Read or listen to the Day Tapes (#4 is a good start). Destroying romantic love and decoupling it from sex was a critical part of the attack to destroy middle class culture, particularly in America. Lots of places in the world accepted marriage as an economic or political arrangement, with infidelity commonly accepted (as long as the Rich treated their Mistresses well and kept their liaisons private). Only working class folks and Americans in their naivety thought of marriage in the romantic terms. As the Day tapes showed, there was an intentional assault on that primitive concept because to destroy American society you had to destroy the nuclear family, a critical component of any New World Socialist Order. Virtually everything culturally promoted since the Second World War was oriented towards that objective, particularly decoupling sex with having children. The Women's movement (fish w/o bicycle), death of good Union jobs, two working parents required to support Middle Class lifestyle, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, free love, the pill, the Great Society destroying black families, Playboy - imaginary sex standards, plastic surgery, mass marketing of sex in media, scandalous Movie/Sports stars, no fault divorce, love is love, the LGBT assault on school children, and finally save the planet by not reproducing. It was all planned. And incredibly successful, as seen by the reproduction rates in Western Society.
Jon, we romantics have to stick together ;) Have to tell ya I often zone out to "My One and Only Love", (the John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman version from the Coltrane for Lovers album, just magical) one of the all time great homages to romantic love to be sure. So much has been lost with the massive intrusion of tech in our lives, and that is a very sad and soul deadening phenomenon. I do not know if the younger generations have so much as a clue of what has been lost in this regard, not to mention so many others. Sadder still is the fact that this has hardly been unintentional :(
Some Enchanted Evening - my parents favorite song!! Oh, the memories.
My kids are millennials. What I noticed early on when they were in middle school and high school with the advent of the internet (before Facebook) and being able to converse on-line (I can't remember the name of that first chat) romantic language began to dissipate.
These kids didn't talk to each other, or to themselves in their own minds "romantically". Now, as my daughter has someone in her life (not married) she talks about the relationship in very mental, practical ways. Not heart ways. I feel like she doesn't have the vocabulary to connect her feelings of love with
My son (married with 3 kids) was more romantic, but again, the love language has lost its place.
I find they can't express love through language, and now I fear they aren't really "feeling" it the way poets did in the past or even we (children of the 40's, 50's, and 60's) did.
That is my experience with modern day and romance. Granted it is on a very small scale.
The music of South Pacific. What a wonderful reminder. I am a boomer and so thankful. Jon, you are a doll! Can I say that? :- ) Remembering my crushes in elementary school went well with my morning coffee. Love the comments you inspire as always.
I was 12 in 1953. Stardust was one of my obsessions, along with Laura. Growing up surrounded by the fragrance of orange blossoms and Sea and Ski suntan lotion. Hope was indelibly written on my soul.
I loved your article. I always admire your music choices to describe a beautiful moment. "My One and Only Love". What a great song. Now that's an example of great songwriting. I first heard it on a Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane Album-I think the Album was called "Lush Life". Keep up the good work Jon. I love it.
This brought up memories from 50 years ago when I was introduced to a girl by my sister and we met for the first time. We were walking and talking like we had known each other forever, and she suddenly grabbed me and kissed me. Even though we never took the relationship further, thinking about that first kiss still gives me butterflies and makes me smile. Thankyou for the memories Jon.
I absolutely love this. You are so right. There is so little mystery left. Everyone is so free with their affections and 'hook up' indiscriminately. It is pathetic. They miss the longing. They miss the waiting for the appropriate time. They do not even understand the word 'romance' and I am very sorry for them.
“ The Next Session will be For Couples Only, Boy - Girl. Couples Only “
The fluorescent lights dim. Purple, blue and pink lights flood the fresh, glassy ice . Couples of all ages pour out on to the rink. Roberta Flack sings "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on the high fidelity speaker system filling the arena with those moaning, long notes. Boy/girl, man/ woman couples hold hands and skate around in circles making the first skate marks on that virgin ice. And for the next four minutes everyone in the arena, on of off the ice, savors Romance.
1973* North Hollywood, CA, Ice Capades Chalet.
* On weekends, for decades, at many rinks, the first session after break was for Couples Only: Boy-Girl, Couples Only.
Read or listen to the Day Tapes (#4 is a good start). Destroying romantic love and decoupling it from sex was a critical part of the attack to destroy middle class culture, particularly in America. Lots of places in the world accepted marriage as an economic or political arrangement, with infidelity commonly accepted (as long as the Rich treated their Mistresses well and kept their liaisons private). Only working class folks and Americans in their naivety thought of marriage in the romantic terms. As the Day tapes showed, there was an intentional assault on that primitive concept because to destroy American society you had to destroy the nuclear family, a critical component of any New World Socialist Order. Virtually everything culturally promoted since the Second World War was oriented towards that objective, particularly decoupling sex with having children. The Women's movement (fish w/o bicycle), death of good Union jobs, two working parents required to support Middle Class lifestyle, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, free love, the pill, the Great Society destroying black families, Playboy - imaginary sex standards, plastic surgery, mass marketing of sex in media, scandalous Movie/Sports stars, no fault divorce, love is love, the LGBT assault on school children, and finally save the planet by not reproducing. It was all planned. And incredibly successful, as seen by the reproduction rates in Western Society.
Romanic love didn't die, it was murdered..
Jon, we romantics have to stick together ;) Have to tell ya I often zone out to "My One and Only Love", (the John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman version from the Coltrane for Lovers album, just magical) one of the all time great homages to romantic love to be sure. So much has been lost with the massive intrusion of tech in our lives, and that is a very sad and soul deadening phenomenon. I do not know if the younger generations have so much as a clue of what has been lost in this regard, not to mention so many others. Sadder still is the fact that this has hardly been unintentional :(
Jon you have always had hope!.I love that about you..
And resilience..
This quality is endearing and magnetic.
Love will bloom again!
Some Enchanted Evening - my parents favorite song!! Oh, the memories.
My kids are millennials. What I noticed early on when they were in middle school and high school with the advent of the internet (before Facebook) and being able to converse on-line (I can't remember the name of that first chat) romantic language began to dissipate.
These kids didn't talk to each other, or to themselves in their own minds "romantically". Now, as my daughter has someone in her life (not married) she talks about the relationship in very mental, practical ways. Not heart ways. I feel like she doesn't have the vocabulary to connect her feelings of love with
My son (married with 3 kids) was more romantic, but again, the love language has lost its place.
I find they can't express love through language, and now I fear they aren't really "feeling" it the way poets did in the past or even we (children of the 40's, 50's, and 60's) did.
That is my experience with modern day and romance. Granted it is on a very small scale.
Ahh! Nothing like it! LOVE!
Thank you for this generous writing. Spring and all its warmth opens the door on the day....avec tunes!...marvelous.
The music of South Pacific. What a wonderful reminder. I am a boomer and so thankful. Jon, you are a doll! Can I say that? :- ) Remembering my crushes in elementary school went well with my morning coffee. Love the comments you inspire as always.
This made me smile and gave me hope that there are others out there. Thank you.
Marvellous.
My Alanah, my Marie-Hélène, my Geneviève - the mother of my sons - is here in my eyes. Forever.
Grâce à vous, Jon.
I was 12 in 1953. Stardust was one of my obsessions, along with Laura. Growing up surrounded by the fragrance of orange blossoms and Sea and Ski suntan lotion. Hope was indelibly written on my soul.
Jon, thank you for writing this beautiful reminder-----BTW, have you seen Benny lately?
Amen Brother Jon,
I loved your article. I always admire your music choices to describe a beautiful moment. "My One and Only Love". What a great song. Now that's an example of great songwriting. I first heard it on a Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane Album-I think the Album was called "Lush Life". Keep up the good work Jon. I love it.
This brought up memories from 50 years ago when I was introduced to a girl by my sister and we met for the first time. We were walking and talking like we had known each other forever, and she suddenly grabbed me and kissed me. Even though we never took the relationship further, thinking about that first kiss still gives me butterflies and makes me smile. Thankyou for the memories Jon.
I absolutely love this. You are so right. There is so little mystery left. Everyone is so free with their affections and 'hook up' indiscriminately. It is pathetic. They miss the longing. They miss the waiting for the appropriate time. They do not even understand the word 'romance' and I am very sorry for them.
“ The Next Session will be For Couples Only, Boy - Girl. Couples Only “
The fluorescent lights dim. Purple, blue and pink lights flood the fresh, glassy ice . Couples of all ages pour out on to the rink. Roberta Flack sings "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on the high fidelity speaker system filling the arena with those moaning, long notes. Boy/girl, man/ woman couples hold hands and skate around in circles making the first skate marks on that virgin ice. And for the next four minutes everyone in the arena, on of off the ice, savors Romance.
1973* North Hollywood, CA, Ice Capades Chalet.
* On weekends, for decades, at many rinks, the first session after break was for Couples Only: Boy-Girl, Couples Only.
Inimitable style, and yes the topic of the destruction of Romantic Love is front row and center.
Women have been conditioned and trained to run masculine energy to survive.
Some have become very good at this... Does not leave room for romance.