itaway from small children. And its shy we must keep some of it for ourselves. In carelessof unscrupulous hands, knowledge is dangerous and the innocent are powerless to opposeit (Paul 65). A few adults are even becoming sick of the amount of information: Our timestree of knowledge is so heavy with apples that weve grown sick of tasting them (Paul65). The Medveds, authors of Saving Childhood: Protecting Our Children From theNatural Assault on Innocence, say the secrets of adulthood are harsh, morbid, oppressive,and seamy, bringing nothing but obligations, troubles, burdens and the potential fordepression and gloom (Paul 64) and Shalit says the loss of innocence causes most youngwomens problems including eating disorders and unsatisfying relationships. JefferySchwartz sums up the argument: innocence is the highest of human accomplishmentsand the defining mark of those who have achieved genuine victory in facing lifesinnumerable challenges (Paul 64). Many of the underlying problems remain constantthroughout the decade, including ensuring that the family had a reasonable standard ofliving, taking care of their childrens growth and development, and maintaining theircommitment to the spouses they swore to remain with until after death, (West 1) yet theaverage American family today cannot meet these new burden. The result? Just pick aproblem and fill in the blank. An aggregate of these aforementioned problems may be justly deserved, butwithout a comparison to the past then the present conditions cannot be analyzed. Eachdecade is shaped by a series of events that often dictate the outcome of the resultingsocioeconomic conditions. An investigation begins with an inquisitive look into the eventsleading up the 1950s. The 1950s were an exclusive product of the great depression and World War II. The great depression hit America like an oppressive summer heat wave, a constantominous presence of discomfort which is utterly inescapable. Unemployment r...
