I'm a young man (twenty-two) and I can only imagine the trials and testings that await us in the years to come.
I'm 55. When I was a child, my Dad expressed the same sentiment as Peggy Noonan has just articulated.
And for that reason with faced with the facts; I have suggested to my children that they do no have children. It is a terrible thing to have to say. We want grand-children; however the USA is going to hell in a handbasket at a geometric rate. (sigh)
Just my opinion.
So 50 years ago, your father was speaking the same doom as Peggy? Perhaps he should have told you not to have kids. Do you regret having children? Have you asked for their forgiveness? Do they regret being born?
One of the side effects of Roe v. Wade may have been that fewer Democrats were born.
One of the side effects of pessimists not having kids is that the next generation may be more optimistic.
One of the side effects of religious people having more children may be the salvation of the country.
Cheer up! God knew we were all going to go to down the tubes, and He gave us a Savior. He also will win the battle of good over evil and defeat Satan and all the forces of Hell. And that is the most important battle and in the end the only one that counts.
Meanwhile, we can confidently do our best to confront the evils we see and can deal with, and not be overwhelmed by depression into nihilism and inertia which is the Devil whispering in our ear. Trust God. Do what you can. Look confidently into the future where He awaits us in triumph.
---"I'm 55. When I was a child, my Dad expressed the same sentiment as Peggy Noonan has just articulated."---
I'm 45 and my old man said the same thing to me when I was a teen! Once after he was done bemoaning the world for awhile I stopped him and said "Hey Dad, could we go down to the lake through the meadow and look at the grass and the trees and go fishing and THEN finish this conversation?" He just chuckled and said "I guess you got a point."
Things change and if we focus on the bad things that's what we'll see. And things won't always be easy - that's life.
A bit off topic but I remember talking with an old gal at church and said "I don't understand how kids can listen to that rap music". She said she the same thing about her kid's music, and her parents the same thing about HER music. I said "YOUR music?" She said she used to listen to Dorsey and the Big Band sound - her parents thought it was the Devil's music - not the symphony that they thought was REAL music!
Do you think that your grandkids would tell you once they reach the age of 18 that they would rather not have been born?