I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found. Was Blind, But Now I See.

Writers note to any readers: A very poor choice of words has been pointed out in this post. Staying true to my policy of not editing other than grammer, or spelling, I am not changing the original post, but I am elaborating on what I was trying to say here: http://chris-theconservative.blogspot.com/2008/10/okay-this-shoe-leather-tastes-bad.html. I would like to appologize in advance if my poor choice of words has offended anyone, in any way. This was certainly not the desired outcome of this post. And of course, since it was my mistake that was made, I am taking the responsibility to correct it, as I have repeatedly endorsed in this blog.


I am still a little upset by last nights debate, or shall I say lack of a debate. You would have the same debate between a socialist and an communist. We are in a dark period of American history, and as I have mentioned before, it is not the first. I really think that my generation (Generation X, as they called us, no matter how much we resisted) could learn a lot from the Lost generation.
To begin with, lets look at the similarities of the two generations thus far. Both generations were not very respected by their previous generations. During periods of economic prosperity, the majority of both generations, mainly worked in low skill, low paying jobs. For the Lost generation, it was in nickelodeons and in corner shoeshine stops. For Generation X, it is McDonalds and WalMart. Both generations were proceeded by an elitist, selfish generation, that they found themselves reacting against. For the Lost it was the Missionary Awakening, and for Generation X, the Baby Boomers. Both groups had excessive problems with substances that aren't considered very healthy. For the Lost, it was alcohol, weed was sold in candy, and Coke really had the real thing (Cocaine). For Gen X, it was alcohol, weed (which wasn't sold in candy, but baked in brownies), and as we were drinking Coke, we had to put the real thing up our nose. These substances, along with a rising crime rate and increased immigration for both generations, produced gang wars, especially in inner city areas. Prohibition created bathtub gin and moonshine with all of it's side effects, and the War On Drugs, produced crack, meth, and heroin with all of their side effects.
And to a paragraph all to itself, I must mention the partying and good times both generations had during their young adulthood. For the Lost generation it was that new music, Jazz, which was termed as "devil" music by their previous generation. For Gen X it was hard rock, punk, and that new music rap. Which the Boomer's, led by Tipper Gore, railed against as "devil music". The Lost had the scandalous flappers, Gen X had the Madonna wannabes and the "Fluff Chics" with the big teased hair. Jazz clubs to night clubs, Hollywood glamour everywhere in the two generations. Both generations had a bent toward individuality, and a grit not shown in more civilized generations. The economy during the 20's was based largely on credit, as it is today, and in both times everyone was (despite the societal problems) living large, spending freely, being wild and crazy, and escaping into a Hollywood induced stupor.

Then the 30's came. It all came to a screeching halt. Unemployment rose, families lost everything as banks closed. The government was throwing every penny at the economy that they could, to try to help the situation, and just made it worse. During the 30's, people who in the 20's were jazzing it up, flapping, and having a good old time, were now pinching every penny and standing in breadlines. New things came about, like Hobo stew, Poor Man's casserole, and an actual religious revival. Although the Lost generation kept their grit and fun loving spirit, they were fundamentally changed. The Jazz club was replaced with the dust bowl. Values, such as family, industry, frugality, and integrity, became important. And with these values, the Lost generation raised the greatest generation in history. This generation won World War II, through the sacrificing they learned from their Lost elders, and made America the greatest superpower ever known throughout history.

So Generation X, here we stand at a point where we have the greatest economic crisis our country has seen since the depression. With all the similarities, big surprise, huh. We are heading into our depression, this is our fundamental change. Right now, people are losing their homes, the banking industry is in trouble, and life savings in the stock market are but a fraction of what they were one year ago. At the present time the government is throwing billions into the economy to try and bail it out. The "Me" generation has turned their free love paradise into a wasteland of AIDS, addiction, and big controlling government, and passed this onto us. Will we do like the Lost, and not pass on the biggest part of our problems to our children? I think we will, because despite our downfalls and slacker ways, we are good. And this economic crisis will bring out the best in us. And the best of ourselves is what we will leave to out children.

I would also like to point out that the Lost generation was the mischievous "old codgers" when my generation was kids. I noticed that, even though I could not identify with my Boomer parents, these old men and women seemed to share a common viewpoint with me. They were the ones who warned of giving government too much power, because of the lessons learned from the New Deal. They even overwhelmingly supported Goldwater for president, even after he offered to cut their social security. They also warned about slowing down and taking it easy. Don't go so fast. Work hard, but enjoy life too. I can even think of two who warned of a coming depression, and told me stories of the depression they lived through. Like my generation, they also had problems with the Boomers. One even went as far as to say to me, "when the economy falls for you, it will be their fault." One thing to keep in mind, Generation X will not go down in history as one of the greatest generations, Generation Y will. But we will go down in history as the generation the great generation Y looked up to, and revered, and the generation, who will teach them everything they need to know to be truly great.