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There is an old saying "If you aren't happy with what you have, why do you
think you would be happier with more?"
We've gone through a horrendous experience in the past couple of weeks.
For many it is more wrenching because of their past experiences in Viet Nam.
The 'seniors' in our community have memories going back to World War II.
We have not as a country experienced depriving ourselves of anything in the
memory of most. There has been no rationing, the worse many can remember
is gas lines during the Carter administration. That doesn't even come close.
I hear a lot of complaining about things which haven't happened yet. About
the loss of our freedoms. We haven't lost any. Loss of free speech? I can't
believe an anti-war protest was allowed across from the White House, 18 days
after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But it was.
(If I were Queen it would have been, 'Off with their heads!' but I guess
this isn't Alice in Wonderland.)
Loss of personal security? Were you and your family out and about this
weekend? How many armed guards did you encounter? Were you stopped
and asked for "your papers?" Were you turned back or away?
It is time to put things in perspective. We have become a very 'touchy-feely'
country with everyone doing the 'politically correct' thing. However, let's
get real here. Your personal rights extend only to that point at which they
infringe on mine. Your rights are not any more - or less - important than
mine. That's it!
Yes, we may be asked to be more alert. But we have had other times in
this country where things happened very routinely and no one was bent
out of shape. An example, back in the 1970s, I taught at a small college
in Michigan. To be eligible to be hired I had to fill out and sign a form.
I'm not going to be able to quote it exactly, but you'll get the point.
Are you a member of the Communist Party?
Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
Are you a Fellow Traveler?
Was I teaching Political Science? World History? Organic Chemistry?
Quantum Physics? I was teaching art, watercolor painting to be exact!
Our country is in flux, there may be some things installed we don't particularly
like, it will take longer to get through airports - but some years ago we went
through very similar procedures, after the Lockerbie tragedy. Maybe those
security procedures should not have been removed.
But this too will pass. Nothing is forever. Change happens. Not always at
our choice. Our idea of 'touchy/feely' may be a lot different for some time.
I hope 'politically correct' is gone forever. Congress seems to be playing
nice, it's a shame it took this terrorism for them to realize it's about
America, not their individual egos.
I hate what has happened, but like the guy who said "When life hands you lemons
make lemonade." It seems to me we have a wonderful opportunity to re-establish
the America as our Founding Fathers intended it.
Stop the whining, go to work, get the job done. And when you've got the job
done, GO FISH! ~ LadyFisher
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post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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