Friday, November 22, 2013

1963 - A Pivotal Year


I recently began research into the year 1963 for a Christmas novella. If you’re a student of history or like to read historical novels, you’ve probably noticed that some events stand out from others. And some world events may have changed your own life.

I was still in grammar school in 1963, but even then I recognized it to be a pivotal year. The year got off to a cultural shift. Even before their American tour, the Beatles’ popularity was skyrocketing all over the world. Maybe you can’t understand unless you lived through it, but Beatle mania changed teen culture in a way never seen before. The rather tame years of rock and roll gave way to pop music with artist after artist trying to outdo themselves.

 Another more subtle change affected youth. Instead of looking to parents and church, teens began to follow celebrities and peers. Since I lived in the country, this might not have affected me as much as urban youth, but I was aware the world was shifting. Yes, there were rebellious teens in the past, but this was different. This cultural change affects society today more than the average Christian realizes. It’s not only a matter of anything goes, it’s in your face.

 Another thing I remember about 1963. A newspaper article told of a child who was tortured to death while her family watched. Serial murders screamed from headlines. Suddenly, evil became real. The era when we never locked our doors until dark was over.

 Churches fell in membership. People seemed to have lost their reverence for God. Politically, the country sat on a powder keg of racial unrest, the cold war threatened to flare up. People stopped sitting on the fence, and many fell on the left, openly supporting communism and liberalism.



That was the state of the country when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on this day fifty years ago. Only fifty years, but it seems like ancient history. As young as I was at the time, I noticed the age of innocence had died. Camelot was gone forever.
 
All of these memories brings to mind Jesus' words: Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

 Can you recall a world event that changed you personally?

In honor of the season, I’m giving away a Christmas CD (various artists, classic carols) to one commenter today. Just leave your email address if you wish to be in the drawing.

 

13 comments:

  1. Your post speaks volumes. The 60's were so different. I was in the third grade sitting at my desk, doing my work, when our teacher told us that the President had been shot. That was a moment I have never forgotten. Life as we had known it definitely changed.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. It brings back such memories. Our school was let out at 2 o'clock when Kennedy's death was announced so we could watch it on TV. The first 24/7 newscast and I was sitting in front of the set most of the time.

      Thanks for commenting, Melanie.

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  2. It's hard to match that moment. I'm not sure that anything that big has happened since then. I'll be watching the live streamcoverage all weekend long. Great post, cp!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, cp. I too will be drawn to the coverage.

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  3. Not meaning to sound churchy, but the event that changed my life happened before I was born, when Jesus willingly gave His life for my sins. That changed me and I fought that change for 48 years. On a secular level, the landing on the Moon impacted me. It was a time of dreaming big and all the accomplishments that we could do now that space was open to us. Sadly, we seem to have lost that dream.

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    1. You are so right, Heather. Jesus' crucifixion/resurrection was the greatest event in all history. And I was right there with you watching the moon landing and being just amazed. I wished people would again work together to achieve great things.

      Thanks for your input.

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  4. November 22, 1963 was a day I'll always remember. It ranks up there with 9/11. Both made me realize the world as I knew it had changed. Good post!

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  5. I've seen the biggest change since 9/11. There's been such a shift in what we can and can't do, can and can't say - none of it based on what's right and true. Now we're afraid of everyone else - offending them, inconveniencing them, upsetting them. That's been a game changer for me.

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    1. Karin, thanks for your comment. Without a doubt we're slowly losing freedom of speech. As writers we walk a tight line. I pray for wisdom for us all.

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  6. 9/11 absolutely changed our lives. Another I thought of was when the Berlin Wall came down.

    Thank you for commenting, Patricia.

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  7. I see Karin has already mentioned 9/11. That was the "we're-not-in-Kansas-anymore" moment for me. I was a few months away from hitting my teen years and gradually began to understand that the stable, quiet world I'd grown up with (as a child, I'd never been concerned with politics or world affairs before that point) was crumbling forever.

    My family and I were able to visit the site of President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas this summer. My mom and dad toured the local museum there while I visited the outdoor sites. There are so many differing and conflicting opinions when you walk around the site, even men peddling periodicals there disagreed on some part or other. Very sad and interesting event.

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    1. Hi Natalie, thanks for stopping by.

      As a child I was fascinated by the Kennedy Presidency and I still admire him as a statesman rather than a politician. Wish the country had more statesmen running the government now. Your trip sounds interesting. So much history in Dallas.

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  8. 50 years ago today certainly was a memorable event in our history. My mother shared with us today about being in her third grade class and receiving the news that President Kennedy had been shot.

    I was teaching at a preschool when I received the news that terrorists had attacked the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Both of these events devastated our country!

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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