1950s America: A Utopia?

[Death Metal]

The 1950s was probably the closest the US has come to being an actual dictatorship. The only reason it's remembered fondly is due to the sheer amount of propaganda from the era that we see today. People see film strips and movies from the era and actually believe that's what it was like when in reality it was just Cold War propaganda.

Actually, I'd give that dubious honour to the Civil War. You know, the war where the President locked up hundreds of political opponents indefinitely and then proceeded to crush half of the country, which had revolted against him, with a lot of brutal violence.

Blaming Lincoln for the Civil War is like blaming a woman who is sexually harassed at work for the sexual harassment.

[Ifreann]

How could it possibly be a utopia if I wasn't there?

[Sailsia]

The 1950s was probably the closest the US has come to being an actual dictatorship. The only reason it's remembered fondly is due to the sheer amount of propaganda from the era that we see today. People see film strips and movies from the era and actually believe that's what it was like when in reality it was just Cold War propaganda.

Actually, I'd give that dubious honour to the Civil War. You know, the war where the President locked up hundreds of political opponents indefinitely and then proceeded to crush half of the country, which had revolted against him, with a lot of brutal violence.

Oh cry me a river. Lincoln wouldn't have attacked if they didn't bomb Sumter first. I'm sick of the revisionist bullshit which tries to play the south off as the "true america" which was crushed by statist tyranny.

[Death Metal]

Actually, I'd give that dubious honour to the Civil War. You know, the war where the President locked up hundreds of political opponents indefinitely and then proceeded to crush half of the country, which had revolted against him, with a lot of brutal violence.

Oh cry me a river. Lincoln wouldn't have attacked if they didn't bomb Sumter first. I'm sick of the revisionist bullshit which tries to play the south off as the "true america" which was crushed by statist tyranny.

"Freeing slaves is tyranny" is so much doublethink that Orwell vomits in his grave every time someone blames the Civil War on Lincoln.

[Olthar]

How could it possibly be a utopia if I wasn't there?

Perhaps it was utopic as they had foretold of your comming and prepared a pre-Ifreann celebration that lasted a whole decade?

[Genivaria]

The 1950s was probably the closest the US has come to being an actual dictatorship. The only reason it's remembered fondly is due to the sheer amount of propaganda from the era that we see today. People see film strips and movies from the era and actually believe that's what it was like when in reality it was just Cold War propaganda.

Actually, I'd give that dubious honour to the Civil War. You know, the war where the President locked up hundreds of political opponents indefinitely and then proceeded to crush half of the country, which had revolted against him, with a lot of brutal violence.

You mean the Civil War that was started by the South by attacking Fort Sumpter?
If they didn't want bloodshed they should've stayed to debate in the halls of Congress instead of becoming traitors.

[Olivaero]

It was significantly better than the decade that came before it and maybe and a bit worse than the one that came after it. If I was stuck in the 1950's and had to choose one place to spend my time It would probably be America seeing as rationing was still in effect in Britain at the start of the decade. For anyone to call it a utopia though they'd have to be an extremely selfish Straight, cis gendered, male, well off WASP.

[Augarundus]

Yeah!

Apart from the racism. And the imperialism. And the Cold War. And the taxes. And the McCarthyism. And military buildup. And fundamentalism. And the sexism. And Korea. And postwar PTSD. And Jedgar. And Cuba. And Guatemala.

[Dakini]

Literally none of that is true. Men and women were forced into gender roles that many absolutely HATED and as a result suffered for and even committed suicide over. America was at that time actually LOSING ground to the USSR, so hardly "great". There was no "enemy" to be hated. There was several enemies, all of which were in reality just normal people who were being persecuted due to political dick swinging. Society actually saw more cases of teen pregnancy and insanity at this time, not to mention rape and spousal abuse was an even greater problem than it is today.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

[Death Metal]

Yeah!

Apart from the racism. And the imperialism. And the Cold War. And the taxes. And the McCarthyism. And military buildup. And fundamentalism. And the sexism. And Korea. And postwar PTSD. And Jedgar. And Cuba. And Guatemala.

You forget HUAC, which was McCarthay but worse.

[Arglorand]

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

I doubt he knows how.

[Death Metal]

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

As I always say, a real man doesn't tell his wife to go the kitchen to make him a sandwhich. He goes to the kitchen himself to make two sandwiches.

[Immoren]

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

I doubt he knows how.

There are probable "Sandwiches for Dummies" books.

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

As I always say, a real man doesn't tell his wife to go the kitchen to make him a sandwhich. He goes to the kitchen himself to make two sandwiches.

Or even three.

[Rio Cana]

So the OP question is, was the US a Utopia in the 1950's.

The answer is yes. It was especially for big business. WW II ended and the majority of the world which included many of the major nations were in ruins. What a great opportunity to sell them stuff. So from the US to most corners of the world, out went US salesmen and bank credit agents.

In other words, the US was the only Walmart left on the planet where you could go shop. Yes, some nations like Mexico. Argentina or Brazil had stores to sell to the world but the US had the Mega-Walmart which included giving out credit.

Jump forward, the world rebuilt and the tables were turned. In the rebuilding some of these nations new industries turned out to be more modern and more energy efficient then the old US industries.

Even US companies moved to China.
Watch this which is very short
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIQ2iM1am5I

[Augarundus]

You forget HUAC, which was McCarthay but worse.

The committee's anti-Communist investigations are often confused with those of Senator Joseph McCarthy.[2] McCarthy, as a U.S. Senator, had no direct involvement with this House committee.[3] McCarthy was the Chairman of the Government Operations Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate, not the House.

you're right, my bad

[Dakini]

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

I doubt he knows how.

Yeah. Men who require women to do household tasks are twits looking for a mommy replacement and are totally worse than useless to any reasonable person.

[Arglorand]

I doubt he knows how.

Yeah. Men who require women to do household tasks are twits looking for a mommy replacement and are totally useless to a woman.

Precisely. Or to anyone, really.

[Genivaria]

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

As I always say, a real man doesn't tell his wife to go the kitchen to make him a sandwhich. He goes to the kitchen himself to make two sandwiches.

I always heard something along the lines of "If she can get up and walk to the kitchen then you haven't earned that sandwich."

[Dakini]

Yeah. Men who require women to do household tasks are twits looking for a mommy replacement and are totally useless to a woman.

Precisely. Or to anyone, really.

Yeah, I edited my post to better reflect reality.

[Death Metal]

You forget HUAC, which was McCarthay but worse.

The committee's anti-Communist investigations are often confused with those of Senator Joseph McCarthy.[2] McCarthy, as a U.S. Senator, had no direct involvement with this House committee.[3] McCarthy was the Chairman of the Government Operations Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate, not the House.

you're right, my bad

Plus, they didn't just persecute Communists. Basically anyone who questioned the government at all was considered a Fifth Columnist and a potential traitor. And good luck to you if you have anything with a circle around an A on your person.

[Mkuki]

If you don't mind answering, what sect of Judaism were/are your grandparents in?

Conservative.

Do Conservative Jews usually stick to the self-defined neighborhoods like Orthodox Jews do?

[Valcouria]

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

There is no 'proper' way to behave based on gender.

Incorrect. There is a reason men are stronger than women, and it is for physical purposes (sports, heavy duties, and so on). Women too have their roles; keeping the house tidy and rearing children (although I have no qualms with her being employed, either...especially if it means a larger paycheck at the end of the week). This absurd modern mentality that everyone is equal based on gender is just society trying to know-tow to the left's claim that everything and everyone can be equal while ignoring blatantly obvious facts of human biology.

It should be known that I am a great proponent of gender roles, since they teach children how to properly behave in their respective genders. Further, the USSR was 'the enemy', and so deserved the ire of all good Americans.

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

I didn't say it was fine...you can imply that I did, but you would be incorrect. I simply didn't address the issue (but if you must know, I wouldn't be supportive of it).

[Dakini]

1. I love the part where you think that the part in bold is perfectly fine.
2. Make your own fucking sandwich, I have better things to do with my time.

As I always say, a real man doesn't tell his wife to go the kitchen to make him a sandwhich. He goes to the kitchen himself to make two sandwiches.

He can also grab a beer while he's up.

[Kiruri]

So NSG, I got to do some of that dangerous late-night thinking, and I thought about what it would be like to live in the 1950s, a time portrayed as somewhat of a Golden Age in American history. The time of sock hops and pink carnations, the 1950s economically and somewhat socially a prosperous time for America, after victories over Nazism and Imperial Japan, emerging out of the Great Depression as a world superpower.

The 1950s are generally portrayed as peaceful, carefree, and wonderful time in the media, when most everyone lived by the same ethics and standards. I personally do not think of the 1950s America as a Utopia, going by exact definition, given the social policies of the US and the looming threat of a nuclear war, but I'm curious to see NSG's opinion.

So, what is it? A Utopia, or just a period of prosperity in American history?

Its, imho, far from a utopia (as if there's such a thing) and more a period of prosperity

[The Orson Empire]

I doubt he knows how.

Yeah. Men who require women to do household tasks are twits looking for a mommy replacement and are totally worse than useless to any reasonable person.

I have to agree with this.