our reverential past

So how many us believe that our forefathers were happier!! Values have deteriorated? We are trading off our values , culture , traditions for an elusive glitzy, glamorous future?
I often come across people lamenting our "glorious past".
"Tolerance levels have gone down" , I heard recently at a meeting in my daughter's school. "Our children do not show enough respect, culprit is modern day nuclear family". Somehow it all sounded phony, a sham. I wondered how tolerant the speaker herself was? OK , let me not make it a personal attack. This is what is commonly believed, we are better, more responsible, polite as against this new crop of brash, impertinent, who cares- attitude flashing generation.
Scratch a bit and these very tolerant people are ready to explode if their elders try to interfere with their lifestyle.
I beg/assert to differ, my belief is today's generation certainly practices ethics, exhibits and believes in human values better than the previous generation. How can we forget a young employee(an alumni of IIM) of IOC was murdered brutally only because he wouldn't give a nod for adulteration in petrol.
With the support of media people holding responsible public posts are becoming answerable to the tax payers. This has helped to bring down if not entirely wipe off corruption in government sector. Do not we all remember the days( i mean those born before 80's, in 90's the revolution had already set in) when getting a simple land line phone connection at home was nothing less a family celebration occasion. And process would include chai- paani(bribe) at every step. Touts at the railway counter almost developed their profession into lucrative career option.
Parents too never shared the kind of rapport today's young parents have with their kids. Talking for myself, my mother like my friend's' mothers never attended PTMs as it was meant for students who were either disobedient or not good in studies or both. But I never miss a chance to be a part of my daughter's social circle. My mother took pride in saying only brow beating was enough to put us children in place, her kids(me and my brother) never talked back. That is the communication was one way only. Whereas I secretly feel proud when my daughter voices her views and wishes vehemently(though many are unreasonable), still I feel equal and fair chance in life is every body's right.
Blame is put squarely on the nuclear family for the down slide of culture and values, tearing of our so called strong social fabric. A drastic change is observed in our social settings. Most want to join a safe and steady naukri instead of a risky joint family business. People are moving to urban settings abandoning their land and farming. Thus financial dependency on elders is reducing with every generation, in fact most often children earn far more than their parents. Therefore a lifestyle of younger generation's choice where elders do not always feel welcome or are not ready/able to adjust. But adaptation is something which seen homo sapiens as the most evolved species. Our cultural values revolve around the theme of paying homage to elders. Understandably they were the ones who ruled the family business and hence the flow of money. With age and mutual understanding the business would pass on to the sons and father's role would be confined to that of a consultant, a titular head and no more. Children on their part never failed to gratitude for what they had inherited. Especially it was the duty of women folk, who would dutifully cook favourite food for fathers in law and on certain festivals show special reverence towards their mothers in law. This entire system safeguarded the interest of elderly in the society. But now the equations have changed and younger generation is no more dependent on family for sustenance. This has infused a new self confidence in today's generation which is misinterpreted as indolence and insensitive behaviour.