The political polarization of the past decade-plus is hardly unprecedented, but today does seem more fraught with tension and dissension than any time since the 1960s. The difference is that the ’10s lacks a cultural gap as wide as the one 50 years ago. Every generation seems to think that the youngsters coming up behind them are sliding hard and fast into perdition—what with their vulgar music, dirty books, wanton dances, and reality television. But the battle lines were especially well-drawn and the skirmishes fiercely fought in the ’60s. Fashions and values changed rapidly and dramatically, as the music got louder and the movies smuttier. Young people felt like they were using the entertainment industry to stave off an establishment that wanted to oppress minorities and send boys off to kill and die over nothing. Older people felt like they were being overrun by smelly, long-haired sex maniacs who ...
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