The perspective of past Morris residents, re. today?

"kiosk" at McDonald's

You may have seen the quality home movie, now transferred to video, of the 1947 Diamond Jubilee parade in Morris. I was expecting something rather crude-appearing. But it is very sharp and in color. Sort of blew my mind to watch it. Did you notice the unit in which everyone wore Indian headdresses? Would be considered not politically correct today. 

To watch this thing, you'd think everyone was just as content as people are today. Or, maybe more so. The thought crossed my mind that "men were men and women were women." As a flat-out fact this was true: gender roles were far more understood. Is that better? I am not suggesting it was better, just that it was different. 

The best example of what I cite: women were not offered any serious sports activities. If you're my age, think back to your age peers from when you were young: how many of the females could have been quite fine athletes? It would have been life-transforming for some. But the outlet did not exist. So, how did they fill all the time they could have devoted to sports? 

Consider those 1947 people and how they would react if they could time-travel to the present-day and look around. Gender roles are greatly diminished today. Wiped out? Perhaps that's not overstatement. I wrote not long ago about the lack of fashion-consciousness among people of today. "Utilitarian" would describe the approach. Throw on clothes that "work." Such as, a sweatshirt maybe one size too big. Men and women alike are dressed as such. Sweat pants also. 

Anything wrong with this? I am not suggesting there is. 

Maybe some of us older folks think fondly of the times when there were more gender contrasts with how people dressed. I was in high school when the "mini-skirt" phase took over among girls. Boys were presumably quite pleased. 

I rue the times when clothes, especially among the youth, were expected to be tight-fitting, form-fitting. This seemed quite essential for a period of time. I mean, to pull on a too-large sweatshirt would seem rather sloppy. We might forget those times, how, if you happened to be wearing loose-fitting clothes for some reason, you'd be teased. Pants were marketed as "slim-cut." 

It wasn't even practical: shirts that are form-fitting develop perspiration odor much faster than if they're looser. The difference is quite marked really. 

 

Are they "trousers?"

Boys could have a hard time buying pants: bluejeans were preferred by many of us but they were prohibited by many schools' "dress code." The CW on this is that biker-themed movies like with Marlon Brando made jeans seem like a symbol of rebellion. The older folks greatly feared rebellion by the youth, the latter targeting the Vietnam war. We can forget that it was risky to openly oppose the war up until a certain year when the war was quite advanced. The best movie to get background on this is "Born on the Fourth of July." 

For boys, the best way to "get around the dress code" was with "corduroys." How strange, how stupid: I mean, the purpose of pants is to just cover your legs. So why all the angst associated with choosing them? You wouldn't want to be caught in school hallways wearing "dress slacks" either: that was for "church." Again, you'd be teased. Is the word "trousers" preferable? I hate that word. Such a simple concept: just to cover your legs.

How would the Morris citizens of 1947 react to learning how hard it is for churches to find ministers now? We could never have foreseen this. In my own church of First Lutheran, we were advised recently that many churches are turning to "lay leadership." Yes, no minister at all! Will that work? 

At present I have bigger fish to fry with church involvement. The manner in which so many Christian churches have become filled with strident Trump supporters bothers me. The people have completely lost the ability to think critically. It's as if this very flawed human being named Donald Trump has become an extension of God to them. 

The young generation has definite issues with this. Mainly it's the older folks who pound the table and insist that the Trump Republicans have total power in the U.S., even if it means erasing democracy. Do you all really think this will make your lives better? 

You shouldn't even be worrying about politics, you should be worrying about the Federal Reserve, the central bank. The official rate of inflation now is 7.5 percent, at last check. Very strong arguments can be made that it's higher. And don't you notice, and aren't you concerned about, "phantom inflation," otherwise known as "shrinkflation." You pay the same but get less. 

 

People-less service of today

What would the people of 1947 think of the ATMs? Or the self-checkout at the grocery store? Or the ordering "kiosks" at McDonald's? You know what frays me recently? How when you go into the Morris McDonald's, there's a big hand-prepared sign at the counter: "kiosk only." I have had to walk out of there 3-4 times when I have seen this. I did this just last night, then went to the Willie's deli which is always a great backup. 

I tried the McDonald's kiosk once and got confused. 

A Willie's clerk assisted me once with self-checkout but I'd be hopeless doing it on my own. 

I still go into the bank, Riverwood, to get cash. Remember the days when a bank would pay you some interest on your savings? If you wonder why inflation is so bad, you should know it's connected almost 100 percent to near-zero percent interest. The low interest rates are intended to protect the masses of people who have elected to put their money in the stock market, as with 401Ks. Well congratulations, your "portfolio" might seem real sound. And you'll continue thinking that, until you notice that a loaf of bread at the store costs $30. Then maybe you'll realize how you've been "played" by the whole industry that pushes stock investing. 

I like banks because they can pay a little interest into your checking account every month. And that is money you can spend, which is the kind of money that I appreciate. Think of the days when you might get paid 4-5 percent interest with a passbook account. Is that so bad? At present, it looks like we are going to find out what would have happened if Paul Volcker had not come along in the early '80s. I think it's scary territory. 

Ah, the days when "men were men and women were women." Sounds corny. In an objective way it was not desirable or preferable at all. But it makes you think twice. Think about it as you "hover" with others around Caribou Coffee, waiting for your latte order, while looking down at your "phones." How the 20-somethings of today flock there. What would the Morris residents of 1947 think?

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com