One of the thoughts that I’ve often had is that as humans, we romanticize the past; sometimes to the extent of putting on blinders.

I’m an optimist, and I can understand this perspective, but sometimes it nicely filters the cyclicality of life and helps us forget that there have always been forces for good and evil prevalent in every generation.

Times may change, but human nature does not.  Still we say:  Remember when this?  Remember when that?   Back in my day we did this… Back in my day you’d never hear of that…

Greatest generation!  Those millennials!

I’m sure you can think of several examples off the top of your head too.

But human nature and human action are both complex and yet simple.

There are forces for good, people who genuinely want to improve the world, empower those around them, are kind, have hope, work hard, innovate, are honest, serve others, etc.

Conversely there are forces for evil, some who will claw for their needs and lusts in a Machiavellian “the ends justifies the means mentality”.  Those who wish to control others, subjugate them, steal, are vicious, dishonest, or simply do various evil things.

Of course, the world is a gray-scale of individuals pulled by the two opposing sides, but undeniably there are those to emulate and those to repudiate.

A hallowed time for many is the period of the American Revolutionary War.  Certainly there were many genuinely good, moral, steadfast, and inspired individuals.

But what some forget is that those of stated generation suffered many maladies similar to those we associate more with modern times.

In the late 1700’s, in New England for example, there were drunkards and morphine addicts.  There was violence, brawling, and yes even dueling.  There were sexual predators, sex addicts who frequented brothels and otherwise loitered in Boston’s “red-light” districts.  And of course, there was the abominable practice of slavery (a rejection of liberty in an absolute sense).  Sadly, even New England was scarred by this practice.

Opposing such behaviors stood many brave men and women who were beacons of light, truth, hope, liberty, and empowerment to help their fellow man overcome and be healed from the above mentioned behaviors and institutions.

It was an epic time to be alive, and amazing history unfolded which has materially changed the world.

While today finds us with very advanced technologies, surreal prosperity, and endless fountains of truth to be found, there are dark corners of the internet, forces pushing for eternal militarized conflict, and a blitz to censor free speech under the pathetic guise of “politically correct”/ “PC” culture.

Perhaps more significantly there is also the pervasive disintegration of the family unit as the base for morality training and temporal security.

In it’s place has arisen the hegemonic monster, the State.  Yes, there have always been governments.  But generally the actions of government were limited in that it had difficulty replacing family functions on a large scale.

What am I referring to?  Take for example our welfare society, today this includes various government sponsors programs, i.e. Social Security, Medicare, Welfare, Food Stamps (EBT cards), Disability, Medicaid, Section 8 Rental Assistance, and many other programs.

What is the outcome of all these government programs and institutions?  We still have poverty.  But the family unit is now in comparative shambles.  Why?  Because previous generations would place the responsibility of many of these things on the father of the family or on extended family in difficult circumstances.

Now that the government has given notice of taking over these responsibilities, many fathers who previously felt an obligation (whether through social pressure from their community or hopefully pressure they put on themselves) to care for wife and children, now (all too often) defer to the state to handle such critical responsibilities.

How do children and single mothers fare when the father has abandoned them?  Generally not well.  While a determined woman and/or child can accomplish great feats and even match or exceed others from nuclear families, the fact is that statistically it is far more difficult and less likely that they will.

More of these children will be impoverished.  More will be imprisoned.  More will have addictions.

Also, prior to massive government social programs for the elderly, parents would raise more children; in part, they were realizing that they would need children to take care of them in their old age.  With the state handling elder care to a much greater extent, many couples elect to have fewer children or no children at all.

Previously, individuals, churches, corporations and others would donate to fund hospitals, medicinal treatment for the poor and elderly, food and clothing given for the downtrodden as well.

While many wonderful individuals and organizations still do these things, it’s far less prominent in society as the state has in many ways destroyed true charity.

True charity is when someone gives or does something voluntarily from the goodness of their heart.

Both giver and recipient are empowered and lifted by such acts.

When the state steals from Peter to pay Paul, it robs the act of charity, crushing what would otherwise be uplifting, and instead creates resentment from those who involuntarily pay huge taxes and simultaneously creates entitlement among the recipients of such state run “benefits”.

Separately, the massive US military, and it’s companion military-industrial complex, both hallowed by many, is sadly a very real destroyer of families too.

Men (and an increasing percentage of women) thrown into the fog of war often experience and/or do horrible things; all while physically separated for long stretches at a time from their spouses and children.

They often come back broken physically, mentally, emotionally, and sadly many times don’t even come back.

For what?

For some powerful interest to hope to control or profit off something that wasn’t previously in their control or didn’t previously pad their pockets.

I’m speaking broadly, but the above examples happen all to frequently.

Oops, I just did it myself.  Back in the good old days when government was smaller, when the US didn’t police the world…

While the challenges change, there are forces for good and evil in every generation.

As I’ve mentioned in a prior post, the future is bright, there is so much force for good today.

So many avenues to pursue truth, to reach out to others, to seek peace, to improve oneself, to empower those around you.  It starts with being determined to make an impact in some area of life I control.

I’m unlikely to change the world.  But maybe I can positively impact somebody today.

I hope I can be a benefactor to this generation, particularly the individuals whose lives I actually touch.

I also hope to learn from the past; maybe I can then make my kids and grandkids world a little bit better.

They will have the option to themselves choose good and eschew evil.

The very same challenge of every generation before theirs.