Generation Gap Differences
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Social
5/2/2004
A 70-year-old grandfather was asked by his young grandson how things
have changed since he was a kid. His reply is worth reading.
"Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television,
penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees
and the pill. There weren't things like radar, credit cards, laser
beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers,
clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, and he hadn't
walked on the moon. Your grandma and I got married first -- then lived
together. Every family had a father and a mother, and every boy over
14 had a rifle that his dad taught him how to use and respect. Until I
was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' -- and after I turned
25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.'
Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those
in need, and just visiting with family or neighbors. We were before
gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group
therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good
judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference
between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for
our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living here was a
bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during
Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your
cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when
the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent
together in the evenings and weekends -- not condominiums. We never
heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or
guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and
the President's speeches on radio. I don't ever remember any kid
blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything
with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out'
referred to how you did on your school exam. Burger King, Pizza Hut,
McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 & 10-cent
stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice
cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a
nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel
on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new
Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas
was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold
drink, 'pot' was something your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was
grandma's lullaby. 'Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office,
'chip' meant a piece of wood, 'hardware' was found in a hardware
store, and 'software' wasn't even a word. And we were the last
generation that was so dumb as to think a lady needed a husband to
have a baby. No wonder people call us old and confused and say there
is such a generation gap."