Frequently in my writings and speaking my role is that of a provocateur. In this essay my role is a debunker. The term "debunk" means to expose or ridicule the sham, falseness or exaggerated claims of, for example: a supposed miracle drug and show it to be at best a placebo and at worst deadly or somewhere on the continuum between the two.
There are three idom-like sayings that I propose to debunk in this brief. They are: (1) "the good old days," (2) "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" and (3) "the greatest generation." Many people, without a second thought, accept one or more of these cliches as being true and are committed to their defense. As defender-in-chief I will be a dare-devil and, in the words of a former President of the United States say, "bring-'em-on.
The "Good Old Days." This cliche in popular cuture refers to a time or period of a short or long duration, considered by the speaker to be better than the one he or she is currently experiencing. Whenever I hear the expression "the good old days" instantly two things come to my mine: (1) were they really "good old days?" and (2) if they were "good old days," for whom?
Some people who have nostalgia about the "good old days" fail to remember how people at that time, in their community or family, died prematurely for the lack of health care, the injustices forced upon them and/or their ancestors because of their gender, race, religion or nationality. Or, how their ancestors or they were forced to remain silent and live a subdued lifestyle when faced with threats from Ku Klux Klan, Nazi-style or kindred villains.
Personally, I have heard people talk about the"good old days," the period when I, during my teenage years, an African American, had to walk six miles each way to school because the school bus picked up only white children.
I ask, the "good old days" for whom? They were not African Americans, composing twelve percent of the United States population, who were denied the right to vote, frequent public libraries, public toilets, restaurants and forced to sit in the back of the bus. But equally troubling, was the fact that the majority of white people, in some communities or states, including professing Christians, north and south, refused to do so much as speak out against racism and for justice for all. Their legacy of the so-called "good old days," yes, when some people benefited from the labor of the victimized people who had no voice. They or their descendants long to return to those "good old days."
"Grass is greener on the other side of the fence." The idea is the neighbor's lawn is more desirable than mine. This idiom means that things always seem better elswhere, when they are beyond reach, and that if we could reach them we would be disappointed. This is a reminder to be satisfied with and thankful for what you have. And know it may be, in the words of the song, "You ain't seen nothing yet!"
Personally, I have from time-to-time, especially during my youthful years, cunningly eyed the "greener grass on the other side of the fence," but when I reflect on the lives of my contemporaries who I perceived to be on the "greener grass side of the fence," I rejoice not because of the tragic lives many of them lived but rather because of how blessed and, even favored, that I, who was not on what I perceived to be the "greener grass side of the fence" have been and continue to be. Sometimes this causes me to shout for joy. I realize that, in part, my salvation resulted from me not becoming entrapped by the "greener grass on the other side of the fence" syndrome and being grateful for what I had.
"The Greatest Generation." This too is a myth or illusion that I feel compelled to debunk. In the book by the title "The Greatest Generation," by the acclaimed newscaster Tom BroKaw, he states his thesis thusly: "It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced." He based his rationale on what happened during and shortly after World War II by heroes and heroines who won that War and went on to build modern America. Brokaw does not give due credit to peoples of other nations who fought and died to win World War II. I recall hearing my brother who was a soldier in the Philippines say that when General Douglas MacArthur said "We shall return" that he was one of the soldiers who never retreated from the front lines of battle. Sadly, my brother like many African American veterans were denied the right to vote, be a policeman or enjoy other rights white veterans enjoyed.
It just may be that the greatest generation, if there were one? came after World War II, beginning with those who boycotted the buses in Montgomery and participated in the Civil Rights Movement of the nineteen-sixties. They delivered more justice for people in the South and throughout America than had ever been available in America. But maybe they were nor great. For a certainty they did good work. I am reluctant to call them or their antecedents great. My view on this matter is expressed in the poem, "Who Is Great?" that I penned nearly a quarter of a century ago.
Who is great?
I went in search of the great ones,
I found kings and presidents, potentates and wise men:
I examined Halls of Fame and special cemeteries.
I embarked upon a journey to heaven and hell but was
told by the gate keepers,
"There are no great ones here. You are as great as
anyone here," a heavenly voice proclaimed, and added,
"But you are not great."
Now, I know for myself there is no great person, only
folk like you and me.
Even God who is great refused to use great when referring to his handiwork in Creation. Instead, after each day during Creation He said "And it was good, " except for the last day of Creation when He made man the masterpiece of Creation, "He said "And it was very good."
In the Good Book we are told that Jesus, who has a name above every other name, "went about doing good." (Acts 10:38)
I declare that a good man who is not great is a thousand times better than a (so-called ) great man who is not good. This assessment applies as well to a generation, any generation, all generations.
In the interest of evaluation, growth and service, let your repertoire embody good, better and best; your ever-present challenge be to do all the good you can, your aspiration be to pursue your potential to do better and your hope be to experience the best that is yet to come.
Copyright 2013 by Uriah J. Fields
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As for the, “Greatest Generation,” it is true that many Americans of every racial and ethnic background died overseas during World War II and at least two of my uncles suffered the results of the psychological effects of having been in battle that ruined their later lives. My father benefited from being at Teamster and making a good living driving truck, enabling him to lead a life of leisure after he reached 62 and my mother was 57. Like most of his generation, my father was quite materialistic and left my mother with practically nothing to live on after he died. She is supported partly by public assistance today. You are right, the greatest generation was the generation that followed and insisted upon civil rights for everyone and the breaking down of old barriers preventing the country from going forward. Why people choose materialistic values over humanitarian values, I've never been able to comprehend.
I too, have been guilty of looking over the fence at greener pastures. However, I tended to choose the rocky road for my path to the future and have been told that I was wrong more times than I care (including my father) to think about. Fortunately, in spite of 50 years of paralysis, I stayed gainfully employed, saved money, and got some lucky breaks that makes my side of the fence much better from this perspective that all those others.
Once again, yours is a great article that should be read by everyone because of the truth conveyed.
Ron