Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Generational praise is appreciated

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 8:57 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com.

Tom Brokaw was on television recently discussing his new book, which again tells the stories of people he has dubbed the "Greatest Generation." Brokaw is making us elderly folks look good with his praise. Makes one wonder why.

In looking back through those years of both depression and prosperity, war and peace, I believe we lived in a state of innocence. We trusted our public officials.

We honored our flag and proudly displayed it as a symbol of freedom and equality. We were taught to respect authority, including teachers and police officers. Most of us did not have keys to our homes.

We fed the hungry who came to our doors and cared for the less fortunate. Our young men went off to war with high ideals about democracy, while their wives stayed at home or worked in defense plants.

Religion, whatever the faith, was a constant in our lives. Families were bound together in mutual love. The word "sex" wasn't spoken with children present. Having children without benefit of marriage was strictly taboo.

We drank soft drinks instead of alcohol and ate candy instead of sniffing cocaine.

Crime did exist, but mostly in large cities. We were unaware of criminal activities and a world in conflict because we did not have the benefit of a TV screen to unfold violence.

We were innocents in a world that was seething with new ideas, new morality and new technology.

The "me" generation was ready to smother the "us" generation. In retrospect, I don't believe we were all that great, but we did have some values and ideals that modern society could do well to adopt.

Several friends were discussing the possibility of a power blackout and, among other things, the loss of air conditioning on a hot summer day.

One lady remarked that she wasn't worried as she recently installed ceiling fans. Her remark was indicative of how we all take electric power for granted.

Look around your home. Imagine preparing a meal. Your can opener won't work. Your stove is cold. The refrigerator is getting hot. The dishwasher is down.

There are no lights. Curling irons, electric toothbrushes, computers, TV, radio are all of no use. You can't go anywhere because gas pumps won't work, signal lights are down and businesses are closed. I don't begin to understand the whys and wherefores of the energy crisis. Who does? But, I do hope they keep those ceiling fans going.

Women are smarter than men. A Sun reader believes that, and sent the following as proof:

There were 11 people hanging onto a rope that came down from a helicopter. Ten were men and one was a woman. They all decided that one person should get off, because if they didn't the rope would break and everyone would die. No one could decide who would go, so finally the woman gave a really touching speech, saying how she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children -- giving to men without receiving anything in return.

When she finished speaking, all the men applauded. Never underestimate the power of a woman.