Posts Written By L Parker Brown

In the late 1960s, when Grammy Award winning R&B singer, Aretha Franklin, popularized her hit tune Respect, gentlemen generally respected women and most women held themselves in high-regard; so much so that you would never have seen any self-respecting young lady outside wearing Daisy Duke shorts with the words “Bootylious” stitched on the rear. And respectable young men did not walk around exposing their underwear over pants swaggin’ off their hips. 

Years ago, it was unthinkable for young people to disrespect their elders, their teachers, law enforcement officers and especially their parents. Although Baby Boomers raised our share of hell during our teenage years, many of us were generally respectful enough not to loud-talk about sexual exploits or use a string of expletives in the presence of anyone except our peers. and some of us didn’t do it then. Today rude, attention craving youths don’t care whether they are in a public venue or not, they say whatever they want and do as they please, and dare anyone to challenge them on their behavior.

There is a serious lack of civility in today’s society. I’ve heard many Boomers say that America’s downward spiral began with the removal of prayer from public schools; and that decision triggered a domino effect purging religious activities in other public places and creating an upswing in horrendous crimes and immorality everywhere.

Minus a religious foundation, graphic depictions of violence and sexually explicit movies, TV programs, and lewd music are also believed by some to be contributing factors to the decline of American society. One of the saddest realities in this era of unstable economy, widespread homelessness and unprecedented unemployment is that unfortunate, life altering conditions are no longer viewed by the masses as something that happens to other people. Conscientious people know that it only requires a flick of fate – a job loss, sudden illness, a natural disaster – any unusual occurrence to make a grown man cry and bring anyone to the edge of despair.

“There but for the grace of God, go I” is no longer a passing thought for some. It is a potential reality for many. Many Boomers no longer live under the illusion of security, because security doesn’t exist. Times they are a-changin’.

“Come mothers and fathers, throughout the land, and don’t criticize what you can’t understand. Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command . . .  For the times they are a-changin’.” In 1964, when Bob Dylan released that title track from his album by the same name the protest song addressed the social and political turmoil of that era. Today the tune is used in a number of TV commercials and the lyrics remain hauntingly relevant in the 21st century.

Boomers, do you ever look back and wonder what happened to the world we once knew? To say that things are different is a vast understatement. Remember when life used to be so simple?

Back in the day, when you heard that someone you knew had gotten engaged or married the immediate thought was that it was a heterosexual union. Today it could be two males, two females, or a transgender couple. During the time of our youth, a male and female born that way usually died that way. Changing one’s gender – or transgender surgery – was uncommon. And a young child in a nuclear family had a mother and father of the opposite sex, not two same sex mommies or daddies. Life used to be so simple, but times they are a-changin’.