The Death of Muscular American Social Life

Having lived through the entire decade of the 'fifties, I can attest that every word in this essay is true. Contemporary social critics tend to pick out isolated examples of (alleged) social failures during that period and magnify them so as to seem the rule rather than the exception. Having thus set up the strawman, they proceed to attack it with vigor, and in the process, retcon our happy, peaceful and productive past into some hellscape of intolerance, hatred and conflict. I suppose it makes such people feel better about themselves and their myriad shortcomings. This tendency found its apogee in the so-called "1619 Project," whereby everything about America's past was condemned because of a singular issue, namely slavery. That this was not only allowed to happen, but was encouraged by those in the ruling elite shows how far we have degenerated as a society. We have deliberately decided to allow these people to beat the rest of us into submission with their lying propaganda. Perhaps it is not too late to stand athwart this historical trend and say, "Stop!" At least, it is fervently to be hoped, for the sake of our posterity.

Excellent piece.

I was there.....most of America’s middle class looked like or tried to look like Ozzie & Harriet. You should have been there. You don’t realize what you have until you’ve lost it forever.

The article brought back strong memories for me. Being a child of the 50’s and 60’s, was a dream compared to today’s world. It was a slower much less frenetic way of life geared toward family. My reality was much like those old sitcoms. Life was good, family was important and neighborhoods thrived. My dad always wore a suit to church with a hat most of the time and mom never left for service without a nice dress, hat and gloves. It was a beautiful sight and not only at church. People dressed for dinners out and special occasions. Swearing was rarely heard in public and never by women. It was a very good time to grow up. Sometimes today I feel like an old fuddy duddy when I am shocked by today’s casualness. It is unfortunate that people do not have more self-respect or reverence when it comes to church attire. I am amazed at how people come to service. We definitely were not perfect people, but there was a dignity about how we lived our lives. I miss that.

Tony Esolen should be recognized as a national treasure. Instead, he was forced out of his teaching job at Providence College for being politically incorrect. He is incredibly knowledgeable on any number of subjects, a great writer and translator, and a great social commentator.

I grew up in those days. Reply #4 is point on. * We never locked our doors. Now people have cameras and safety features everywhere in their homes and vehicles.* That alone should tell folks how much our society has diminished. I walked the streets of lower income and minority areas without a thought of danger. We did not discuss race or any of what now is considered 'woke', because it barely existed.We had no safety officers in school and no 'levels' of administration; in high school a principal, period, and no one wanted to go to her office or have her call your parent. The younger folks have NO IDEA what it was like back in the 'good old days'. and today doesn't come close. Back then, responsibility, accountability , morals, and ethics mattered.

I grew up in the 50s and 60s. For children it was a wonderful time. We had a lot of freedom in the summer. We would tell our mother where we were going, and she told us when to be back home. Then we were free to ride all over town on our bicycles. We belonged to a swimming club and spent lots of time there with our friends. We never locked the car or our houses. My parish church never locked its doors. Then in the early 70s, someone came in and stole a bunch of the communion vessels and the tabernacle. Our priest was shocked and the church has had to lock up ever since.

And then in the 60's white liberals took it upon themselves to fix everything.

To have experienced the 50's. The birth of rock and roll, live ( and funny ) TV, cars that that had style and didn't all look like each other and you knew you would be safe from an atomic blast if the shades were pulled down in your classroom and you hid under your desk.

I, too grew up in the 50s and 60s and #4 reminded me of the fact that my mother would don a hat and short white gloves to go to the grocery store or run other errands. I grew up in the Deep South so that may have been a factor, but there was a standard of decorum that everyone, no matter race, ethnicity, religion or social standing lived by.

We had families, mothers and fathers, in the 50's. Extended families and cousins nearby too. The left has destroyed the country with their trying to run everything.

That era was imperfect but people were safer because they looked out for each other. The drudgery and boredom of housewifery was offset by the safety of neighborhoods. The acceptance that men were the primary protectors and providers gave structure to the community and confidence to everyone who weren’t bullies or thugs themselves.

I'm also a child of the 50s and 60s. My mother read to my sister and me every night until we were old enough to read for ourselves, my family played board and card games in the evening. The television was on for specific shows - the evening news, Bonanza, the Wonderful World of Disney, Ed Sullivan and a few others. My mother cooked dinner every night and we sat around the table as a family for dinner. Eating out was a big treat. We knew all the neighbors and had the same neighbors for close to 50 years. We played outside on summer evenings until after dark. It was an idyllic time.

As a teenager in post war England, life was definitely very pleasant and safe. Jeans became available in stores , these were a must have. I strutted down the street so proud of my first pair, they were green by the way. Traveling solo by bus or train in and out London was even fun. Mother always dressed up to go to London, hat, gloves were ritual for her. My father would doff his trilby hat(fedora) to women if he knew them, and to passing hearses. Manners were important, one was more often judged if manners were not up to snuff. The world has definitely changed for the worse. I do feel sorry that today's children cannot experience the joys of playing outdoors with their friends, for many reasons, mainly their personal safety from predators. They are not making up their own games and amusing themselves endlessly with simple things. Toys weren't garishly colored battery operated plastic imagination killers. ah nostalgia!

I too grew up in the 50's and 60's in what is today considered one of the most liberal areas of the country, Marin County Calif. Marin was completely different at the time, they voted Republican. All the churches were full, all the men had on ties and jackets and the women wore dresses. In the Catholic churches the women had to wear head coverings.I went to a Catholic High School and we of course wore uniforms and the boys could not wear denim jeans and had to have a collared shirt. When we went to school functions,including sporting events, the girls had to wear dresses or skirts. It was a wonderful time to grow up. The kids today have no idea how much freedom we had, parents couldn't constantly call you on cell phones. I know of parents today that secretly put cameras on their kids cars, so they can follow them around. Snooping has become a way of life in the United States and it starts from the day you are born.

All of these reminiscences brought tears to my eyes; the 50s were a great time for kids. At no time did mothers have to call each other to set up "play dates" for their children. My neighborhood was teeming with kids. All I had to do was walk out the door and join the group that was playing whatever game I wanted to play. Summer nights were the best. I'd grab a jar and go out hunting lightning bugs with everyone else. As long as I came home when the street lights came on there were no worries. Kids spent a LOT of time outdoors; with the possible exception of Saturday mornings (remember the old westerns on TV?) we didn't stay indoors. A few times a month we'd go to the drive-in movies; when I was really small my mom would put me in pajamas first. When my mother and I took a trip downtown to shop she always dressed for the occasion in a dress with a hat and gloves. She had a wardrobe of gloves; a pair to match each outfit. She dressed me up as well. She was no June Cleaver, though. She did a lot of housework but never did she do it wearing heels and pearls! She wore what was called a housedress, a simple easily washed cotton dress. I think she wore white Keds on her feet. She made 3 meals each day and we ate together as a family every evening. Each Sunday after church my grandmother cooked a huge meal for everyone and we all sat at her dining room table while the adults talked among themselves. I was at the stage in life where I was expected to be seen but not heard (and to clean my plate!!). My parents didn't stint on discipline either; I was no stranger to a few swats on the backside if I broke a rule. I admit I broke many rules. I also remember spending some time in the corner at school although I can't remember why. Teachers then were not afraid to dole out punishment when needed. I had some classmates who had their knuckles rapped on occasion. But guess what? Their parents never came to the school complaining that their little darlings were being picked on by the school; none threatened to sue. Unbelievable, right?? I was not raised to be entitled. I've heard some say that we're looking at the 50s through rose colored glasses but I know that I remember them fondly; I'm glad I was able to experience life in those days.