Progress

My students reflected
Our American society,
I observed them over
Almost 50 years and
Noticed a decline in
Pride and trust in all
Facets of our society.
We have become sadly
Cynical where before
We were properly skeptical,
Faith in progress has
Waned and a negative
Attitude is now fashionable.
I tried to point out objectively
That the overall human
Condition today is vastly
Advanced from the start
Of history 6,000 years ago.
Better nutrition, medicine,
Education, government,
Laws, and so on but my
Students seemed to think
Things were getting worse.
Logic and reason they
Ignored because of TV
And other media giving them a negative view of our institutions.
They were proud only of their
Disdain and contempt for
Their parents and humanity’s
Progress over six millennia.
The brightest understood
But most preferred to cling
To their illusions rather than
Do an objective analytical
Comparison of 2015 with
1915 or 1715 AD or 1215 BC.
They were too fond of any
Rumors of a deep state or
Conspiracies and too fond
Of futility that allowed them
To avoid hard work as useless.
Why? I think many were raised
By TV or gizmos because their
Mothers had to work for their
Families to survive due to
The rich getting richer at
The expense of the middle
Class, the bedrock of America.
Commercials on TV used to be
Limited to a smaller proportion
Of each hour and now seem
Way too frequent and scattered
About instead of just before each
Hour to allow snack prep time.
Such things are annoying but
Do not mean things are worse
Now than in 1815 at the start
Of a hundred years of peace
Among European powers.
Progress has been steady
Over millennia though temporary
Step backs have occurred.
I suppose the less character
One has the greater one’s
Need for immediate gratification.
Perhaps American character
Has declined and our goal should
Not be the acquisition of
Material objects but the raising and education of our children.
Or, perhaps I’m just getting old.