Good Lord, I think of my father and mother, growing up in the Depression, who had lots of friends who liked to sing, dance, play musical instruments, go to movies, ---oh, take walks, even. Knew how to be friends, how to date and how to court ---Knew how to have a good time---
I'm rambling because I don't quite know what to say. This hang out, hook up thing isn't fun or liberated or anything. It's just depressing. Don't you think so?
Because a half century of feminist propaganda disseminated by the eduKKKrats have told them that's the way they should behave.
And how can I help my two teenage boys ---
I don't know if you can help them, other than making very clear the consequences like STD's and how much it will cost them if they get somebody knocked up. There are simply too many girls around who put out without asking for anything in return. Guys have always been this way. It was the girls who said no. If the girls don't say no, the guys sure as hell aren't going to.
You wrote:
“But why is it true?”
Because many teenagers have been led to believe that the old ways are boring, outmoded, and require too much effort and emotional investment.
“And how can I help my two teenage boys -—”
Teach them the old ways. Seriously, teach them to dance (ballroom dance). They’ll hate you now, but thank you later. If you have to, resort to outright bribery. It’s worth it.
“Good Lord, I think of my father and mother, growing up in the Depression, who had lots of friends who liked to sing, dance, play musical instruments, go to movies, -—oh, take walks, even. Knew how to be friends, how to date and how to court -—Knew how to have a good time-—”
Great. Now throw away your TV and computer and buy a piano instead. Sing as a family. No, I’m not kidding. I remember Professor John Senior giving that advice years ago:
“First, negatively, smash the television set. The Catholic Church is not opposed to violence; only to unjust violence; so smash the television set. And, positively, put the time and money you now spend on such entertainment into a piano so that music is restored to your home, common, ordinary Christian music, much of which is very simple to play.”
(Senior, Restoration of Christian Culture)
“I’m rambling because I don’t quite know what to say. This hang out, hook up thing isn’t fun or liberated or anything. It’s just depressing. Don’t you think so?”
Yep. I deal with it head on all the time. I know far too many teenagers in my town. They are wonderful kids in so many ways, but messed up too and so obviously tainted by this world.
Teach them morals, and how to be polite and kind. Don't push them into becoming involved with girls, let it happen when they're ready. There's not much more that you can do.
Good Lord, I think of my father and mother, growing up in the Depression, who had lots of friends who liked to sing, dance, play musical instruments, go to movies, ---oh, take walks, even. Knew how to be friends, how to date and how to court ---Knew how to have a good time---
Yes, well ... our kids are growing up in a degraded, decadent culture. There are many influences causing that; most notably the garbage on your television set. Do you think that kids who grow up watching Sex in the City are going to know how to interact with the opposite sex in a wholesome or healthy way? Of course not.
Turn the TV off, or throw it away.
I think one of the things that has happened since our parents’ day is that formal dances are no longer an ordinary part of adult social life, in most cases. When I was growing up, my parents went to formal dances three or four times a year. I haven’t been to a similar occasion in my whole life.
At one time, high school dances were, to some extent, a rehearsal for adult socializing, but I don’t think that’s true anymore.