There was much time for conversation during our 3,000+mile motor trip when I chose to chauffeur my older cousins on their pre-planned trip to and from Texas some years ago as her husband’s eyesight was not the best and she never drove at all. Among them was one in particular that comes to mind.
While listening to the radio, mention was made of the changing fad from big band to single soloist with guitar that became popular during the protest era of the 50’s and 60’s solidified by the Elvis craze. It was after the advent of television that backup singers and more hype were added to the trend. A thought-provoking comment made by one of my cousins who came from a large family was, “That’s like life!”
While thinking about it I recalled the big-family era with everyone pulling together (of necessity) and usually very close-knit. In the absence of modern home appliances, TV and other conveniences, chores had to be divided and shared as families, neighborhoods, churches and communities provided their own respective entertainment. In our household it was Chinese checkers and indoor card games with croquet, badminton, baseball and other such games occupying outside interests. But all was done in friendly competition enjoyed by winners and losers alike–far, far from today’s $multi-million contracts on individual professional sports players.
Then, of course, there is my favorite, dancing–once done only in couples–even though in some cases seldom touching–if ever, you still knew they were out-there somewhere. Not so today as life has become more “solo-acceptable” as male and female alike have become completely comfortable attending functions solo–Thanks to the Electric-Side!
Likewise, instead of 3-generations or more living under the same roof looking out for one another as was once common, grandparents now live alone until they can no longer do so safely–regardless of the number of children they took care of. Then it’s time to put them in some professional nursing home. I promised God and man that no parent of mine would ever go into a nursing home–and I thank my God that I was able to keep that promise.
Parents of that era would often do without (food, clothing, travel, education or whatever it took) to make sure their children had what was needed (and sometimes just wanted). Today’s more youthful parents are more inclined to place more emphasis on their own fashion statements and personal relationships–with some setting physical and morally unhealthy examples.
How ironic that with all of the modern time-saving devices currently available we find ourselves with less of it to spend with others, especially our own children who fashionably spend more time earlier and earlier in life with others. Look about you–at home, at work, in your community and especially in the news! The time has definitely come to reassess goal, rearrange priorities and give serious consideration to the long-term consequences of some short-term pleasures and pursuits that result through a “solo, living single” (even when you’re not) mentality.
It all evolves from not knowing who we are, our purpose in this very brief life span, or in what incomparable Day we are living!
As with the proverbial “Which came first, the chicken or the egg,” I’m not sure if society’s current warring mentality ruining homes and families, inevitably spilling over into schools, work places, our immediate and world communities emanates from a selfish “living-single” mentality or vice/versa. The latter may instead derive from the incessant pressures of our hierarchical society. Either way the situation is unwholesome and far too dangerous in mankind’s technological maturity and spiritual infancy.
Could we but read (and heed) the Baha’i Holy Writings: “When a thought of war comes, oppose it with a stronger thought of PEACE! A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of LOVE!”…internalized “One HEART at a time!”