I now thank God my pop is dead and never lived to see what's happening to the country he fought for, 'twice'.
My dear Dad died in 2001, shortly after 9/11. He was a veteran of World War II, and often said that he had 'seen America's best days' (meaning that she is in sorry decline).
I have often said, as you voiced here, that the only fortunate thing about the fact that he is no longer living is that it would break his heart to see what has become of his beloved country in the mere five years since he passed away.
~ joanie
They'll see the United States of America in history books."
Which means they will never know the truth.
The history books are redacted while the history is still warm.
"My poor grandchildren will never know the country I grew up in."
You're right. Mine won't either.
How CAN we describe what the 50's were like - the innocence - pretty-much the "leave it to beaver" life, the afternoons on a bicycle, the warm summer evenings sitting outside on the porch just looking at the stars, the playing in the street, the neighbor kids getting together and doing - doing - whatever popped into their minds, and then finally realizing that it was getting late,- - - - - - going home to mom's cooking, having a nice warm bath and plopping into bed and falling asleep with the windows open and the front door unlocked, and then.....and then waking the following morning and starting-out on another day's "new adventure".
I fear that there won't be anything TO read that accurately says what America WAS. It will probably be referenced as failed-capitalism - doomed by the greed of the evil rich.