Do you think America has lost it's innocence?

Question

If so, how? Technlogically, sexually, politically, ecologically, religiously? Why do you feel this way and what caused this to happen?

Answer 1

Our perception in the modern era is that there used to be a much simpler time and that we've lost our way. That's simply not the case. There was never an innocent time. There were technologically simpler times, but 18th century society was technologically advanced compared to its predecessors, as well. That, in itself, means nothing. I could go into all the categories you listed and argue why we were never pure of heart and deed in any of those areas, but it'd take too much time. Basically, I think people now romanticize a historical era in the way that we romanticize childhood, as though nothing bad happened when we were children. Clearly, that's not true. We just weren't as aware of it. And the same is true for history. Every generation has its problems.

I really disagree with a lot of people who responded here. We've lost our morals regarding sex? Relative to when? 100 years ago? 50 years ago? 2000 years ago? Ideas about morality change from society to society, from generation to generation. I'm sure that a very narrow span of history (1900-2007, for example) has convinced you that we've lost our morals regarding sex, but there was deviance then, there was deviance before then, and there is deviance now. I think the only difference between 50 years ago and now is that we discuss and display our problems much more openly now than ever before. Teen pregnancy was VERY COMMON 50 years ago.

Answer 2

Yes, but that is not a bad thing. It appears that the majority of the American people now recognize that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. If this is the case, then that shows that we have grown up as a nation. Almost everybody outside of the propagandists at the main$tream media networks and inside the beltway knows that the government has been lying us into wars during this administration (anybody who claims that the Iraq War wasn't built on lies, that we shouldn't leave immediately, or that it was justified to go in is either a propagandist for the government or an idiot). Most of the country did not believe those phony "terror plots" earlier this year (Fort Dix and JFK), as it was blatantly obvious that they were propaganda to scare the people into supporting the War Party (of course War Party members assume that the term only refers to the Republican half, but in fact it also refers to the Democrat half) yet again. Most of the country recognizes that there is no need whatsoever to attack Iran and does not believe the war propaganda.

However, all is not right at the moment. There is this idea that alot of the people have that nobody could possibly be worse than Bush. This is nonsense. Anybody who is watching the propaganda that is called "news" has been hearing all about 7 candidates, most of whom would definitely be worse than Bush (I do think that Obama and McCain could end up being slight improvements, but they are not good material to be president either). The media is ignoring the 8th major candidate for president, Ron Paul. He drew 2000-2500 people the other day during a rally after the debate at the University of Michigan. He's been drawing over 1000 people to his rallies no matter where they are held. He wins every online poll about the election and almost every Republican straw poll. He does this by running on a platform of taking us back to our roots as a country (which is why you never hear about him on the "news").

Answer 3

We've never been innocent, but we have been naive.

We began losing our naivete in stages beginning with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Then there were the murders of MLK and RFK in 1968. Then Woodstock and the moon landing in 1969, Kent State in 1970, Vietnam in the 60s & 70s, Watergate in 1974, the Iran Hostage crisis in 1979, 241 marines killed in Beirut in 1983, Lockerbie in 1988, Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Clinton-Lewinsky Cigar Contest in 1998 and GWBush Presidency from 2000 - present.

Answer 4

I was overseas in the late 1960's and people were saying basically the same thing then. We were losing technology to overseas companies, our politics were giving us a bad reputation world wide, and our morals were in the gutter. The United States was going to the devil and all our pollution is causing another ice age to begin in the late 70's or early 80's. Pres. Johnson was going to get us into a third world war. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Answer 5

What innocence would that be exactly? America started out with the genocide of native Americans,left Europe to escape religious prosecution but did exactly the same.All men are created equal unless you're of color or a woman.
In foreign policy it's always been economic interest first.America supported and even created some of the most bloody dictatorships in human History.
The ONLY country ever to have used Nuclear weapons
I ask again,what innocence?
Answer NO

Answer 6

All the things you listed. Of course people like the idjit above me blame it all on Bush. *sigh*
We started losing our innocence in the sixties. When "me" became more important than "we". When people's word became cheap and sex even cheaper.
When people figured out that the government was willing to help them and the only cost was the price of being held down to the poverty level they wanted you to be.
It's been going down hill since then and I could go on but I think you get the point

And we can not all live in oz and "all get along" like your other post suggests. We have never been able to that, and never will. There are evil people in this world and it's nothing new.

Answer 7

America lost it's innocence since WW 1, since Woodrow Wilson was president. We got ourselves involved in entangling alliances and messed around in wars that don't affect us on our mainland. That is also when the Federal Reserve bank was established and the federal income tax was born, to force Americans to pay for the war expenses.

The Federal Reserve is a conglomerate of many banks, and it serves the interests of the banks, although it says it serves the people. In fact, the ruling elite gained control of the money of the people.

The corruption of money began, with the introduction of fractional reserve banking. Once this is in place, those who control money can control the world.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173&q=freedom+to+facism+duration%3Along

Answer 8

Every country has lost some part of it's innocence.

Why? Freedom of choice.

Answer 9

Not really - keep up the struggle & stance against bush and gang!

Answer 10

Sexually, yes.

And that's mainly because of the destructive hippie, liberal statement: "Well if it feels good do it."

And look how much that saying benefited American society.

Years later, we have higher cases of STD's, teen pregnancies that sadly result in the murderous act of abortion, and rape incidents, and corrupted Young minds.