portions of this post were originally inspired by rick at myrtle beach ramblings and his post, “would another depression be so bad?”
Women in the Great Depression by ~eternalfire42 on deviantART
last weeks sunday scribblings asked that we choose a time in history that we would like to go back to if given that opportunity… so,, when i sat down to write this,, i was going to answer emphatically,, the roaring twenties….. after all,, flappers,, speakeasies,, bathtub gin,, real gangsters,, the height of the jazz age- who wouldn’t??? if any era in our history has impressed me as a time when a woman could break out from the societal norms in truly glamorous style,, i would have to say that point in time,, in my opinion,,, was the roaring twenties…
however,, as i prepared to write this piece,, i decided to do a little research on that time period,, and i was a bit taken a back by wikipedia’s description of that period,, “as an era of great economic prosperity driven by the introduction of a wide array of new consumer goods….. and (its) society acculturated into consumerism.” whoa….. that sounds a little too familiar…
without the aid of time travel,, it immediately became evident, that i have in fact lived thru,, the modernization of exactly that…. and as i look around me,, and i see people losing their homes,, lines of credit being dissolved,, interest rates skyrocketing,, banks failing,, and stock markets crumbling,, even the failed war on drugs (tho in those days they called it prohibition) i begin to realize,, that the economic crisis we are experiencing at present,, is not at all far removed from that which we saw following that period of glamorous excess that we call the roaring twenties…. the great depression….
it was then that i remembered, that when the stock market crashed in 1929, my great grandmother was about as far from being a glamorous, fun loving flapper as anyone could be.. she was a twenty-nine year old, widowed, mother of two young children. she was raising my grandmother and my aunt rita in a second floor, cold water flat,, and working five days a week at a fasteners plant to supplement her deceased husbands small pension from the fire department. yet, even though our country was embroiled in one of the worst economic upheavals in its history during the years that she was raising her children, alone,, the words, “the depression” never really entered into the stories she told us over and over again as we grew up and gleaned the history of our family from the vast storehouse of her memories..
i never really understood the importance of that omission until recently.. you see,, when the depression hit,, my great grandmother, was already among the working poor.. those that made enough to keep afloat and have a drink or two on a friday night on the way home from the shop.. she had immigrated here from ireland as an eight year old child,, and had never known anything but poverty.. she had nothing to lose..
although i know she had dreams,, she was not raised to believe that she was entitled to attain greatness or riches simply because she had made the long grueling trip to america.. tho’ she had fantasies,, she knew the difference between delusions of grandeur and what she could expect to attain given her lack of higher education, current rate of pay, and social status.. she worked hard, played hard,, and raised two happy, healthy, well adjusted daughters,, who followed in her footsteps and did the same…
it was not until the great depression had become a yellowed page in a history book,, and those that had actually lived through it as adults, were well on their way to old age, that the children of the sixties decided to ‘fix’ things and openly rebel against all of the societal norms.. it was not until the seventies that we began to really believe that we were born entitled to equality, individual freedom of expression, and sexual indulgence.. it was not until the eighties that we began to supplement those entitlements with vast quantities of props and became willing to attain them at all cost.. it was not until the nineties that we began to pervert those freedoms and entitlements to such a degree that we became willing to sacrifice our integrity and common sense in order to attain them… thus bringing us full circle as we headed into the new millennium…. i do not think that there is anyone among us that will deny the fact that we are once again living in “an era of great economic prosperity driven by the introduction of a wide array of new consumer goods….. and (our) society (has) acculturated into consumerism.”
i guess it is for that reason that i secretly hope we are headed for a great depression.. one of such epic proportion that it will put even the original great depression to shame.. one that will cause those of us that have come to define ourselves by the position we hold,, the cars we drive,, the clothes we wear,, the food we eat,, or the cell phone our children take to school with them,, to see that the blind pursuit of ‘bling’ has caused us to leave what is really important behind.. our humanity.. one that might cause us to stop and examine the ideals that this consumerist insanity is instilling in our children.. one that just might level out the playing field a bit,, and force us all to become part of the “change” everyone seems to be talking about….
i know,, history is bound to repeat itself.. i know that the generations to come will forget about the present economic hardships and the lessons instilled upon those of us that make it through this as quickly as we forgot about the lessons learned by our ancestors who lived thru the original great depression.. but i am thinking, that if we could get just three well grounded, intelligent, decades of human beings in between now and then,, it just might be worth anything i have to sacrifice to get it…..
October 19th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Is this America on the South Beach Diet…hope so. We have gotten so fat and arrogant, it is truly time for change and reawakening.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Extremely well written piece of history. Indeed, the WE have become rich and arrogant but many of the US live in the bosom of a place which could gentle the many. I worry about the people who barely hang on to a shred of bread and the latchkey children who learn to steal in order to eat. I hope it doesn’t go so deep…again, excellent job!!
October 19th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I understand your feelings Pais….but with the mindset of the average well to do citizen in America, if another Great Depression falls upon us; our children will not survive, we might not survive - as we are not made of the “stuff” our forefathers and mothers were made of. The poor like myself will suffer most; drugs will become even more prevalent - as misery loves comfort . . . and the monies still have to flow. The rich will ensure that drugs are sold and imported even more once their usual way of obtaining monies shrink - we don’t own planes or ships– but it will certainly still be available; even more so. People will be dehumanized to work for little or nothing; perhaps a loaf of bread. . . let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water - there has to be a better way. The Great Depression was glamorized in a sense, as all past periods often are. Women were beaten, children were abused, blacks only worked in positions of servitude. Sick people died without treatment, people waited in lines for bread and walked for miles for work. My children’s generation would not survive such - they are not acclimatized to such; it would be a culture shock of destruction causing great pains, wars and battles. My great grandmother earned a nickle a week to scrub floors for New York well to dos - of course she “appreciated” every cents - but I’m sure she would not want those times to come back around. I can’t see the now generation being able to cope. But then again, maybe. Maybe it will weed out the weak and leave the strong in character. Who knows. . . interesting ponder. As always, peace, light and love. . . CordieB.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Really enjoyed this, Paisley. I love hearing about my family’s past, writing about it.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I see where you are going on this and I agree about history repeating itself. I just worry that society is too different to get the wake up call. Interesting post Jodi!
October 19th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I have been wishing and preparing for a socio-economic collapse of some sort for quite awhile . Presently, I feel compassion for those who would be wrecked as a result of trimming the fat. Many of my friends lost an enormous amount of money 2 weeks ago, and they are crushed. I feel so sorry for them, that I would hate to see this happen on a larger scale. I loved the historical insights you presented. Great Job !!!
October 19th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
well aside from the roaring twenties, I would have liked to live in the 60’s. I don’t know if we are headed into another great depression or not, and I sincerely hope not. I would HATE if my parents LOST all of their retirement money that they have worked their whole lives for.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I really believe that if we were to sink into a similar economic crisis as the Great Depression, the truly wealthy would be fine. Heck, my boss - who is ridiculously wealthy - has moved most of his money overseas. I would worry about the very poor up to the middle class. Some of us would figure out a way to cope based on our survival insticts, but many I’m afraid would not. Probably the ones we would never have wanted to suffer any further.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Holy cow, I think my comment was just lost…
October 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Let’s try again…I think that if we were to sink into a similar economic crisis like the Great Depression, it would be the very poor to the middle class who would suffer the most. The wealthiest, like my boss who has transferred most of his cash overseas, would be fine. I’m afraid that those who would suffer the most would be those have always struggled. Some of us have enough survival instinct in us to pull through, but many are barely hanging on. Those are the ones I would be deeply concerned about.
October 19th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
The poor will always be with us and a new global depression is inevitable. But please don’t wish for it to come. As political climates change and the arms race hots up, as it did after the great depression you speak of, not least in Germany and Japan and we all know what happened next!
October 19th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
This is such a scary time we live in! Great post and I expecially loved reading about your great grandmother and what she went through and how dignified she made her life!
October 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
well written piece, paisley, providing lots of fodder for anyone to just stop and think for a while… I am scared about what the future holds economically… I moved to the U.S. 2 years ago, and its mindblowing to see “the best country in the world” is such terrible shape economically, spiritually, socially, etc etc…
October 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
as in most things including life there are ebbs and flows..sometimes when you ride the big wave the next one takes a little while to come along….
October 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
This is well-written history-based philosophy. Something similar was expressed in the Oct.20 edition of Newsweek in the featured article by Fareed Zakaria. One of his conclusions is that this financial crisis may force Americans to face their bad habits of excessive consumerism. Thank you for your well thought out essay.
October 19th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Good piece Paisley. I’ve had the same thoughts mulling around in my head for some time until I came across Naomi Kleins book “The Shock Doctrine.” You can get the gist of the book at; http://www.rense.com/general78/lendd.htm. (I’m sorry I don’t know how to paste web addresses so you just have to click on the to go there….computer challenged) At any rate you can be sure that the wealthy…”Old Money” will just get richer at the expense of the Nouveau Riche and the middle class. You won’t find many poor people jumping out of windows because of the depression, They already know how to live on next to nothing. My special Fantasy is that north America will become more like Cuba….People who have little but still loves life and cherish Family and Friends.
I anyone knows how to link to webpages and feels like educating me…. feel free to email me at websterpotts@gmail.com
October 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
This is the real meaning of revolution - going round and round, changing things, only to end up back where we started.
October 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I would like to see something good come out of the recession we are presently in. A reconsideration of sorts. Consumerism has turned many of us into unthinking, unfeeling versions of our true selves. Our quest to acquire bigger, better, brighter, shinier things has affected our sense of humanity. If the recession can alter that way of thinking, then it is a good thing. I would like to see the balance of power shift but I do fear a Depression because like some of your readers have already mentioned - it is probably those who are least likely to weather it who will be most affected.
One thing is for sure however, we cannot go on as we are or we will surely self-destruct. But then, maybe that is our fate.
October 19th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
How interesting and wonderfully written.
I have recently fantasised about a crisis so great that would make us go back to our roots of creating our own animals and growing our own vegetables and trading things between neighbours, valuing each object instead of having a hundred of similar ones…You’re right, that could bring a few great generations but isn’t there any other way?
October 19th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Such food for thought in this post…I also worry very much about what’s coming economically for our country. The sense of self-entitlement that so many have is very disconcerting. It’s become all about the bling, you’re very right. Meanwhile, everyone is numb inside and wonders why their lives have no meaning. It’s not only a financial crisis, but a spiritual crisis for our country, I think (and I’m not talking religion). Thanks again for a thought-provoking post, and also for your kind words on my blog.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Wow! Thank you for an amazing thought provoking essay. I just found Sunday Scribblings and decided to click on a random link and picked yours. I am happy I did and I will be back. I enjoyed your writing style. Thank you.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I have to agree with Tammy, my concern is that the generation of today has a too strong and unwarranted sense of entitlement that is not intertwined with a good sense of work ethic or backbone and I am concerned that they will not fair as well as the working poor of the 20’s.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Well written and thought-provoking.
(And thanks for your kudos over at The Tension; it means a lot.)
October 19th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
From what I’ve read of the comments so far, I think I may be the only comentator who actuallly remembers the 1930s and its affect on the average family. If anybody thinks a future depression is going to resemble the “great” depression, think again. There is an element in today’s society that was almost unfelt, or at least
unknown during the 1930s. Although rape, as always, was a factor during the 1930s, I walked the streets of Akron, Ohio into the late evening hours on my way home after leaving a movie or visiting a girl friend, and I did it without fear. Workmen left their tools in unlocked boxes near their place of employment without feat of thievery. Car keys, as a rule, could be found in the car’s ignition switch, and I never heard of a little old lady knocked to the ground by some teenager in search of a few easy dollars. Oh, no, the next deep depression will be anything but a repeat of the previous 1930s depressiong.
October 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Well said Jodi. Once you have lived through hard times they will never scare you again. I even have some hard time recipes! I fix then once in a while just to remind me.
b
October 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Well it does indeed seem that for the most part humans are inspired to change their ways by because of the experience of pain and discomfort.
It would still be my wish that folks would consider a life that is kind, caring, thoughtful of one another and the planet and make the changes with out the influence of pain.
Still we do not see the over all changes it seems we need to be happening. So you secret hope might just come true.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
The wish for change appears to be one we are all sharing these days. Even the McCain folks claim that they’d like to see it. I am hoping that the change you seem to want here, a monumental move towards a sustainable future, will come through the ballot box and the ensuing follow through that President Obama will ask us to complete.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Whoa, the last time I was here there was radical poetry, now radical history flowing, and I buzz back through your archives and it was always radical and always well written from the deep, the ether, the out there. I’m one to make a cozy place for myself and so I fear radical hardship, but the desperate need for something to shift within capitalism and within ourselves is beyond obvious. I don’t know what form that something will take, but as you alluded, the cyclical nature of this planet, at least, means a swinging back around, maybe to balance, even if just for a decade
October 19th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
This was such an interesting piece, I enjoyed reading about your family history as well as your ideas of what the future may hold. Thank you.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:34 am
thank you very much for the comment you left me
its nice recieving pretty comments
have a nice day
October 20th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Here, here!! Your well written observations are the same I’ve had racing in my head for awhile with the possible exception of my fear of when the ‘real’ shoe does drop. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing!
October 20th, 2008 at 4:33 am
thanks for sharing a peek of the past. and most importantly from a personal experience of yours. change is inevitable
October 20th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I am so honored that I inspired you to write this great piece. I generally inspire women to move to another state, drink, or begin taking huge doses of prescription medications.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I am not so sure how much I would like the great depression again, but I would love to see people get back to humanity which now seems to be so alien to humans
October 20th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I worry about the ones that won’t survive a depression; the ones that are victims in today’s society and have no fault in its excesses; the ones who will periish simply because they were poor to begin with. Again it will come down to survival of the richest. Sad indeed.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:00 am
paisley,
Punishing the current populace for not heeding the examples of the past is about the only reason I can see for bringing on a depression of the same or greater dimensions than in 1929. But experience tells me that punishment is not a good long term motivator, and usually breeds resentment, thereby not actually serving as a deterent for poor behavior. As if we can make that decision. What will happen will and we in it will deal with it; i.e. play the cards we’re dealt.
Experience tells me that we only learn from our personal experience and unfortunatly have not found a successful way to pass those lessons on to the next generation.
rel
October 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
It is frightening how quickly the tough lessons of the 30s were ignored. The Go-Go 80s & 90s were disgusting exhibitions of avarice fueled by voodoo economics.
I listened to my Grandmother recount so many incredible stories of that Era. She was a “saver” up until the day that she died…
she never forgot the Depression or got over it.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Thoughtful, strong essay.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I think many people feel as you do, that our lives move at such a frenetic pace for such questionable benefit, we long to feel the pulse of something slower, something more real again, to feel that our lives have some consequence. I suspect that when we try to mitigate away all risk, we lose that sense of consequence, and too often find ourselves attempting riskier and riskier maneuvers (the derivatives market? foreign policy “initiatives”) to feel it again. This was a beautifully written, thoughtful post — gave me lots to think about!
October 20th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
reminds me of grapes of wrath
October 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I am with STEPH TOO. “I would worry about the very poor up to the middle class. Probably the ones we would never have wanted to suffer any further.” Like My Parents. And their dwindling 401k’s
October 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Hi Paisley, thanks for visiting my blog and reading my first sunday scribble ever. Yes, I have seen the show Family Ties and yes, Keeler is very much like Alex P. Keaton. Your post was very interesting. looking forward to what you have to say next Sunday.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Your story is so sad but so true. I hope things turn around and we all learn a valuable lession from it. Love the pictures they are so telling.
-Mya
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
All I can remember is the booze and prohabition!
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Right on the money (sorry for the pun). My favourite paragraph, if I had to choose, the centerpiece, is this:
“i guess it is for that reason that i secretly hope we are headed for a great depression.. one of such epic proportion that it will put even the original great depression to shame.. one that will cause those of us that have come to define ourselves by the position we hold,, the cars we drive,, the clothes we wear,, the food we eat,, or the cell phone our children take to school with them,, to see that the blind pursuit of ‘bling’ has caused us to leave what is really important behind.. our humanity.. one that might cause us to stop and examine the ideals that this consumerist insanity is instilling in our children.. one that just might level out the playing field a bit,, and force us all to become part of the “change” everyone seems to be talking about….”