Drug Problem??

FAOL Community Sound Off
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Subject: The Drug Problem in America

The other day, a friend of mine read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, ‘‘Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?’’

I replied: I HAD a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in
everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out of bed at 5:00 AM to go fishing with my dad.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

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hmmmmmm…I reckon I have a “drug” problem, too!

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…Nothing but saltwater and Morgans’ Spiced in these veins! ;0)

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not me…(unless capt. morgan is a drug…)

(andy, we posted these simultaneously! sick minds think alike!)

[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 04 August 2005).]

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Too bad you had to be drug every where you went. Sounds like a unhappy childhood.

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Oh Yes Dave, my childhood was a real bear. My parents even FORCED me to take medecine that tasted REAL bad. I sure learned from them. I NEVER did any of those things with MY children. As a matter of fact, counting time off for good behavior, they may get out early.

Mark

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Hey Marco;

Sounds like your parents and mine were related. Sure am glad my parents were there for me.

It is funny how looking back on the things we were “drug” to do were some of the most fun after we got there.

I was guided by parent that took no back talk, I knew how to cut a good switch. I also could chop wood that fit into the fire place. I learned about life the way kids today should learn. You know I hated getting talked to by dad a whole lot more than getting switched.

Remember getting drug fishing. Getting up before daylight, eating cold biskits and sausage and cold tea for lunch on the boat. The hot sun and the smell of worms on your hands. Leaning over the boat and not paying attention when that big fish hit and almost took away your rod.
Or how about being drug to the family reunion and being told to go play with your cousins. I remember hating that. But having a great time. And on the ride home knowing dad knew we had a great time and him never saying anything about the fit we pitched before going.

Yes I was drug also. If only I had known.

At least I can tell dad now, how much I appreicate being drug to all those great places. I even had to be drug to meet Bart Star and Max Magee. What a life my parents drug me into. Thanks mom and dad.

Harold

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my dad drug me to the tavern, and for that i’ll be forever grateful.

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Being drug to the tavern is better
than being drug out!
(Not that I would know about that sort of thing)

MW

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I really feel sorry for you guys that felt you were drug everywhere you went with your parents. I certainly wasn’t always thrilled about some of the places we went, but give me a break here.

You also seem to feel that things were so much better back in the ‘good old days.’ Let’s see. In the 30’s there was the depression. In the 40’s WWII and rationing. The 50’s and 60’ the Cold War, Vietnam, race riots. Yep. Things were sure allot better back then.

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Les see AnglerD., I seem to remember music where you could understand the words, even worse, the music had notes all over the scale so you had to be able to hear, and speaking of hearing, things were so bad then that if you turned up your car radio too loud ('member there weren’t no a/c in cars then) the Fuzz would pull you over and reach in and turn your radio off. Even further, it was so bad then that we kids didn’t have one Game Boy amongst us but we did have an old beat up baseball, and the tomato soup cans of those days could withstand a whole evening of Kick the Can.

But, then today is prolly a better time 'cause without the Internet and computers you and I couldn’t have this good natured bantering, could we?

Have a nice day all, the sun is shining here in AZ and “they” even promise that the temp won’t get above 105 today.

Snow on the roof but with fire still in the hearth

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silvertop, and your parents complained because that music was too loud, or too wild, or didn’t make sense. let’s not forget what it was like to be young, guys.

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Thank God the Fuzz can’t reach in your car anymore without just cause. I forgot what it was like to live in a police state. Just kidding of course. G

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Anglerdave;

You think things are better now, we are in the middle of 2 wars. How many service men and women are in harms way right now. You think we are not still having riots and other problems.
Children are beaten and killed it seems every week. It could have been happening back then but we did not know about it. Maybe that is the real difference between today and yesteryear.

When I speak of being drug that is the way I looked at it back then. Little did we know back then that everything we were drug to do would turn out to be a fun time.

When I was a child I would leave the house around daylight and go off to have a great day by myself or with a few of my buddies, I was between 8 and 13. I remember my life changing when the little girl I played with was kidnapped and killed. I was no longer allowed to do some of the things I had done before.

My kids had it pretty good, the town I lived in was a good town, but it has grown to the place where drive by shootings happen all the time. The drug problem is here and so is the violence. More violence than I remember during the Selma to Montgromery march. I was there. I know first hand what happened to people back then.

So I have to say yes those days were better, And I am glad to say some things have changed for the better, but we still have a long way to go before today is better than back then.

My grandchildren will never know the joy of walking to school, or going fishing by them selves. The will never know what it was like to play outside till dark. No they will have mom or dad watching them and when darkness falls they will be inside.

Sorry Dave maybe where you live it is better… But not here.

With respect
Harold

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harold, you’re right, but i think the original post paints a bad picture of the young people today with a pretty broad brush, and that is what evil dave was getting at, and it’s that attitude i’m contesting. has there ever been a generation that wasn’t looked on as more lazy, less respectful, less ambitious, etc. than the previous generation? so while we’re lamenting the lazy ways of the youth of today we have to remember that our parents were lamenting our evil ways, and their parents were lamenting their evil ways, back until adam and eve (but they did have a point about cain…)

[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 04 August 2005).]

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You know, I see no difference between " things were better" and " tough times". It’s highly likely that those tough times DID make things, and us, better. But, “better” is a qualitative opinion and mine is that in fact things WERE better. This is a case where I impose an age perspective that may not be shared by younger or more “progressive” readers of this BB. But what the hell!

Mark

I’d rather be in Wyoming!

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D. Micus

I could not agree with you more about today’s kids getting the bad rap.
There are many millions of kids that do not have drug problems, do not get into trouble nor do they shoot people. There are millions of kids today that are not in gangs and do not cause terror in their cities.

I am sure that Marco was talking about the percentage of kids that do make the whole look bad. Heck remember when you were a hippie? Remember mom and dad telling you the Beatles had long hair and were no good. My hair now is longer than the Beatles had. I laugh at what we went through. But all in all I think today we have more to worry about, more hate than ever. I feel like in some areas man has digressed instead of progressing.

I think everyone knows I respect and cherish Anglerdave. I would not love him so much if he did not have his own opinions. Heck he is even older than me. by almost a half a decade. I am sure my 50 year old mind has glorified some of the past. I am sure that my lack of patience with society today has clouded my vision. But life just seemed to be less complicated back then. I lived in Alabama as a kid, and you know even with all the riots and fighting over black and white, I never knew any difference between the two races. Dad and granddad just did not see things that way. My nanny was my fathers nanny and she was black. I guess I loved her as much as any member of my family. Yup life was simpler then, even with all the strife and wars. To bad Dave and I were not friends back then it would have been fun to share his viewpoints and even maybe share a fishing hole. I would have to blindfold him and make sure he could not find his way back to my honey holes.

So Mr. Anglerdave, come go fishing with me sometime. We will share a few of our memories and enjoy the different view points. D. Micus you can come to, and anyone else that would love to sit on a nice beach and fish and BS and watch the sun sink into the water. Maybe we can all share the green light. Still waiting to see it.

Have a great day

Harold

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‘Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, goble their food and tyrannise their teachers.’

Socratise 470 - 390 BC

Oh and here is one more of his. ‘The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.’

Or maybe that was Sgt Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes. No wait a minute.Schultz just said ‘I know nothihng!’

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Harold

You are a brave one inviting me and my twin to go fishing with you. He may tell everyone that I’m the evil one, but don’t you believe it.

Back when I was young and dumb I made a comment to my dad about how great life must have been back in the 30’s. No war, race riots, political assasinations, so on and so forth. Well it was about the time I was getting ready to be drug across the pond by the government.

So my dad sat me down and told me stories how he had to leave my mom and older brother and sister for weeks at a time driving up and down the east coast looking for work. Then come back home and work the farm chores that my mom was unable to do. How they didn’t have electricity and had to use the outhouse. Of course my dad was an immigrant and things in Europe in the teens and twenties were allot worse. I remember those stories. And everytime I hear someone complain about how bad things are today, I just shake my head. Not everyone lived on Walton’s mountain back in the ‘good old days.’

And I really appreciate your kind words about cherish and respect. But I am not going to go steady with you. S

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Anglerdave;

I guess not everyone lives on Walton mountain today either.

I want to thank you and D. Micus. WE have had what I think is an intelligent discussion between 3 men of similar ages, our viewpoints are just slightly different. I have really enjoyed getting to know you better. (I know all about D. Micus…saltwater fish talk about him)

It is refreshing to be able to discuss life without someone getting all hot and bothered because someone has a different opinion.

So I will take my chances on inviting you two fish with me, I have a few secret weapons. Stev and Flats Dude, Saltydancindave, purebs and a few others will help keep him in line. If not there is always the dreaded sharkogator Flats is breeding in his pool.

Think I will start feeding a couple of snook for you two. A few pinfish a week should get them going and make them big enough when you get here. And if it takes a year or so longer, then who knows when you catch them they might just might be a record.

Take care
Harold