Really, each era has its own false nostalgia. We all put a picket fence up around something. For my generation it was the '50s, and for other generations it will be something else. Change is scary for everyone, as is complexity, contradiction, and an uncertain future.

Summary

This quote suggests that nostalgia for a past era is often misguided, as each generation tends to romanticize a specific time period. The author mentions the 1950s as an example of false nostalgia for their own generation, but asserts that future generations will also develop similar sentimental attachments to different eras. It highlights the universal fear of change, complexity, contradiction, and an unpredictable future. In essence, the quote emphasizes that our tendency to long for a simpler, idealized past is a natural response driven by the discomfort of the unknown and the challenges of progress.

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