Yesterday and today... How did we ever make it?

[Hector]

My dad migrated to the States in the 50s...tried to enlist in the army during the Korean War...but they wouldn't take him for his lack of English.

So he stayed in the South working various jobs...sometimes he'd be accepted at restaurants...but sometimes he wouldn't be allowed in...but in no way shape or form did he went through what African-Americans went through...they were really harassed...my dad kinda almost went under the radar...then he moved to Northern California...and it turned out to be much better for him...became a General Motors autoworker...and eventually met my mom in Northern California, lol.

But my dad never hated the South...he embraced America to the fullest...became a dual-citizen...and had nothing bad to say about America...was really appreciative about this country...he loved America till the day he died.

Oh yeah...and he did eventually learn English...became quite fluent, was one helluva writer too (in both English and Spanish)...he wrote thousands of pages on different topics...my sister is kinda thinking of somehow self-publishing them for some type of amateur book or something, lol.

[Mikey]

As a black woman, I don't think I would have liked life in 1958. ............

Not growing up in that time it's hard to even imagine a time before the Civil Rights Act of 64.

It's like before that society was just plain insane (for real)

[Figuremod73]

Other than some of the social, medical, and technological advancements im really not to happy with how our society has been the last number of years.

Compared with now, the '90s are starting to look great.

[Evel KMego]

I hated the 1950's - Some Fonzarelli dude kept beating me up.



Oh, wait I wasn't born till 1971.. Nevermind.

[pmwasson]

The time when you were a kid always seems better because you were sheltered from a lot of what was going on.

One of my favorite Daily Show clips:
Even Better Than the Real Thing - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 01/05/10 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

[MegoSteve]

1958: No Megos

2012: Megos

Nuff said.

[Werewolf]

Yeah, I know it wasn't ALL good. But it was a heckuva lot better than it is now.

I think as kids we are sheltered from and or mercifully obvilious from a lot of crap that is going on around us. We also tend to look back on and gravitate to stuff that made us happy and not dwell on all the bad. I have an affection for the 80s, to a point, because that's when all my favorite cartoons, toys and games were coming out. But other than that, it wasn't really all that great for me.

[jimsmegos]

1958* 2,945,263,533* People

2012* 6,991,800,919* People

Well there's your problem... the Sexual Revolution.

[mikeoz]

My kids laugh when I tell them how my siblings and I entertained ourselves on long road trips in the backseat of the car by playing on the floor or up in the dash area under the back window. And without seatbelts, we could get into some wild fights. Who needs ipods or portable dvd players when you can climb all over the backseat and beat up your little brother.

[HardyGirl]

As a black woman, I don't think I would have liked life in 1958. However, the point being made about innoccence isn't lost on me. Why do you think I like the 70s so much? (from a kid's standpoint not an adult's) Parents could discipline their kids, all this PC jazz wasn't an issue, no cell phones, or PCs or cyberbullies, car accidents due to texting while driving. There was more anticpation and wonderment. Yeah, I know it wasn't ALL good. But it was a heckuva lot better than it is now.

'Nuff said.

[Mikey]

Back in '58 everyone was worried about the entire world being blown up through nuclear war.

Today everyone is worried about kid's bellies being blown up because soda is on sale in school lunchrooms

[kingdom warrior]

Exaggerated hypotheticals don't sway me much. Factual history shows there was a lot of horrible things going on in 1958 - and people were not more innocent than they are today.

Yup......they just didn't have the media that we have today....

[megoapesnut]

I thought it was funny.
Maybe I'm too stupid to notice all the hidden evils.

I'm with you, brother.

[Bill]

I thought it was funny.
Maybe I'm too stupid to notice all the hidden evils.

[sauce]

I'm pretty sure the meatloaf was better back then, though.