You may have seen the “1957 vs 2007” list, which has made the Internet rounds and implies that life was better back in the mid-20th century than it is now. Yes, in some ways 1957 was better than 2007, or today – higher education was affordable, housing was affordable, gas was cheap, and one could support a household on one income. However, that list mysteriously ignores the amount of social progress we have made since 1957 – civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, to say nothing of scientific progress. 1957 was a nice year to be alive in the USA, provided you were male, white and straight. If you were not all three of those, life was not necessarily a picnic.
Here are some scenarios that rebut the “good old days” nostalgia:
#1: Mr. Green, a Black man, walks into a restaurant.
1957: It’s for whites only. Mr. Green barely escapes the angry mob that chases him out.
Today: Mr. Green enjoys a nice dinner and leaves a generous tip.
#2: Two men go for a walk through a park.
1957: Other people assume they are gay. The pair are forced to flee for their lives.
Today: Two men enjoy a walk through a park. Some people assume they’re gay, but don’t give a rat’s behind.
#3: While eating out with his family, Mr. Jones suffers a heart attack.
1957: His wife has to beg the restaurant manager to use his phone to call the fire department. The ambulance rushes him to the hospital, but he dies.
Today: His wife whips out her mobile phone and mashes 911. Two other customers, who recently took a CPR course, keep Mr. Jones alive till the paramedics arrive. Mr. Jones recovers, makes some lifestyle changes, and lives long enough to see his grandchildren graduate high school. (He had good insurance, BTW; medical bills are another story to be told another day.)
#4: Suzie wants to be a scientist when she grows up.
1957: Her parents and teachers discourage her, even after she trots out examples such as Marie Curie and Annie Jump Cannon. She aces her science courses, but is refused membership in every science club she applies to. Despite great grades in school, she is turned down by every technical college and university. She winds up marrying an engineer because that is the closest she will ever get to her now shattered dream.
Today: Her parents give her science books and kits for her birthday and Christmas. She joins her school science club, aces her science classes, and comes in third in the state science competition. She matriculates at a prestigious engineering university, earns a Master’s, and gets a plummy job with a reputable research firm.
#5: William is autistic.
1957: He does poorly in school, where he is ruthlessly bullied. His parents put him in an institution.
Today: His teachers understand his difference. He does well in school, goes to college, gets a degree and a great job on graduation.
OK, anybody have other examples?
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