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The Geatest Generation
By Joe Renna
This paper is dedicated to preserving the legacy of first and second generation Americans. It documents their struggles and the hardships of their immigrant parents. They worked hard and fought in pursuit of their dreams. Later generations need to build on this foundation and not squander the opportunity to obtain loftier pursuits.
The motivation for the former generations was survival. Choices
were few. Individual liberty was sacrificed for collective freedom.
The lengths to which men and women have gone to achieve their
goals are epitomized by veterans of world wars, by people impoverished
by the depression and by "The Greatest Generation."
When faced with challenges, they did what they had to do.
There has been, is and always will be individual hardship. Even
social and cultural skirmishes will continually surface, but,
up until 9/11, our American lifestyle has not been challenged.
Our response to terror has been so sophisticated that the lifestyle
of a large majority of the population has not been effected, contrast
to the mobilization of the nation after Pearl Harbor. This is
a tribute to our armed forces and government.
For the past 30 years America has prospered in an environment
free of major turmoil, a luxury earned during the previous sixty
years. The questions that need to be answered focus on what have
we done with these advantages. As a nation we became stronger,
technically advanced and more concentrated on social services.
As individuals we have become soft, materialistic and self-centered.
It is a paradox that the two aspects of one culture can move in
different directions for is it not people who make up the government?
The government is a system. Just a small portion of the population
work in the system. The rest are free to do what they will. As
population grows the ratio between the two groups gets larger.
There is deservedly much appreciation that could be poured on
those people who, officially or non-officially, work for the benefit
of others. This appreciation should be shown. But there are those
who choose not to get involved. And though we may oppose their
choice not to be community-minded we must accept it. It is their
right to choose that is of value. There should not be disdain
for those who are not so community-minded.
Opulence is distasteful. I don't mean to criticize wealth, but
there's an appropriate limit at which personal possession becomes
inhumane. It is not up to anyone to say what that limit should
be for another person. The individual is free to judge for himself.
Millionaires deserving of their riches should enjoy them. The
same opportunity is afforded every person. It makes them no less
a human being than someone living modestly. The responsibility
that the wealthy person has, as does everyone, is to society.
It is arrogant for an affluent person to think they acquired wealth
independent of society. Wealth is a constant in the universe.
It only shifts though possession. Do leaders of industry realize
that their fortunes are built by accumulating small amounts of
other people's money? Industries are built on the backs of laborers.
Sometimes the benefactor is so far removed from the source of
his wealth that it becomes difficult to correlate the two.
Don't mistake this for a communist doctrine. On the contrary I
encourage everyone in their pursuit of happiness. I just hope
they don't think they will find it by accumulating money.
The riches of this great nation are its people. We can find all
the happiness we seek by helping others find theirs.
Not for Nothing But...
having success in life is worth nothing if there is no value in
it.