I received this email forward recently, and it made me laugh (and do some thinking):
HIGH SCHOOL --1959 vs. 2009
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1959 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2009 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1959 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2009 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1959 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2009 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping.
1959 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2009 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1959 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2009 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1959 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2009 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 7:
Johnny takes a part leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red-ant bed.
1959 - Ants die.
2009 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents--and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1959 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2009 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
It reminded me of this video, that I thought was hilarious:
And it made me realize that with all of the technology and new things we have learned (I honestly don't agree with principals paddling my kids, nor allowing kids to have a smoking dock), we are a bunch of whiners.
Why?
How did we turn into a society of whiners? Complainers? Selfish idiots?
I don't think it's too far-fetched to see that our society as a whole has become pretty petty. And a little crazy --but then again, what caused us paranoia? Could it be the terrorists? War?
Those are pretty stable excuses...
But how do we get past all of the whining? The excuses? The crazy expectations? The impatience? The idiocy? Do we blame people? (It's the feminists! The liberal left! The psychologists! The Immorality!) Do we complain more? Do we start riots and boycotts and go crazy with our own agendas?
Nah.
I'll stick with this:
Have a great weekend, dear reader!
8 comments:
Oh that was good ... thanks for sharing.
I agree we are a bunch of whiners today...gratitude is the antidote!
thanks for posting one of my favorite songs of all time! :)
Both of those videos were great...Thanks Cheryl. :)
That was hilarious. So true! Gratitude is the cure!
That is funny! We really don't appreciate what we have!
I'm going to do something I never do and be the voice of discension here. Cheryl, you know I love you to death, and continue to do so. So, just hold that pretty thought in your head while I voice my opinion for a second. I hated that whole 1959 vs. 2009 thing. It's a ridiculous exaggeration on both ends. Things were not so awesomely perfect back then, and we're not so crazy now. Yes, medication gets used too often these days, but what about the kids who suffer very real conditions and were simply labeled as "stupid" or "lazy" and pushed into minimum paying jobs for the rest of their lives, instead of being taught effective learning tools like they can today and being able to do anything with their lives that they choose? And why is it so awesome for two kids to settle their disagreement with violence? Only on Leave It To Beaver does it end with both parties happy, unhurt, and loving each other. I could go point by point, but it's not nessesary. I think that whole thing is an unrealistic dream about the past and an overexageration of the present. I guess I'm just sick of the whining too, but different whining. I'm sick of people whining about "the good ol' day" when they could beat their children, play with guns, use offensive language and assume no one was hurt, sexually harrass the opposite sex, and hate others and assume they are 'right'. Sure, society can be a bit overboard and over-reactive these days. It's just the other end of the spectrum. I appreciate the heart behind the effort. So many people use the term "PC" like an insult. Again, i get that "PC" can be over-reactive, but it's in an effort to promote understanding and tolerance. How is that a bad thing?
Again, Cheryl, you know I love you to bits. I just hear this so often, and bite my tongue SO OFTEN, I'm compelled to let it all gush out in this forum because I know you won't take it the wrong way and will know that I still love and respect you. Phew! Rant. Officially. Over.
I think the story is meant to be an exaggeration--that's what makes it funny! Thanks for sharing, Cheryl! P.S., I will love you forever and ever for showing me Indian food (it was like being set up on a blind date that ended up going REALLY well). And now I will always think of you whenever I eat Indian food--which will be often from this day on!!!! We need to set another date with Liz!!! I'm really not that great at sewing.
Lizzie-
In my parenthesis where I talk about not wanting my kids paddled or smoking, I should have put "it's totally exaggerated, of course" but I chose different words. Like Michelle said, it was about humor --I really don't believe life was perfect back then, etc.
And btw, you don't ever have to apologize to me, because I already KNOW you love me --and the feeling is mutual! And you are always welcome to rant a bit. ;)
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