Chris,
It's the human condition today. Art is correct in his observations. I'm 61 and have been around awhile too. The whole "60's" thing did much to give folks the opportunity to be more relaxed in many ways. But, like most everything else, the old addage: Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile, kicked in.
Many seem to want, but not be willing to give anything in return. Personal agrandizement is the rule of the day. But like all things based in selfishness, it reveals itself for what it is and will fade away.
I do take some of the blame, though. When I grew up, we didn't have much and we were happy with what we had as we didn't know any better. As time went along a lot of us fell into the trap of being able to provide more for our families than we had as youths. So we did. What happened is there became a reduction in appreciation for things that used to be not available, but now were so, readily. Perhaps the term is jaded.
But cheer up, Art also mentions our gun culture group. He is right! We do have a better appreciation for honor, dignity and integrity. I built a home on a handshake with a carpenter. He's a gun enthusiast, a hunter that has traveled the world in search of game. When the wind blew, the house stood and he did a fine job.
I have seen my sons, who have their faults, and are jaded to a degree because of our American plenty, get out of bed at 3AM to drive an aquintance who was in distress 200 miles, come home and go to work, or hold a door for an old man. (I can't get them to cut my grass, though. heh.)
We gunnies need to keep our culture at all costs, because perhaps we, in the end, may give the example that turns our country around and sets the ship of state on an even keel again. I am an idealist, I know. But I see hopeful signs around. Hypocricy is not lost on middle America. The shrillness of the Left and the desperate propaganda by most "news" outlets proves that good humor and integrity is still alive, well and kickin' and irritating the bejayzus out of 'em.
