Make America Great Again? Then Leave No Memory Behind

Shout Out Patriots podcast, with Martin Mawyer

Welcome, Patriots — and a special welcome to all our new listeners tuning in! I’m Martin Mawyer, and this is Shout Out Patriots — where we take on the cultural battles of the day with clarity, courage, and, yes, a little wit and humor along the way.

Today’s episode is going to be a little different, but I promise it’s something you’ll enjoy. We’re calling this our ‘Remember When’ episode. It’s a unique journey down memory lane, but with a purpose that will doubtlessly resonate with many of you.

Let’s be honest, so much of what we see in America today just doesn’t make sense. And sometimes, the best way to expose what’s going wrong is to remind ourselves of how things used to be — when America had a little more common sense, a little more courage, and a lot more heart.

Now, fair warning — if you’re one of our younger listeners, some of what we talk about today may sound like ancient history. You may be shocked to learn there was once a time when kids walked to school without GPS trackers, people got rich by working hard instead of playing the lottery, and when Hollywood movies were actually… good.”

But trust me — it all really happened. And we’re going to have some fun looking back at it, with a few sharp observations along the way.

So, get ready — this episode is going to be enjoyable, humorous, cutting, and, yes, a little provocative. And to kick it all off, let’s start with one area where I know you’ve felt the change: the movies.

China, Wokeism, and Icebergs — The Titanic That Sank Hollywood

I mean what the heck is happening in Hollywood? Where are all the great movies, the brilliant writers, the legendary directors? You look at what’s coming out now, and it’s like… the magic is gone. The plots are so ridiculous, even a Looney Tunes short has more credibility. The films that used to grab us — they’ve vanished.

It’s as if the entire industry has hit an iceberg. The Titanic directors and movies that once ruled the seas? They’ve sunk beneath an iceberg of wokeism, hypersensitive cultural mobs, and — let’s not forget — that Red Dragon glacier called China.

Hollywood is so scared of backlash that even stunt doubles are receiving sensitivity training.

Look around: Robert Zemeckis — quiet. The Coen Brothers — barely working together. Francis Ford Coppola — he bolted and had to spend his own money to make a movie because no studio had the guts to back him. Scorsese? He’s begging streaming platforms just to get films made.

Why? Because studios today are terrified—terrified of offending anyone, anywhere. They’re convinced everybody’s carrying that Pepé Le Pew stink, ready to be set off by the slightest offense.

And that’s why movies today feel flat, forgettable, and soulless. Because Hollywood has swapped storytelling for social lecturing, they’ve traded bold creativity for corporate checklists.

The great directors — the ones who used to push boundaries — have been forced out, muzzled, or pushed to streaming, where nobody notices.

Let me read a few quotes from some great and notable directors who agree:

Martin Scorsese? He says:

“Films that challenge viewers are not supported anymore. There is a kind of cultural sanitization underway.”

Ridley Scott? Ditto.

“Studios are too fearful now. The first question they ask is, ‘Will this offend someone?’ Well, anything worth saying will offend someone.”

And Quentin Tarantino? He hits the nail on the head:

“The political correctness of the moment makes it hard to be daring. That’s why people are going to older films — they had teeth.”

So, if you’re wondering, ‘Why do movies stink now?’ — THIS is why. And the only way it changes? When audiences stop settling and start demanding better.

Alright — I had to get that off my chest. Now, speaking of standing up to cultural rot, let’s move on to our next story.

Work? That’s So 20th Century – Just Sue, Scam, and Settle

Speaking of what’s changed in America… here’s another one for you:

Remember when people used to fantasize about becoming rich by working hard? I mean by putting in the hours, building something, inventing something, maybe even — if you had the dream — becoming a rock star?

Not anymore. These days, that idea feels about as old as the Fuller Brush salesman. Oh — and by the way, did you know that evangelist Billy Graham was once a door-to-door Fuller Brush salesman? True story. Alright,  I hear you, I’m getting off track.

But seriously — today the world is swamped with people who believe there’s a faster, easier, sneakier way to get rich. And you know what I’m talking about:

Winning the lottery.

Engaging in identity theft.

Filing million-dollar lawsuits over hot coffee at McDonald’s.

Scamming seniors out of their Social Security.

Draining your bank accounts with one of a dozen scams.

Filing fake insurance claims — you name it.

Whew. I need to take a breath after all that. We ALL do.

And here’s the point. When I was growing up, I don’t remember looking over my shoulder, wondering if the next phone call was a scam — or if the email I just opened was about to steal my life savings.

I don’t remember worrying that striking up a simple friendship might end in financial ruin.

Or that loaning someone an old lawnmower could cost me my entire retirement account because a blade fell off.

And for the younger folks listening — listen carefully. You’ll never really know those times. Because right now — somewhere, someone you’ll probably never meet, never even know — is scheming to get rich off of your money, your identity, your trust.

This is why if I get a call from an unrecognizable number, that person will be talking to my new best buddy — voicemail. I suggest you do the same.

Remember When Kids Walked to School — Without Bubble Wrap and GPS?

Here’s another one for you. And parents, grandparents — I know you’ll feel this one in your bones.

Remember when kids used to walk to school?

I mean, actually walk — with their little backpacks, their friends, a crossing guard at the corner — and mom or dad waving goodbye from the front porch.

There was no GPS tracker on their phone. In fact, there were no cell phones.

The school bus didn’t stop at every single house on the street — the kids walked to the bus stop, or in some cases, all the way to school, and that was part of the adventure.

And nobody was dialing 911 because a child was seen walking alone on the sidewalk.

But today? It’s a whole different world. Now the school bus practically stops at the front door — because heaven forbid little Johnny walks an extra fifty feet.

Parents are terrified to let their kids walk anywhere — because we’ve created a culture of fear, lawsuits, and helicopter parenting.

But let’s be honest — there IS more to fear today. Between predators, reckless drivers, and the general breakdown of public safety, many neighborhoods just aren’t the same.

But it’s also a mindset that has taken hold — one where we’ve convinced ourselves that kids must be bubble-wrapped from birth to 18. And in the process, we’ve robbed them of some of the simple joys of childhood — including that feeling of independence, that walk to school with friends, and learning how to navigate the world around them.

I’ll tell you what — if you had told my parents back in the 1960s or 70s that someday kids wouldn’t be allowed to walk to school, they’d have laughed you out of the room or checked under your bed – not for smut magazines – but for mind-altering drugs.

But now? If you let your kid walk to school, you might get a visit from Child Protective Services just for trying it. Or worse, the police.

And for the younger listeners — again — you’ve never even seen this world. You grew up thinking it was normal for kids to be chauffeured from door to door under constant surveillance. But for those of us who remember — it wasn’t always this way. And frankly — it was better.

I’m getting a little nostalgic. A little teary-eyed. But do you know what I’m getting a lot of? A great appreciation for the past. Maybe Ian Anderson was thinking about all the future ‘me’s’ when his rock group, Jethro Tull, wrote that therapeutic song Living in the Past.

Today, ‘Remember When’ Has Become a Survival Skill

I’ve got to be honest: as a senior myself, it sometimes feels overwhelmed in ‘remember whens’.

It’s like half of my conversations these days start with, ‘Remember when…’ And frankly, that’s because what used to be everyday life now feels like a distant memory.

And for younger folks listening — pay attention. Because for those of us who lived through it, those ‘remember whens’ weren’t just nostalgia — they were the good years. The years when life felt safe, the future felt promising, and raising kids was an exciting adventure — not something to dread because you feared for their future.

So here we go — rapid fire — see how many of these you remember:

Remember when you could say what you thought — and not lose your job?

Remember when journalists reported real news — instead of fake news?

Remember when boys were boys, and girls were girls — and everybody knew the difference?

Remember when kids were taught to love America — not hate it?

Remember when all you had to remember was your Social Security number — not 200 passwords?

Remember when families ate dinner together — without a phone on the table?

Remember when you could pump gas — without checking for carjackers?

Remember when church was the center of the community — not the target of lawsuits?

Remember when humor wasn’t illegal — and comedians could tell an actual joke?

Remember when the American Dream was admired — not attacked as privileged?

Remember when raising a family was exciting — not terrifying?

You see, my friends — those weren’t just small things. That was the America we knew. And if today, all we seniors have left is our ‘remember whens,’ well, that should tell you something about the state of the culture now knocking at our doors.

But here on Shout Out Patriots — we’re not just going to remember — we’re going to stand up, speak out, and fight for what made this country great — and in the process, create some great ‘remember when’ history for our children and their children.

And if that makes me sound old — well, fine. But at least I remember what right looked like.

Remember When Writing Your Congressman Didn’t Feel Like Writing Santa?

For this last ‘Remember When,’ I want to get a little more serious — because this one really matters.

Remember when you could write a letter to an elected official — and actually get a real response?

I’m not talking about some auto-generated email or meaningless boilerplate rant. I’m talking about a letter — thoughtfully written, by mail, on real paper — that actually answered the question or concern you raised.

I’ve been in the pro-family movement for over four decades.

I can’t even recall the last time I received so much as a simple acknowledgment of a letter — let alone a thoughtful response. These days, if you’re lucky, you might get a run-of-the-mill email — often written so generically that it doesn’t even mention the issue you contacted them about.

I can tell you — there was a time when public officials understood that answering their constituents wasn’t just polite — it was part of the job, part of serving the public. Letters were answered. Phone calls returned. Even if they disagreed with you — they respected you enough to respond.

Today? Good luck.

Federal officials not only ignore letters — they blow past legal deadlines like they don’t even exist. They know that most citizens can’t afford to sue them to get an answer — so they just stonewall, bully, and wait them out.

And just so you know — this isn’t some abstract problem. In January, I sent a letter to my Virginia Congressman, John McGuire. I donated heavily to his campaign. I cheered him on to victory. After he was sworn in, I wrote to him requesting a room reservation to screen our film, Stolen Rainbow, on Capitol Hill.

I called his office twice. I sent a follow-up email. I even confirmed with his staff that they received my request. They promised to get back to me, soon. That was five months ago.

Guess what? I’m still waiting.

You know, they used to call them ‘public servants.’

But I have to ask — who exactly are they serving when they can’t even pick up a pen or a phone?

Every congressional office has a Constituent Services Representative somewhere — you’d think at least one of them could remember where the pens are kept.

At this point, I feel like Virginia O’Hanlon, who in 1897 famously wrote to The Sun in New York, asking, ‘Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?’ My question would read, ‘Is there really such a thing as a public servant?’ Maybe The Sun can tell me. Because Congress sure won’t.

Here at Shout Out Patriots, we still believe in serving the public. Our elected officials work for us, not the other way around. And we’re not just going to remember when America got it right — we’re going to remember how to fight to make sure future generations have something worth remembering, too.

Of course, they say that one day, AI will take over the world. If so, at least if we type in a complaint, we’re guaranteed a response.

But in all seriousness, friends — this is why we do this show. To remember what made this country great — and to fight for it so future generations will have something worth remembering, too.

And speaking of fighting for it — I want to thank all of you for helping us grow this podcast. Our numbers are climbing — and that’s because so many of you are liking and sharing these episodes. That makes a real difference.

So keep it up — don’t be shy! You can always ‘Shout’ just by tapping that share button — and help us get this message out to more patriots across the country.

Until next time — I’m Martin Mawyer — this is Shout Out Patriots — and together, our shield will be laughter, our sword will be wit, and our armor will be truth.

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