Ever since I was born, I’ve always heard how the previous generations were much better, and it is important not to imitate Madregos that are not for us. However, recently, there has been loads of Aliya (progress) in Torah and in Mussar. Working on Bitachon and Middos is more and more prevalent. My mother-in-law once remarked that the sincerity of the young girls is comparable to "Der Heim".
A friend of mine was a guest at someone's house, and he noticed that the guest bedroom was full of Mussar sayings on the wall. He mentioned it to his host, who smiled and said: This room is my 13-year-old daughter's room, and she's quite motivated in Avodas Hashem. This isn't even so unusual.
Many times, I was asked to speak before young Yeshiva Bachurim, and although they were “in-towners” who are usually more “sharp” and even chutzpadik, I noticed just the opposite. They were similar to those Temimus’dik out-of-towners, who are more friendly and full of Derech Eretz.
It is Mamash a: מַתָנָה מִן הַשָמַיִם gift from Shamayim, how Hashem in His greatness has such a pure and holy Dor, despite a Goyishe background full of Hefkeirus (free-for-all) and Z’nus and all kinds of fake stupidities. אַשְּ רֵּנוּ מַה טּוֹב חֶׁלְּקֵּנוּ How fortunate is our lot! I make it a point to praise Klal Yisroel. It gives Hashem Nachas, and can be M'vatel G’zeiros (cancel harsh decrees).
