July 15, 2005
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AH…THE GOOD OLE’ DAYS
Sing it with me; “Braum’s homemade ice cream, just like the good ole’ days.”
In the unlikely event that you are unfamiliar with this jingle, or if you don’t have Braum’s Ice Cream Stores in your area, allow me to tell you how I feel about this particular advertisement.
If I hear it when I’m driving, it makes me want to pull over to the side of road, forcibly rip the radio out of the dash with my bare hands, find Drew Braum (the CEO of Braum’s Ice Cream Stores), and shove that radio so far up his rectal cavity that the damn jingle comes out of his mouth every time he flashes that dopey grin of his.
You might be concerned that the reaction I just described is a little extreme, or that perhaps I’m off my medication, but the reason this jingle bothers me so much is that it taps into a trend that is one of my greatest pet-peeves. That trend is for advertisers and politicians to fondly remember the “good old days” in order to further their particular agendas.
Republicans are notorious for this. They want us to fondly remember an
I was born in 1958. Allow me to outline some of what the decades since then have held both nationally and personally.
1950’s
Nationally –
Personally – Diaper Rash
1960’s
Nationally – Kennedy Assassination,
Personally – Getting my ass kicked on the play ground.
1970’s
Nationally – Returning Vets, Oil Crisis, Watergate, Disco,
Personally – Acne.
1980’s
Nationally – Iran/Contra Affair, Aids, Challenger disaster.
Personally – Major career disillusionment, weight gain.
1990’s
Nationally – Gulf War, Kosovo,
Personally – Divorce, Unemployment, Hemorrhoids.
Early 2000’s
Nationally – 911
Personally – Ear hair.
My point is not that every decade since I was born has been horrific. For every bad thing that has happened, both collectively and personally, a hundred wonderful things have happened. My point is that there is no point in history that we can point too that is utopian, and to do so for business or political gain plays on emotions in a way that is dishonest and manipulative.
For me…in this decade, I’m happily married, I have a great career, I make a comfortable living, I have a wonderful family, I have a newly married son and step daughter who (in my opinion) are two of the greatest people who ever lived, and everyone is healthy, happy, and flourishing.
I’m living the good old days right now. I don’t need anyone to point to me to another time in order to sell me ice cream or get me to vote for them.
Comments (16)
Call me unlikely–I’ve never heard of Braun’s ice cream. I just celebrated my 45th birthday, and I’ve engaged in some personal inventory as well. I’m sorry my body turned against me so quickly, but other than that I’m pretty satisfied! Congratulations on reaching your happy place.
I like what you have to say and HOW you say it.
You’re right… These are the good old days!
“And tomorrow we might not be together ~ I’m no prophet and I don’t know nature’s ways ~ So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now ~ And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days… “
–Anticipation by Carly Simon
(ironically written damn near 30 years ago!)
A common tactic used by people who are mucking up the present to distract your attention from it. I, like my bride will shortly, will reference an episode of Gilmore Girls to explain my point. In Episode “That Damn Donna Reed,” originally aired Feb 2001, The girls encounter “the good ol’ days” through a June Cleaver-like T.V. Character. A boy on the show makes the tragic mistake of saying that a woman behaving that way might be a good thing…
The ultimate lesson is that there are good things from each of our decades (not really the acne or ear hair…but I digress…) but that there is not a single time when something wasn’t getting blown up somewhere. As long as it’s not me or my home or my family, I’m in the good ol’ days.
I’m afraid I must reference the genius that is Gilmore Girls Season 1 Episode 16 “Star-crossed Lovers and Other Strangers” when Luke says:
“Everyone likes to think that in the past everything was so quaint, so charming. Neighbors knew each other. Kids didn’t have sex. It’s a freakin’ fairy-tale. Life sucked then, too. It just sucked without indoor plumbing.”
Brilliance. Sheer brilliance.
I’m not famliar with the ice cream either, for which I think I’m very grateful.
You have a wonderful way of making a serious point through humor, you truly do. And you’re absolutely right; those days are an invention of advertisers, Hollywood, and the media. I don’t know what part of their youth others aspire to recapture, but I don’t remember much that wasn’t awkward or a lesson in the making, somehow. I’ll stay where I am, and it’s probably a good thing that I’m happy here, since I haven’t much choice in the matter.
I would have to agree – Not to mention the new daugher-in-law who is also one of the greatest people who ever lived!
You are on to something, my man.
Gwen, you are entirely correct. My new daughter in law is beautiful, intelligent, caring and giving, and one of the worlds greatest people, AND she puts up with my son’s “smart-assnessed” which, I’ll have to admit, was mostly inherited from me.
Thank God for indoor plumbing! I wouldn’t trade my life now for any point in the past.
We have so many Braum’s in this town and I’m always wanting to blow them up for those d… commercials! Revenge will be mine. I live in W land. Our radio stations still don’t play the Dixie Chicks for their comment about W. Talk about living in the “good ole days!” You should do a bit on how everyone plays on our fears regarding terriorists, and any other point they want to drive home. I mean really the color coded terror alert is nothing more than a scare tactic, to keep the American people stirred up over 911. The good ole days gimic is only a small piece of the brain washing! Don’t believe the hype. (steps off soapbox). Signing off – G
Right on.
Thank you for the perspective. When I thought back twenty years, and beyond (which involves “twinkle in my father’s eye” stage on the personal level), things seemed simpler. It seems like the technology has opened up so many previously unconsidered dilemmas! HowEVer, it is very true that things never were “better.” Perhaps less cluttered though? Or is that just a four-year-old’s fond memories?
Good post. For some reason, I am craving ice cream.
RYC: If you get me the truckload of finches, I’ll get you a truckload of Shelties. To add to your current truckload of Shelties. Mwahahahaha!
“Republicans are notorious for this. They want us to fondly remember an America from decades ago when everyone shared family values, all women were June Cleaver, and everyone attended the Protestant church of their choice. There is a slight problem with this; that America never existed.”
Not unlike the Republican Platform.
xoxoxo
great post! there is something to be said for age and experience…and I, like you, don’t need to be reminded of the good old days…mine are right here, right now…thanks for sharing…I shall return!
paulygrl