Sometimes we look back at our lives and believe it was always a better time, the rose-colored glasses blocking out some of the bad things about the past; or at least we don't acknowledge fully some of the progress we've made since then. But I can say without a doubt, I do wish for us to go back to the way things were when I was growing up, from a standpoint of the namby-pamby way we are treating society these days. For your consideration.
Scenario #1: Jack goes quail hunting before school then pulls into the parking lot with his shotgun in the truck's gun rack.
1970 - The Vice-principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun out to show it to Jack.
2015 - The school goes into lock down, FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to talk to the traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario #2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1970 - A crowd gathers, Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and walk away. Everyone forgets about it a week later.
2015 - The police are called in and arrest both Johnny & Mark. They are both charged with assault and expelled from school, ordered to undergo anger management counseling.
Scenario #3: Jeffrey will not stay in his desk in class, he's talking over the teacher and disrupting the lesson.
1970 - Jeffrey is sent to the Principal's office and is given a swat. He returns to class and in no longer a problem. Mom and Dad tell the principal he was right and scold Jeffrey when he gets home.
2015 - Jeffrey is given a huge dose of Ritalin and becomes a Zombie. He's tested for ADD and the school gets more money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability. The parents sue a drug company because the measles vaccine ruined Jeffrey's life.
Scenario #4 - Billy throws a baseball and breaks a window in his neighbor's car. Dad yells at Billy and pays for the window, making Billy work off the money by mowing the yard, picking up leaves and washing the car.
1970 - The neighbors think Dad is a good father, Billy is more careful next time and grows up to go to college, gets a good job, starts a family and things are good.
2015 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is put in a foster home where he starts acting up, taking drugs and joins a gang. The state psychologist says Billy 'remembers' being sexually abused as a child and dad goes to prison.
Scenario #6: Johnny takes apart some firecrackers, pours the gunpowder into a small paint bottle, puts it on an ant bed and lights the fuse.
1970 - Ants die.
2015 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are called. The neighborhood is put on lockdown while the agents search for more IEDs. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism and his parents are investigated. Johnny's siblings are removed from the home and all their computers are confiscated. Johnny is put in juvenile detention and the kids are placed with other families. Johnny's parents lose their jobs, their home and never see the kids again.