As a Walton Fan do

[Deleted]

you find that the issues facing the common man of our country (US) seem to bother you more than others? We fans relive the Depression every night.

I know that change can be good, but the Great Depression was easier then now because the Waltons only had to wait for the Depression to end and then the factories would open back up. Now the factories are gone.

Of course the US was not as much of a world leader during the Depression as it is now, and we will probably hand the world leader torch to another country and go back to the way it was during the 1930's

I do not want this to become a political thread.

[Deleted]

Hi, as an outsider (not a US citizen) can I make some comment?

The families who lived through the depression did not know when (or maybe even if) it would end. They lived in hard times. certainly for The Waltons and other country folk factories played only a periphcal (my spelling sorry) part in their lives anyway,

Yet for all the hardship I still firmly belive their spirit (like those of my own countrymen during the Blitz) was amazing, resolute and the community spirit so very strong.

As for going back, someone once said to me 'You can never go back to another time in your life. things and people change' I belive this to be true, as mankind we should and must go forward.

Having said that I write about those times and enjoy The waltons because of it.

[bullgator]

We are eighty years removed from the beginning of the depression and 65 years beyond WWII. Those were hard times - but the people who lived through those times were use to hard work and deprivation. Look at the physical size of people in the 19-teens through the mid 40s and compare their size with ours today. We live in a time of plenty (junk food, TV and all types of electronic gadgets, etc.) and therefore when we face difficult times, we have much more to lose. A common saying, so I am told, of people who lived in the depression was (is), "we were poor, but we didn't know it." But that may have been because they were "poor" prior to the Depression.

[davidm]

The biggest, and saddest changes I see are the lack of family values and morals. Families don't even eat supper together anymore. We've become too individualistic. Even back in the 50s a father/husband forged ahead to make a better life for his entire family. Now, the wife says it's her life and it's all about her, so the husband says he has to focus on himself and make life better for him. The children are off doing their own thing, usually playing video games or online social networking sites. Very few are willing to wait until marriage before having sex. There is just a lack of common decency missing these days, and everything happened so fast since the 60s.

[Marilyn]

The comment about us not eating meals together is of great concern and the fact that most kids sit on their butts playing on the computer or watching tv. Rather than playing out in the sunshine, absorbing that wonderful Vitamin D that we all need so badly and also getting exercise which is so important, our pasty-skinned obese kids sit inside, usually alone. It's sad that the US is known world-wide at the fattest and sickest nation in the world.

[coalminerswife85]

It is very sad how disconnected families seem to be from each other these days. I think where I live is a bit different as far as kids being outside, I live in the mountains of Virginia, one of my true loves!! Most children here still adore any chance they get to be outside and roam threw the woods, fathers still make time to take there sons and daughters hunting and such. I consider my self lucky to live in such an area, some days I just wish I could get my 3 year old to come inside, she's an outdoors kinda girl, never met a mud puddle that she didn't have to explore.

[davidm]

Many mothers don't even cook for their families anymore, it's all junk and fast foods which is very bad for the health. When I help a local church with Vacation Bible School it's clear to me that the small children are looking for love and attention. They hold on and don't seem to ever want you to let them go.

[davidm]

I'm surrounded by hills and mountains here in Kentucky. Many of the kids do play outside, run through the woods and the creeks. But too many don't have parental supervision, family time, and solid roots. Sadly there is so much drinking where I live. Some of the teenagers are on probation and the parents don't seem to care.

[vintagegirl88]

I'm probably one of the younger ones to comment (22), but I fully agree with what has been said. I unfortunately have developed some of the sloth like habits mentioned here. I was an outdoors child for quite some time, but due to many unfortuante circumstances that my family life took and have developed into today I lost some of those joys along the way. However, I have a wonderful relationship with my mom and dad (even though they are divorced) and my two sisters. I've been able to bring myself above the ridiculous morals of some "extended family" and am slowly working towards the morals that I value and wish to present to my own family when I begin to build one. I've always felt like an old soul and have never understood where the morality of society went so terribly wrong for some people. Sorry, this got a little longer than I intended and may have strayed off topic a bit...

[davidm]

It's interesting, I know a number of young folks who feel the same way. They don't like the fall of the family and lack of family values. They yearn for better morals than society provides. It gives me hope. One young teenager said to me "I'm ashamed of my generation. We've given y'all Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber."

[Marilyn]

due to many unfortuante circumstances that my family life took and have developed into today I lost some of those joys along the way.

Take the joys back...it's in your power!

[sambda]

Nov 16, 2010 17:19:22 GMT -5 coalminerswife85 said:

... I think where I live is a bit different as far as kids being outside, I live in the mountains of Virginia, one of my true loves!! Most children here still adore any chance they get to be outside and roam threw the woods, fathers still make time to take there sons and daughters hunting and such.

In the UK many parents will not let their kids play outside. There is an absolute hysteria here that there are pedophiles lurking around every corner. Complete nonsense of course, but pumped out by semi-fascist newpapers like The Daily Mail and semi-supported by the government (as it serves to detract people from other issues which the government don't know what to do about - e.g. educational standard that is behind Poland, for example).

Having said that, kids spending time on the computer needn't be wasted time. Of course, if they're just playing games, or chatting to friends on SN sites, that doesn't get too far, but simple web-surfing can be very educational!

(Incidentally, US isn't the fattest nation. Australia has that distinction, and they *do* have a very outdoor life there. Go figure.)

[davidm]

I was reading in our local co-op electric monthly magazine how some families are returning to "family game night". The family gets together at least one night a week and play board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, etc. I hope it really catches on.

[Marilyn]

We used to be the fattest nation, now we're #2. Mexico beat us in the race for obesity... but only by two percentage points. Thirty percent of the Mexican population is obese, while 28 percent of Americans are obese. inventorspot.com/articles/race_fattest_country_us_comes_close_second

[davidm]

Marylin, where did you get my baby picture from?
I'm surprised that Mexico forged ahead of us. I did read they have a large percentage of colon cancer. I'm surprised since they eat a lot of peppers which are suppose to be healthy.