7 of 57

Write now Article Tools

A complacent American generation actually began several decades ago in the United States after the finish of World War I and World War II, when our men and boys came back home to the wecoming arms of a country which had dramatically changed. The wars had forced a surge in developing industrialism which brought money and resources into homes that had struggled with survival prior to the war. The security of jobs, savings, security, and inventions of time-saving appliances brought a complacent state of mind of pure contentment until the recent terrorist attack in New York. From that moment in history a wake-up call developed in America that showed us we were not following the yellow brick road to paradise and life's little perfections.

The term complacent was associated with most of the upper and middle classes of the Americans. The new aspects of jobs, money, security, the term "keeping up with the Jones", and mall shopping has become the main focus of the American citizen, with $100 dollars for a young child's doll a commonplace thing along with high-priced designer clothing a must for school-age youth. Becoming self-satisfied with their earnings and endless job choices, the U.S. citizens forgot the future of not only our country but their own lives and existence, forgetting future worries and responsibilities which had been the mainstay of our older generations. This comparison to the days of our grandparents and great-grandparents was based on individuals who formed this country, and who survived on the bare minimum to accomplish this. Their lives consisted of hard work and living off the land which at times was very angry and demanding, requiring at all times a plan for the future-a future which influenced their very survival.

The roots of these older generations were due to the fact that their country's existence was based on a world where there has been no major economic changes for quite awhile. Yet these same hard-working and struggling Americans backed their country one-hundred percent without question, with the loyalty emboddied in individuals such as John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and James Stewart. But slowly the newer generations and their political morals and honesty began to cause a big dip in this loyalty, with the feeling of "what does it matter" becoming a major mind-set of the "American scene". Unfortunately, it did not really matter as long as jobs were held, personal needs were still able to be supplied, even though many were becoming

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Are we creating a complacent generation??
We want to hear your view. Write now!