They and their peers walked through this world as living examples of respect, hard work, frugality and selfless service. Their children, Baby Boomers like me, were given every opportunity to carry on their legacy.We, as a generation, failed them.
We sabotaged our nation, living as if we're entitled to what our parents worked to achieve. Raised by good stewards, we became addicted to consumption and irresponsible acquisition.
We presumed that the "American Dream" was our birthright, that "American exceptionalism" was in our DNA, willfully ignorant of the fact that both were earned through preceding generations' sacrifices.
As we grow older we see what we've done, who we've become. We struggle to right our self-absorbed ship and teach our kids, belatedly, what our parents taught us.
It's having little effect, of course -- and is it any wonder? They've been watching us. In their eyes we have no credibility on the subject.Because our example is missing, the lessons are lost on them and probably for another generation at least. Perhaps our children will pass through trials of their own -- economic collapse, terrorism on these shores or other crises -- and build a new American ethic that'd make their grandparents proud.
I'm not optimistic about that.
(See hundreds of other wartime posters here on The American Legion's website.)
