body double wearing a rubber bask. I mean, if that were the case, wouldn't you think they'd choose someone more articulate? That is the worst double ever. Lol.
Oh my, I don't think I can even handle diving into that hole. It just makes zero sense!
I like to "keep an ear to the tracks" to see what's going on in both factions of the extremes. My "X/Twitter" feed allows me to skim the surface without diving too deep.
I get it, but I am not sure I want to dive into that kind of research!
I didn't know that Abraham Lincoln quote, but I fear he was spot on. America seems to be destroying itself from the inside and, much as I've tried, I cannot figure out why... Someone must be pushing this destructive agenda, I think.
On the other hand, corruption is not an American evil. It is everywhere. Probably has to do with our basic human nature.
My theory is it's more of a global agenda really because the corporations who have so much influence in our government are multinational ones.
Born in the early 90s yet your perspective closely mirrors my own here in America as well.
Comfortable and happy childhood, ignorant of any of the deliberate maleficence occurring behind scenes.
Then suddenly 2011, and I am suddenly aware the matrix like control system is real and the future taking shape is an ugly one and those who around me I try to discuss with are programmed to shun and exile, yadda yadda. Even family would get mad about such ideas..
Fast forward to now and everyone’s aware of widespread corruption yet nothing gets done, everyone’s too docile or whatever no one rallies together anymore they’re too busy In the distractions. While America is flailing
You were lucky to have been born before the world shifted to what it is today. The widespread use of smart phones really was when I began to see that shift happen en masse (around 2010 or so). Television used to be their preferred tool of distraction but it didn't hold a candle to the smart phone that's with us 24/7.
How has my country changed during my lifetime? From an environmental perspective, the changes that are occurring are actually not good because the government is just building without paying attention to the environmental impact. Air and noise pollution is an annoying thing that happens in my country. I miss the peaceful and quiet time in my small town like when I was little. Have a nice day, Eric.
I'm sorry to hear that Eliana! America had a lot of problems with pollution too in the 1970's but things are a little better now. I hope you've had a great week!
And from the outside, many still believe in the American dream and dream of living in the United States. Sometimes I see the current president of your country, Biden, and I can't believe that he is the head of a great power. Or is it all a dirty war around his image? Anyway, I remember that I grew up listening and seeing how the relations between your country and mine were fraternal, only with the arrival of Chavez the resentments of the left started to come out and the USA was seen as an enemy country.
This week I will have to talk about a subject that has fractured our country in two halves. An excellent Wednesday and a big hug, my friend.
The US was very good at P.R., crafting a certain image of opportunity and abundance. This was more true in the past than it is today. I often wonder how many immigrants regret leaving everything behind and coming here when they arrive and learn it wasn't what they thought it was. Although it's still probably easier to achieve success here than other, less developed, parts of the world it isn't nearly as good as it once was. We're experiencing that same "fracturing" between the right and the left. Thanks Nancy! I'm looking forward to reading your contribution! Enjoy the weekend my friend.
This topic can be very controversial. Of the things you mention, the one that impresses me the most is how they were able to divide so much, how they went from being a society where they had a common purpose to one where there are groups so opposed that they can't understand each other. That is terrible and dangerous for any society.
In my country something similar happened, since the arrival of Chavismo we began to separate, suddenly one group became the enemy of another, there are families where one and the other do not even talk to each other. We had never known this division before.
Thank you for the initiative, dear. A big hug from Maracay.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Thank you @irvinc! This kind of separation seems to be happening worldwide. The US has always been a proponent of immigration, unless we're Native Americans almost all of our families came from somewhere else in the world. The thing I've noticed about immigration in the last couple of decades is they're not assimilating into American society, they aren't learning the language or mixing with other Americans as much. I think this divides us more as a country as well. I really appreciate the comment!
I find it hard to understand what you are saying. It is as if the newcomers are playing the loser.
If they arrived there, it is because they are better off than in their places of origin. It would seem logical then that they should be grateful to the country that receives them, they should integrate and do their best to keep that country in good shape. They should think that if things go well there they will benefit.
But sometimes people do strange things. Happy evening dear friend @ericvancewalton.
Thank you! I hope you have a great weekend.
Your observations on the changes in America are quite poignant. Your ability to express your feelings in such a deep and open narrative is admirable. You are doing a terrific job with Memoir Monday; your insights are priceless.
How are you dear friend @ericvancewalton good afternoon
The topic of the week is very interesting, I have no doubt that there will be many participations.
What you say is very true, it is sad to see how people from the same town consider themselves enemies when there are political, religious or social status differences, something that was not so common half a century ago
I can't believe it's almost the weekend already! All is going well on this end. Thanks and I wish you a great weekend my friend!
There has been so many changes, the good, bad and ugly. I just hope I'll be able to put all my thoughts in words.
Can't wait to read your entry!
There is definitely love for the country but success is impossible by staying here
Where are you from?
Pakistan
This is huge, there are so much to talk about in this topic. I will soon drop my link. Thank you for your time for dropping this very deep insight.
Cool, can't wait to read it! Thanks.
#hive #posh
So much has changed in my country Nigeria and I feel it changes much more in the negative aspect than the positive aspect I must confess. But well probably the country is still evolving
In today's world, there are so many silos of beliefs, and ideologies without any interoperability that is diminishing the concept of a nation and a society thereof. It's natural to have differences, but how we accommodate them with forbearance is key for a society to sustain itself. Unfortunately, today's world has gone toxic at so many levels. What you said about America, is not just about America, more or less that's the state of affairs in all liberal democracies.
🙏🙏🙏
alot has really changed in country,
And thanks to this contest I can put them in writing
Here is my entry link for the week
https://hive.blog/hive-11060/@yummycruz1/change-in-my-country-memoirmonday-ky5
It's a pleasure to say hello. I take this opportunity to leave my entry.
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@charjaim/how-life-has-changed
Times have changed indeed!
There are a lot of similarities in some of our experiences - singing our national anthem in school, air travel was only for the wealthy, trusting anyone in authority, etc.
And...something you did not know, Elon Musk was born and raised in South Africa but left for the US not only for better opportunities but also because he refused to do compulsory military service under the Apartheid regime, something all white boys leaving school had to do. Arthur fortunately escaped because of his diabetes, but all my brothers had to do it. It only ended in 1994! Some boys who were conscientious objectors refused, escaped like Elon or stayed and were given a jail sentence!
It's awful thinking back on what the government did back then!
Hi there! Here's my entry:
https://peakd.com/hive-106316/@sarimanok/week-16-memoirmonday-difficult-changes-of-my-lifes-journey
https://ecency.com/hive-109288/@tranquil3/i-have-one-headache