Disturbing trend escalates
Count your Ol' Editor among the Old Fogie class if you like. He's no longer that young guy fresh out of college ready to make his mark in the world. He's become that guy too old for retirement but not ready. He's one who's been there, done that, and can't find any younger folk interested in listening to the lessons he learned. It's a disturbing circumstance which grows worse each day.
Take your pick of issues. The oil of Iraq, the lack of friendship from France, budget crises at all levels of government, and the manner in which we dress, or lack of manners, loss of interest in reading and a belief that computers and cash are the answer to any situation.
The oil of Iraq fuels the controversy of potential war, not because Uncle Sam wants war, but because France and Russia don't want to lose their favored priority and sanctions for the crude in Iraq.
Your OE remembers back 60 years ago when he helped liberate France. Americans were loved. We not only freed them, we fed them and rebuilt their infrastructure. Women rushed into the streets greeting GI soldiers, giving apples and kisses. But that soon faded. It wasn't too many years before people all over France (except Normandy) shunned Americans and were insulting. They resented us. Now, it has become fashionable to be "anti-American" all across Europe.
As the years rolled by, the two most difficult things to find in Europe were a German who would admit to having been a Nazi or a Frenchman who didn't claim to have been an underground freedom fighter with the FFI.
There also is concern about our own government, at all levels, which pleads on one hand of being broke and on the other is spending money in unprecedented levels. Two government employees are hired to do what one could do, and what really isn't necessary in the first place.
Without going into detail about how Marion County, or the local school, has half the population but twice as many employees — that discussion goes nowhere. Officials are elected who promise to stop the trend, but soon become part of the escalating problem.
It can be summed up by blaming it on Dr. Spook. Kids raised without discipline have a different attitude. Their manners are crude. Their grammar is faulty. And their lack of fiscal responsibility is overwhelming.
They don't all smoke pot. Some open doors and stand for ladies. In fact there are many outstanding young people today. But, this is the point, too high a percent of them are not.
We've caused it. We didn't set a good example for our kids. We taught them that instant gratification was the way of life, because we provided for them abundantly.
Americans and Uncle Sam became more successful. The world doesn't like the USA because we are the leader. That's true in world politics as well as on the local level. Successful people are despised by others. It's the price they pay.
What course should we take? Should we insist on better manners among kids and for adults do away with "causal Friday" which has expanded to every day of the week?
Or should we cave in, quit complaining, raise taxes, and let the government take care of our every need — and hope the bill is paid by that "other guy" whoever he might be?
— BILL MEYER
