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You guys must have had it pretty good when you were young. I was rarely allowed to watch the tiny B&W TV that my parents kept hidden in their bedroom. I do remember hearing people talk about seeing some of those shows...

I'm with you David, simpler times, simpler life and probably better in many ways too. Come to think of it, until just recently, almost all of the 20+ cars I've owned have been either black and white or somewhere in between....
If you turned the television on before prime time (8 PM) and caught some news, you also learned ...

People were persecuted (made public examples) by McCarthy for the "ideas" they held.

There was extreme pressure on evedrybody to "conform" to rigid social values, ideas, dress codes, rules of conduct, etc. Many of the beloved television shows reinforced the pressure to conform.

A common fear expressed by adults was "what will people think?"

Children, young adults, were shunned by their parents, made to feel like criminals or social outcasts because they refused to conform to simple things, like dress codes. Or because they were brave enough to express non-conforming ideas. After all, "what will people think?"

Song writers, story writers, poets learned to express non conformist ideas "between the lines" because if they had expressed themselves openly, they would have been CENSORED.

Young adults were gunned down by police & national guard on college campuses, for exercising the freedom of speech. The ultimate form of censorship and fear.

An idealistic President, who wanted to do what was right, instead of what was "expected" of him, was publicly assasinated.

People lived in so much fear they built Bomb Shelters!

The schools conducted monthly "bomb drills" where the children dropped under their desks and tucked their heads between their legs. More fear!

Polio reached epidemic proportions and took the lives of many children.

Those who survived Polio might not have survived Viet Nam, the war that tore our country apart.

The government did nothing while cigarettes were being marketed everywhere and lung cancer was rampant.

Race riots burned several major cities.

One of the century's greatest leaders, a man who tried to inspire racial peace and the achievment of racial equity by peacful means, was also assasinated for inspiring people to higher ideals. The leaders who promoted hate, fear and violence lived on.

Lucy & Desi were divorced. Sonny & Cher too.

Superman was found dead in his bed room, bullet in the head.

Elvis was addicted to various drugs originally prescribed by his doctors.

The child actors of the era later told story after story of emotional abuse and worse; they were worked to death and their money squandered by parents & agents. Most developed substance abuse problems very early in their lives.

The Lone Ranger was hauled into court by his former producers after the show had been cancelled because he continued to wear his mask and entertain children.

Comedians Abbott & Costello were targeted & ruined by the Internal Revenue Service.

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Last edited by George P
George...George! Your memory is accurate but on the wrong focus. During those times I got my first car, got laid the first time, fell in love more times than I can count and had a phenomenal few years of great experiences. Yes, it was during the Viet Nam years that I was paralyzed but, in the words of Jimmy Buffett, "some of it was tragic...some of it was magic but it it's been a good life all the same".
Hey, I still love you, man.
Glenn
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