Well said, Jim. 
 Being of about the same age as Mr. Granas, I well remember when history was all about the "Winning of the West" from the "savages;"
 There were virtually no places blacks could live outside of the Portland Metro area, and "we reserve the right to refuse service" signs  really meant it;
  Our  Japanese citizens faced discrimination when they came back from the camps after WWII; 
Our HS Indian running back was known by the media as "Denny Super Chief Baker; "
Girls had no competitive sports, and women were less likely to go to college, especially law school; 
and the LGBT community?  Given our ignorance, they didn't even exist for us "back in the day" except we'd heard if you wore green socks on Thursday you were "queer", whatever that was.
Mike, go back to the Good Old Days when we were young?   In some ways yes, but Not in these areas of social equality and fairness!