Movement versus Improvement

The explosion of YouTube, Spotify and streaming services has given me the opportunity to relive childhood TV shows, movies and music. It's unimaginable to think about the amount of information and entertainment available at my fingertips. This has also allowed me to identify and understand context.   

Previous generations always believe their generation is better than the current generation. I'm sure Cro Magnon man said, "What's wrong with these kids today?".  I'm sure you've heard it from your grandparents, your parents and your teachers. Yes...I'm guilty of uttering the phrase as well.

I have come to two conclusions about the television shows and the music of my youth...

1. Although several TV shows and bands were groundbreaking, most of the TV shows and music were horrible. Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch and disco  do not hold up as great works of art or entertainment.
2. It's important to recognize historical context.

Historical context refers to the social, religious, economic, and political conditions that existed during a particular time and place. Understanding historical conditions provide context. Here are some TV shows and songs that are a snapshot of a particular time in US history. Beware...you may be surprised and/or offended;

• Our Gang, Little Rascals; short films (1920-30's): https://youtu.be/GhWY6yFJsDY

• Wives and Lovers. Sung by Jack Jones (1964): https://youtu.be/mZbusN-n8rE
• Sanford and Son; situation comedy (1970's): https://youtu.be/7HQiqvwQ5Xk

• The Office; situation comedy (2005); https://youtu.be/PLp8pjqwlsc

My definition of progress is based on improvement. The US and the world have made extraordinary progress towards issues of civil, women's and LGBT rights. And these changes have happened in a relatively recent and short time period of time. As recent as 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. I would argue that the past few decades have been as socially improved and transformative as any time in human history.  

Unfortunately, other individuals define progress as movement. This movement does not necessarily mean movement towards freedom. Their definition of progress (movement) is fluid and restrictive that includes the banning of books, the muzzling of language and speech and anything else that may be deemed offensive. This is progress (movement).

Legally, is there such a thing as hate speech? What if a band wanted to name their group ​"The Slants"? The US Patent and Trademark Office denied the band's name because it could be disparaging to Asians. In October 2016, the US Supreme ruled in Matal v. Tam...

• Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful; but the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express “the thought that we hate.”  
  
  

Being offended comes from within. The line for being offended is not set in societal concrete. Everyone has the right to be offended. But as author, Salman Rushdie said, “Nobody has the right to not be offended." Of course there is always room for progress (improvement). I say we understand and learn from the past, recognize the mistakes and celebrate the IMPROVEMENTS we've made as a society by using historical context as our point of perspective and progress. Now it's time to fire up Netflix and re-watch The Office. 
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But what the heck do I know...I'm just Joe.