Post war was when the US became a world power, leader, and example. Not true now. It seems government tries everything to circumvent the constitution and keep wealth steered to the top one percent. Foreign policy has become lies such as WMD. Foreign wars are fought to award defense contractors. Then, we rebuild what we destroyed so construction companies profit. It’s a great place to live but so was Nazi Germany before the population recognized they had a narcissist leader who had lied to them, tried to dominate the world, and was responsible for the worst case of genocide in human history.
Start Transparency & Stop Huether
Don’t show Trump this!….. He might get some ideas…..
It is, however, a fascinating look back at a different time, though. I think the JCPenney escalator is a memory for many of us, even for those of us who were born after the 1950s.
As a child of the 1960s, my first memory of Sioux Falls, or better yet downtown Sioux Falls, was a day in the summer of 1965. I think it was in July. And in hindsight, I think it is fair to say that 1965 had more in common with ’55 than ’75 or beyond. I remember that summer day well, while standing at the corner of Phillips and 11th Street and looking north waiting for the car and bus traffic to pass. It was a warm but gray overcast day. I believe even some few rain drops, too. All the people gathered at the corner waiting to walk through the intersection caused me to ponder as a child in great amazement at “all of the people,” and that, and the smell of auto pollution passing by the nose of a four and a half year old is how I remember that moment from my past. I had gone downtown with my two older sisters that day. They were 12 and 16. We took the bus downtown from the corner of 33rd Street and West, across from where Max’s corner convenience store once was (Kids & Kaboodle). It was a brave new world for a child to do this, especially when you adventured out without your parents and just your siblings. It kind of made you feel naughty and free, and that is why I probably have such an engrained memory of that Saturday or that summer day in Sioux Falls in ’65. 😉
Little did we know that in three short years that that world would change drastically for downtown Sioux Falls and its citizens, too, thanks to the advent of the Western Mall in ’68 (which was more or less in my childhood backyard) and the further development along 41st Street as well.
Thanks to the malls, with the “Sioux Empire Mall” opening in 1975 and an ill and failed attempt to revitalize downtown with “Urban Renewal,” downtown Sioux Falls fell victim back then to the malls and planned disarray the way that the malls are now falling victim to Amazon.com….. My only question is: Will we some day reminisce about the Mall or malls like some do about the 1950s?….Probably not….
A course when we reminisce, or allow others to, about the 1950s in this way, we do so in the absence of respect for women’s, minority, and LGBT rights. We dismiss the emerging politics of Dick Nixon and the growing Cold War. So although what might have been a simpler and more fun time for some was not completely fun for all, or even all of us in some ways, and that is why it is important that these memories of a time gone by, although innocently meant for the individual to recall with fondness, are not allowed to inspire leaders today to devolve us all, when we should all be evolving together….
Post war was when the US became a world power, leader, and example. Not true now. It seems government tries everything to circumvent the constitution and keep wealth steered to the top one percent. Foreign policy has become lies such as WMD. Foreign wars are fought to award defense contractors. Then, we rebuild what we destroyed so construction companies profit. It’s a great place to live but so was Nazi Germany before the population recognized they had a narcissist leader who had lied to them, tried to dominate the world, and was responsible for the worst case of genocide in human history.
Start Transparency & Stop Huether
Don’t show Trump this!….. He might get some ideas…..
It is, however, a fascinating look back at a different time, though. I think the JCPenney escalator is a memory for many of us, even for those of us who were born after the 1950s.
As a child of the 1960s, my first memory of Sioux Falls, or better yet downtown Sioux Falls, was a day in the summer of 1965. I think it was in July. And in hindsight, I think it is fair to say that 1965 had more in common with ’55 than ’75 or beyond. I remember that summer day well, while standing at the corner of Phillips and 11th Street and looking north waiting for the car and bus traffic to pass. It was a warm but gray overcast day. I believe even some few rain drops, too. All the people gathered at the corner waiting to walk through the intersection caused me to ponder as a child in great amazement at “all of the people,” and that, and the smell of auto pollution passing by the nose of a four and a half year old is how I remember that moment from my past. I had gone downtown with my two older sisters that day. They were 12 and 16. We took the bus downtown from the corner of 33rd Street and West, across from where Max’s corner convenience store once was (Kids & Kaboodle). It was a brave new world for a child to do this, especially when you adventured out without your parents and just your siblings. It kind of made you feel naughty and free, and that is why I probably have such an engrained memory of that Saturday or that summer day in Sioux Falls in ’65. 😉
Little did we know that in three short years that that world would change drastically for downtown Sioux Falls and its citizens, too, thanks to the advent of the Western Mall in ’68 (which was more or less in my childhood backyard) and the further development along 41st Street as well.
Thanks to the malls, with the “Sioux Empire Mall” opening in 1975 and an ill and failed attempt to revitalize downtown with “Urban Renewal,” downtown Sioux Falls fell victim back then to the malls and planned disarray the way that the malls are now falling victim to Amazon.com….. My only question is: Will we some day reminisce about the Mall or malls like some do about the 1950s?….Probably not….
A course when we reminisce, or allow others to, about the 1950s in this way, we do so in the absence of respect for women’s, minority, and LGBT rights. We dismiss the emerging politics of Dick Nixon and the growing Cold War. So although what might have been a simpler and more fun time for some was not completely fun for all, or even all of us in some ways, and that is why it is important that these memories of a time gone by, although innocently meant for the individual to recall with fondness, are not allowed to inspire leaders today to devolve us all, when we should all be evolving together….
Dave makes it sound like all they did was play baseball from dawn to dusk, eat cheeseburgers and go to movies.
Maybe it was. How do you think the 1970s jingle, “Hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet,” came into being?….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqweygy9K9Y