Author Topic: American youth (Read 4465 times)

jman123 · « **on:** December 27, 2011, 07:24:59 PM »

this is the state of american youth today. What do you think?

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2011, 11:36:23 PM »

Very far from the generation that matured in the 1950's.

Check out this photo. I would say a very healthy, and spiritual youth.

John Grace · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2011, 09:09:12 AM »

It's a necessary time for Catholics to be propagating the social teachings among the youth.

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2011, 12:36:47 PM »

Keep posting these garage-sale pictures, 1953! I love 'em!

s2srea · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2011, 02:32:27 PM »

This video (and discussion) has less to do with the state of "American Youth" than with the state of American Parenting. Seems as if elders constantly try to blame everyone but themselves.

If this kid had proper upbringing, he would almost certainly not act that way.

I think most of those here in their 20's didn't act like this, at least I never did. It wasn't because I was different than my fellow American youth, but I had a different (more disciplined) upbringing.

Vladimir · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2011, 03:29:50 PM »

Something has happened in the last century and it is very disturbing.

I have in possession a book entitled Sex Training in the Home. It was published in the very early 20th century. Though secular, it reads like a manual published by the Church. This was aimed helping fathers and mothers raise respectable and modest children.

After WWII everything seems to be garbage.

The trend seems to be reflected in the music as well. Popular music from the early 20th century, though not at a Catholic ideal, still produces some catchy, even if a little quaint and sentimental, songs (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Stardust, Beautiful Ohio, 3 o'Clock in the Morning, Why do I love you?, Autumn Nocturne, etc).

After WWII American music turned to filthy or nonsensical lyrics set to a meaningless and mediocre "beat" (this just shows how uncivilized modern music lovers are - they require that a metronome that is louder than the actual music continually keep time for them - they complain that there is no "beat" in "classical music" and fail to realize that enjoying a piece of music that has been perfected precludes listening to it with a metronomic beat which should be confined to practice, or if necessary in performance, kept completely visual) coupled with boring musical themes.

s2srea's comment is very interesting and reminiscent of what one can learn from an ancient Confucian primer for young children, the 3 character Classic.

http://ctext.org/three-character-classic

From the first stanza:

Quote

Men at their birth
are naturally good.
Their natures are much the same;
their habits become widely different.

If foolishly there is no teaching,
the nature will deteriorate.
The right way in teaching
is to attach the utmost importance in thoroughness.

It was the constant drilling of texts like this, the Classic of Filial Piety, and the stoires of the 24 filial exemplars that made ancient Chinese children be known as the most polite children in the entire world.

Even though the majority of the populace of ancient China was illiterate, the oral tranmission of these writings and stories instilled in the soul a strong basis of the natural law.

When a child grows up being told stories like these:

http://anthro.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/shiaw/xiaocontents.html

at bed-time he will be very different than today's children who are pounded by garbage or just nonsense in story books and television.

sedetrad · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2011, 05:15:19 PM »

I agree with what you have wrote with one exception for ancient Chinese pagan lit:

Men at their birth
are naturally good.

As Catholics, we know that we are fallen and wicked at birth.

Sigismund · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2011, 06:03:38 PM »

I watched several of the videos. I should probably go to confession for that. I find myself feeling a great deal of sympathy for Stephen's brother. I should definitely go to confession for that.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2011, 01:13:59 PM »

Quote from: sedetrad

I agree with what you have wrote with one exception for ancient Chinese pagan lit:

Men at their birth
are naturally good.

As Catholics, we know that we are fallen and wicked at birth.

Children do not know evil. I interpreted it as saying that little children are innocent, not as a denial of original sin (though I doubt Confucius believed in it).

Sigismund · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2011, 05:07:42 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

This video (and discussion) has less to do with the state of "American Youth" than with the state of American Parenting. Seems as if elders constantly try to blame everyone but themselves.

If this kid had proper upbringing, he would almost certainly not act that way.

I think most of those here in their 20's didn't act like this, at least I never did. It wasn't because I was different than my fellow American youth, but I had a different (more disciplined) upbringing.

Since we are having a disagreement on another thread, I thought I would mention how vigorously I agree with your statement on this one. :applause:

Lybus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2011, 08:17:37 AM »

It certainly doesn't help that the Great World Wars wiped out entire generations of strong father figures.

stevusmagnus · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2011, 09:29:40 AM »

Kids in the video need severe corporal punishment and if that doesn't work, military school. If the 60's generation was spoiled, I can't bear to see what the future holds with these losers running things. We are headed to decline as a nation and may reach it faster than expected.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2011, 10:38:37 AM »

Quote from: stevusmagnus

Kids in the video need severe corporal punishment and if that doesn't work, military school. If the 60's generation was spoiled, I can't bear to see what the future holds with these losers running things. We are headed to decline as a nation and may reach it faster than expected.

That boy is BEGGING for a whipping. The mother is only whining after he deliberately destroyed and expensive vacuum cleaner. I had to break off and post to get my heart rate down.

I blame Dr. Spock for the permissive 60's American culture. (not all of it of course)

:scared2:

Santo Subito · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2011, 11:02:54 AM »

I'm willing to bet that this family has a father who is either detached, weak or absent. If there were a strong father in this home when these kids were growing up, there is no way they would disrespect their mother in this manner. If they did, they would know they were going to get the wrath of Hell when he came home. These kids do not fear their parents in any way, just as our modern world does not fear God.

sedetrad · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2011, 11:17:35 AM »

As a child, the worst thing that could happen was for me to incur my fathers anger. He was not a violent man, but a strong father definitely will stop many of the above shenanigans. My father had but to look at me and I would behave. I was also a parent pleasing first born child, so I did not like it when either of my parents were not happy with me.