One-Minute Writer: The World Today

Is our world today a better or worse place than it was when you were a kid?

Given the violence in the world today, I could say that the world was a better place when I was a kid. But given the fact that I paid attention to only those things that I wanted to pay attention to when I was a kid, I really cannot say without a little research. Things always change and often in ways that people are either unprepared for or unhappy about. It is so easy to say that things used to be better. People say life was better in the 50s but I wonder if that was really true. Have people become sex-crazed and overtly violent since then or is it really just more socially acceptable? Who is to say that people weren't cheating on their spouses as often then? (particularly since divorce was a no no.) Women couldn't work and keep their self respect. There was segregation in the school system and racism was rappant and socially acceptable, among other things. These changes haven't created a violent society, though I'm sure some would argue that line of thinking. People have changed. The world has changed. It was one thing after another that brought us to where we are today. Better or worse, it's what we have today. If we want the future to be better instead of looking back at now as the "good times," then we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place.

Plus, when my mom was growing up, she couldn't wear jeans to school. And I definitely think that that made a giant impact on my childhood.