The American Poet

Wisdom Lost Out Henry Thoreau pointed out his generation laughed about the modes of dress of previous generations, but seemed oblivious of the “head monkey” in Paris dictating fashion and so many following slavishly, oblivious to how their own ideas of “fashion” might be ridiculed by a following generation. But people have ever been judged by appearance and there is nothing for it despite the oftentimes impractical. For example having to wear a tie has never been high on my list of needed appointments in attire, the practical bowing to fashion, though there is no discounting the importance of such a thing deemed proper dress in many cases; and slovenly dress as disrespect for the time, place, and other people is unacceptable. Manner of speech will overcome manner of dress, provided the speaker has a chance to prove themselves before being judged entirely by fashion, and good manners in both speech and behavior has made princes and princesses of those unable to dress the part. And as to speech, vocabulary remains a prime indicator of the degree of intelligence; but not vocabulary as ostentatious display which is quickly understood as the lack of good manners such as condescension or patronizing. Grace Metalious’ 1956 novel Peyton Place was called a “blockbuster” being the second such so named, the first being Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind in 1936. In just a relatively short period of time between the two blockbuster books how very much of private and public mores and fashions changed, WWII certainly making an enormously profound contribution to these changes. What has not changed is perception based on how one dresses and speaks; how one is judged by courteous manners toward others evidencing proper respect for civilized proprieties in society. So many are now calling attention to the lack of good manners in society, to the increasing lack of civility and courtesy in our society you need only read Peyton Place or watch the film to gain some appreciation of the change in America over the last fifty years. To watch the film now especially tugs at your heart with poignancy if you are anywhere near my age, or the young might find it ridiculous people could ever have actually lived the seemingly simplistic time portrayed; could young people have ever been so naïve about sex or an entire town so sensitive to gossip? Just to watch the scenes involving that high school in the fifties and the behavior in high schools today makes those my age cringe at what has been lost, but is laughable to those younger. Could high schools have ever been like that portrayed in the film? Could such a small town America have ever existed in reality? Could there really be such noble people like the doctor, and a doctor rebuking a girl for asking for an abortion, then performing the abortion risking his license to practice medicine in order to save not the physical life of the girl, but her right to live free of the results of being raped by a stepfather? But for those of us who have lived that time in such places like Peyton Place, we know people like the doctor did exist and we mourn the loss of such people with their “simplistic morality.” Good people like the doctor and high school principal, the other good people in Peyton Place would now be sued for following the dictates of their consciences, they would be sued and lose their jobs or even go to prison for their “simplistic morality.” When I was a boy in Old Kernville Elementary School a boy was rebuked by our principal Mr. Wallace for wearing his Levis too low. The boy and his family today would have the ACLU hauling Mr. Wallace into court. Mr. Wallace would be at the least made to apologize to the boy and his family, the school district would be sued for “damage to the boy’s psyche,” and Mr. Wallace would probably be looking for work elsewhere. But “way back then” those like Mr. Wallace were genuinely concerned about the larger issues impacting on children, things like a boy attempting to wear his pants too low. Mr. Wallace knew the social implications of such a seemingly minor thing; he knew the inherent dangers of the age old story about the camel being permitted to get its nose in the tent. In just such a relatively short period of time American society has degenerated into one in matters of speech, dress, and behavior rivaling that of nations considered “barbaric.” But like dear Harper Lee, I point to the failure of our universities and their product schools no longer being in the business of real education, no longer seeming to be concerned about boys wearing their Levis too low or girls wearing their skirts too short. And to attempt now to confront such things is to wind up in court. It is too easy for those today to point to my generation as quaint and anachronistic because we believed boys and girls should be encouraged in matters of modesty and civilized good manners and speech, in observing the proprieties of a civilized society. But those my age know the realities of what has been lost by not encouraging these things in children, we know the importance of heritage, culture, language, and secure borders; we know America has been betrayed by greedy politicians and their corporate bosses. And we recognize the depth of the ignorance of those who would have us believe there was no harm being done by a boy trying to get away with wearing his Levis too low. Jesus confronted his accusers and detractors saying “Wisdom is justified of her children.” America’s heritage, culture, even our English language and our borders are being betrayed, our very identity and sovereignty as a nation being threatened. Wisdom is indeed justified of her children. Yes, hypocrisy was confronted in Peyton Place, but prurient interests and motives aside Mr. Wallace was correct in confronting that boy. And while those of us like dear Mr. Wallace attempt to confront those in America demanding the “right” to wear their Levis too low, it seems that we are losing the battle to the minority that have the lawyers, politicians, and media on their side. And throughout wisdom is conspicuous by its absence, the wisdom of Mr. Wallace has lost out to boys wanting to wear their Levis too low.