Quote from review of Susan Faludi's _Stiffed: The betrayal of the American man_, New York Times, 28Sep99, p. E1,E8: > "...the World War II generation bequeathed to its > baby boomer sons its own definitions and > requisites for manhood: the promise of a frontier > to conquer, the promise of 'a clear and evil > enemy to be crushed,' the promise 'of an > institution of brotherhood in which anonymous > members could share a greater institutional' glory > and the 'promise of a family to provide for and > protect.' [/] Unfortunately for the sons, Ms. > Faludi goes on, the rules of the game had > changed by the time they came of age. Space, > which was supposed to be the new frontier, > proved 'a place not much worth conquering.' > Vietnam provided no clear-cut mission, no moral > payoff. And the institutions that were supposed > to provide 'masculine honor and pride' in > exchange for loyalty all too often turned out to be > corporations willing to sacrifice their employees > to downsizing." I personally most like the phrase about Space being a frontier not much worth conquering, which is such a good rebuttal to the vapid fascination with StarTrek and Sci Fi of many of the PhD computer scientists I worked with at one time, although, of course, that's the least important issue in this wide-ranging summing up of contemporary American middle class life. But then, again, maybe there *is* a connection: If those comp sci PhDs had been more interested in social institutions which would provide loyalty... instead of empty Space, maybe they would have contributed shaping the contemporary world into something better than corporations willing to sacrifice their employees to downsizing. \brad mccormick -- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] 914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua, NY 10514-3403 USA ------------------------------------------------------- <![%THINK;[XML]]> Visit my website: http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
