My Generation

Today, I went to the movie, "Grand Torino" which starred Clint Eastwood as a rigid, old widower, who battles the changes in his neighborhood in Michigan. The movie was excellent!! It really depicts well what is happening in our inner cities. There is alot of racial tension in the central part of many cities across the United States.

This older man grew up learning to defend himself, taking care of his home, and working for a living. He was devoted to his job for 50 yrs, devoted husband and father, and still had his opinions of other ethnicities.

My generation, and I am sure generations to come, have not been taught what respect is. For example, when an older person drops their groceries, many younger people just make fun of them and walk on by. But, in past generations, a neighbor would help the older person with their groceries.

Back in the 50s, you didn't see all of these gangs in our cities, destroying what beauty we had. What about all of the people who 'use' the system to pay their way, so they don't have to work for an honest man's pay.

What has happened with this world? Are parents just not caring anymore? Do they not want to teach their kids simple things like being honest, being helpful,thanking people, and growing up to be responsible citizens? Is that just too much work for them?
Those are questions that go through my mind.

This movie brought out alot of things that are happening in our own backyards. I wish I could have lived back in the 50s, where life was much simpler.