University of Wisconsin La Crosse - La Crosse Yearbook (La Crosse, WI)

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e Alfonso 'l'ohat - Doug Hanjes These are the eighties! Here we ate in 1985 in the middle of a decade that has not yet been given an identity of its own . . . or has it? What will the eighties be remembered for? What things will characterize the people and their lifestyles in the 1980's? We look back on the 1950's and see people in pursuit of happiness, security and a twoocat garage; we look on the 1960's ana see people 'idoing their own thing and rejecting society and its norms; we look on the 19703 and see people still doing their own thing, but the saying was, If 1t feels good, do 1t.' What about the 1980's? The eighties has been affeCted by progress in technology just like decades of the past YeSterday 3 technology has allowed us to prosper and at the same time, tremble at our abilities to control the course of nature. But with or without the technology that 15 available, we are different people. On the outside, we seem to be a diverse group of individuals seeking our own identity. The flower children of the sixties have given birth to the punk rockers of the eighties. Like their parents, these punkers' cause isn't very unique. When the punk rock movement began early 1n the eighties, it was a reaction against the norms of society: hate the government; hate your parents; and for Pete' s sake, don't get a job But the punk rockers of our society are not a broad reflection of the people living in the eighties. Then again, nor were the flower children an accurate reflection of the people living in the sixties. Nonetheless, we remember the flower children and Woodstock more than we remember Lyndon B. john- son. Who is an accurate reflection of the 1980's then? Some say that the YAPs tYoung Aspiring Ptofessionalsi ate the representa- tives of America in the eighties. These Young AsPiring Professionals can be compared with their forefathers tand mothersl of the fifties who were in hot pursuit of happiness. However, the attitudes of today's YAPs seems to be different from the people of the fifties. Today's YAPs, as well as the society as a whole, are not characterized by attitudes of concern or rebellion, but rather by apathy. YAPs ate in pursuit of personal comfort and material happiness . . . period. Today, apathy could almost be categorized as a movement .- despite the paradox. People today are constantly bombarded with new information, new dilemmas and new ideas. Before the old information, situations and ideas can be completely understood and adopted, they are replaced by the new. In reaction to this sensory overload, people of the eighties have shut themselves. off from the things that dont directly affect them. Two of todayis most common questions ate: Who cares? and What can it do for me? But before becoming cynical, let's look at what may have caused this attitude to pervade the attitudes of people living in the eighties. Immediately, everyone blames the problems of today on the arms race and the fear of a nuclear holocaust This possibility is a real and determining factor in the attitudes of the people of the eighties With the constant threat of being destroyed by the technology we have created, it is difficult for people to continue to press on with hope for an improved future. Thus, the value of a secure future which was once held by our forefathers in the fifties has been abandoned for more immediate concerns. But the arms race is only a small piece in the puzzle of confusion today. The sexual revolution which began in the sixties and thrived in the If it feels good, do it, atmosphere of the seventies, has continued in the eighties and has taken on a new twist. Like heterosexuals who were able to come out of the bedroom during the sixties, homosexuals were able to come out of the closet in the eighties. Just the same, the sexual abuse of children has been brought out into the light. continued on page 6.

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These are the 1980's Apathy; the movement of the 805 Alfonso Tobar 3 - Bob Hammerstmm - Alfonso Tobar

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Role models needed for young Americans tContinued from page 5; While this honesty is good for those who are dealing with these deviations from out society's norms, it has shaken the foundations of natural relationships and human expressions of love: The natural affections of a close friend are ques- tioned in light of homosexuality; The touch of love from a father is suspected by his daughter in light of child sexual abuse. Thus, these deviations from our sexual norms have undermined the simple and necessary expressions of love. The result: further estrangement from the people around us. The adepted saying of the eighties might then be: If it feels good, do it . . . but dont bother mef' And while the aCts of sex are being undermined, so also are the results. Even when we wetenlt open about sex and it was described as dirty, people at leaSt could rationalize that sex was necessary for reproduction. Well Mom and Dad, noc anymore. Todayls technology has even undermined the miracle of birth. Human life no longer needs to begin in the warm womb of a mother, but instead can begin in the controlled environment of a test tube. And with further develoPments in genetic engineering, the possibility of designing the perfect human form does not seem far away. Thus, while it appears the act of sex has become obsolete i for practical purposes of reptoductioni people have been left to the notion that science has undermined humans' ability to take part in the miracle of birth tstory on sex on pages 14-15; For those who are not pleased with the physical form they have been blessed with at birth, options for change still remain. Michael jackson tpictured on Opposite page i for instance, has had repeated operations in an attempt to look like his Motown idol, Diana Ross. Meanwhile, America's youth are trying to look, act and dress like Michaeljackson. Women, displeased with their figures, faces and fashion, look to movie or music idols for beauty tips. They sweat through the jane Fonda workout in an attempt to look like the aging beauty who has recently admitted to suffering from bulimia tsrory on bulimia on pages 12-13i The tom and forlorn fashion look of the early eighties Flashdance era has been replaced by the sleazy looking Madonna Wannas who wear piston rings for bracelets and rat their hair fashionably. According to Dr. joyce Brothers, women want to be associated with Madonna because They can dress like little sluts, but still be virgins. Nonetheless, the young people in out society are trying to be like those in the spotlight because they appear to have it all together - despite the fad that these idols are having Operations to look like other idols or that they wear car parts for jewelry. What this drive to look like other people does indicate is that the young people in our society do not have role models they want to relate to. Role models in out institutions of society don't have the answers - theylre looking themselves. Many American families are crumbling in an attempt to deal with the mounting pressures of out fast paced society The family is shifting from its traditional form to an institution that refleCts the underlying motives of the me genera- tion. Homosexual relationships have gained acceptance. Abortions are readily available and increasingly popular Uigures from 1983 show that 1.5 million abortions were performed that yeati. The divorce rate has climbed off the charts tin 1982, 1.18 million couples saw their marriages dissolvei. School teachers have been reduced to glorified day care supervisors. They are faced with crowded classrooms of students whose parents have relegated their parental responsibilities to have their children raised by the public school syStem. This increased responsibility placeci on these teachers has caused them to burn out rapidly or become apathetic to the behaviors of their students in an attempt to cope with their jobs. tCoaa'aued on page 239 - Bob Hammerstro M , 44 gm v i Q. n a o ' 3 Vb! oft ' . I ,. w - Alfonso Tob