It was quite a surprise when I read a post on Social Media this morning that said:

“Glad I won’t be here much longer” is the worst response an elderly person can have to what is going on today. Not only is it defeatist, it is an admission that you are leaving this world significantly worse than when you were born.

It is being thankful that you won’t have to deal with the miserable conditions that your children and their children will be forced to deal with.

In short, it’s a pathetic sentiment to voice. And I’ve heard it far too often. "

Well, you young millennial or whoever you are, that is a load of crap.

 I responded by saying

" What a strange conclusion to draw. These older people who gave their sons and husbands, brothers and wives to fight for the world that was just fine until leftist ideology took hold... to hear an older person say this should be a call to shame from those who have never fought in a war and sacrificed nothing.
I have several acquaintances who are in their late 80's and 90's and I hear them say it more and more these days. It is not because they are weak but because they feel helpless to do anything to change the wanton destruction of all that they worked for and risked their lives for.
It is more a criticism of modern morality, education and the lack of a work ethic that is at fault.
When an older person feels worthless, helpless and downcast it is not because they were weak in their youth but that they are now unable to do what they know needs to be done.
That is the truth of it. Their strength and influence is no longer meritorious. What can they possibly do to stop the pendulum that is increasingly swinging towards western society's destruction? Nothing. "

And unfortunately, the comment made by some basement dwelling millennial is the sort of thinking that got us into the mess in the first place. It is always somebody else's fault. 

It set me to thinking about a video I watched some time ago. It was a 100 year old veteran who broke down in tears at what the world had become. 

It broke my heart to see him so full of despair and grief. As one person said " Thank God for seniors who've served who can tell us firsthand about history and give us their wisdom. Thank You Marine and World War II veteran Carl Dekel. Happy 100th birthday. These aren't the selfish tears of someone who never grew up ... we see too much of that. This is the despair of someone who loves, knows and cares."

And that is about it in a nutshell .

Some of the comments are so much more eloquent and powerful than I could ever write, so I put them here for you to read... and then to weep.

" My father was a Proud firstborn American. He went to high school. In his senior year, he did not sign yearbooks; He signed Enlistment papers.

He did not wear a cap and gown; He wore a Navy Uniform.

He was not handed a diploma, he was handed a gun.

He did not hear, “you are now prepared to go out into the world, good luck.” He heard, “you are now prepared to go out and SAVE the World; May God keep you alive.”

He did not listen to loud jukebox music. He listened to bombs bursting, damaging his hearing.

He did not watch movies in the theater. He was in the Pacific Theater, watching boys die from the deck of a battleship.

He lived in the Depression, slept in the basement, at 8, sold papers for dollars for his dad. He wasn't adult, sleeping in the basement living off his dad. " 

" God bless you, Carl Spurlin Dekel. You are 100% correct: "This is NOT the country we fought for"; it's becoming the kind of country we fought against in WWII. " 

A footnote. Thanks Peter Mack. Watch until the end.