Comments on: Raising Infantiles - the parent trap

By: kmccallum

kmccallum — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:13:40 +0000

Thanks for your feedback, kind sir. I’m aware of the racist issues you mention for the WWII generation, but I think it’s fair to say your assessment is not taking into account the historical picture. For one thing, their racism isn’t as absolutist as you make it sound: they were, in fact, the first American generation of whites to fight alongside blacks, as occurred in Patton’s 3rd Army in France. It’s true there was intense segregation in the military in WWII, but it is significant they were the first to give blacks significant combat roles, among many other radical & new “opportunities” never before granted to blacks by white America.

It is also the WWII white generation which supported the Civil Rights movement. Pres. Johnson & Co., including even the FBI (hard to believe), along with tremendous voter support, passed the Civil Rights laws & enforced them.

You’re also correct that Martin Luther King & Co. were unselfish heroes of the highest caliber, even martyrs. However, they too were of the WWII generation, or at least the Korean War “generation”, which I don’t think is considered a separate “generation”.

Isn’t it interesting that both you & I have to reach back 40-50 years to find a social consensus that says sacrificial giving is what maturity is all about?

By: Not so much

Not so much — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:01:24 +0000

The WWII generation was an amazing one, but they did pretty much stand by while racism ran rampant through the USA.

There was a subsequent generation of brave souls who faced down the attack dogs and firehoses to help make the USA a place of greater equality.

By: neozine » Blog Archive » Reality Parenting

neozine » Blog Archive » Reality Parenting — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:25:30 +0000

[...] Comments « Raising Infantiles [...]

By: T.C. of an O.J. » Blog Archive » Little Tyrants

T.C. of an O.J. » Blog Archive » Little Tyrants — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:57:07 +0000

[...] at the Neozine, Keith has been talking about raising infantiles and myspace. This tragic news story out of Mesa, Arizona brings them both together in an [...]

By: kmcc

kmcc — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:15:45 +0000

“I don’t know how to love!” Wow, that was such a dramatic moment in that movie. For anyone else wondering, Joe’s referring to “Hardcore”, a little-known but poignant movie written and/or directed by the director of Taxi, I think. Clearly whoever wrote it saw the problems of Christian kids in an unloving, legalistic (and Calvinistic) home.

Interestingly, however, George C. Scott won in the end, because he had the “substance” – the character – to love in a sacrificial way (like a typical Work Sub), but not in an emotional way.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:56:59 +0000

Yes, I agree. Most of the burden lies on the parents. I’ve seen it with people my age- they still act like high schoolers even thought thet are approaching 30.

Its pretty scary to me as I will be thinking about kids in the next few years. There’s so much responsibilty tied to raising kids.

Like the movie Hardcore we watched, you want to protect your kids from what’s out there and give them all the opportunities you can, but there’s a huge difference between enabling them and preparing them to be successful in the world.

I thought George C. Scott’s reaction at the end of the movie was interesting. I feel the same way he felt when he broke down next to his daughter- I don’t know how to love people.

By: kmcc

kmcc — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:21:09 +0000

Well, I believe the 60 minutes report does a pretty good job of identifying the large role “Yuppie Parenting” plays in producing Infantiles. It’s a huge and growing phenomena in American culture, and the Boomers are the ones propagating it.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:15:45 +0000

How much of the blame lies with the parents when their children “grow up”, but don’t really grow up and remain infantiles?