Michael Butler’s Blog

I had luncheon recently with a great friend. We were in his club in NYC. The club is an establishment of great tradition. It is very similar to the clubs in London and few others in New York City. This one in particular is famous for the quality of its food.

My friend suddenly mentioned that there is no longer elegance. Clothing is no longer attractive, musical lyrics are difficult to understand. Manners are gone. People putting one another down. Celebrity is ruling the day. Films are getting worse, more violence, increased special effects. Story telling in no longer important. Good taste is rarely found. Accomplishment is only important when it pertains to money.

What a litany of woe and doom per the area of culture. I had to agree. Things are not the same. Many rapid changes in this era of short term and high speed have created these concerns.

I did reflect on the not so distant past. What accomplishment and fun we had in the 50’s and 60’s. Unless you were there it is almost impossible to describe that period. A time of great hope that we were going to have a world at peace. Love was in the air. After a period of cultural dryness creativity was on the move. Those who castigated hippie dress were ignoring the prevalence of great costumes. Men had rarely been dressed in such plumage, giving the ladies a run for their money.

Forever changes and we can see the swing back in culture. It is always that way from one extreme to another. Now we have the Roundheads. Remember they were succeeded by the Cavaliers.