There have been many very good points made in this thread. I'm glad to see there are others who see whats happening and have suggestions for solutions. However, I feel we are far outnumbered by the sheep who wouldn't take action even if they managed to get a clue of the consequences of taking none.
Man-shame. Well...close.Kinda. I think rather the immasculinization of men is more the factor. The fact that males of our species and more commonly in the west are more frequently finding themselves unable to do "man things". I'm not blowing my horn here but, I can fix near anything, I do it for a living. I can build a house, rebuild an engine(and like doing it), do anything that I learned to do as a soldier, weld, build a house, sew, hunt it, kill it, dress it, cook it(eat it, mmmmmm), catch it, fillet it, operate any piece of heavy equipment and fly a plane.
Still not without culture, I can play a guitar, sing(so-so). hold the door for ladies, say please, thank you, yes/no sir/maam, respect my elders and look to them for wisdom and guidance. I am polite and well mannered but also like to drink, cuss and play poker. I try to help those less fortunate than I and render assistance to anyone in need. Take responsibility for my own actions, pay my debts, go to work every day, never cheated on my wife nor will I ever. I believe in freedom(at least as much as I have now, but no less) and I will fight to my last breath to defend it. I am a dying breed, plain and simple. My daughter thought that I would be proud that she found her a marine. I was. Until I realized he has not one gentlemanly trait. He also seems pre occupied with the latest music, the latest cell phone, "hangin out" with his budies,where he can buy the most expensive jeans that look like they are already wore out. And don't tell me "its just the fashion" B. friggin S. I can look like a hobo for a lot less. Vain and stupid. I feel sorry for them all. At his age I "got it" and there wasn't near the global urgency as today.
After returning home from the service I started to notice children in the store with no discipline. Incredibly rude and ignorant people. Even as a child/teenager my parents were complimented often by others of how well behaved my brother and I were. I now compliment other parents on how well thier children behave, its happened a whopping six times in fifteen years. Parents are now given a pass on bad parenting skills and blaming the latest syndrome that needs to be medicated. And it is getting worse.
I think all this may be directly linked to the growing population and the inability of the few to educate the many. My small town high school graduated 45 heads in 1985. Last year over 200, and the school is physically no larger!
The only scenario I have not seen yet is a civil war in the U.S. I think this may be a possibility if the economy continues to deteriorate. A depression like one in the 30's could hold the potential for such a thing or give a foreign power opportunity to sieze even more economic power, that in turn could be trigger for that or a larger conflict. What could preempt that would be if the jihadists get nukes. I think that would unify major powers as in WW2 including a once again ally in Russia and china will assuredly take an active role.
I guess in retrospect I could have just said in the first place that it is past time to thin the herd. This rocks gettin' crowded and violence and war will always the be ultimate solution. May sound awful but hey, that's history!
Is the west getting hammered? I hate to say it, but yes, and possibly for good reason. Either way I wish something would happen I'm getting bored and older and I only have a few more good fights left in me.
