Monthly Archive: July 2008
Hugs,
Me
SCHOOL — 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario:
Jack
goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot
with shotgun in gun rack.
1957
– Vice Principal comes over, looks at
Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show
Jack.
2007 –
School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors called in for
traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get
into a fistfight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers.
Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 – Police
called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them
with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:
Jeffrey won’t be still in class, disrupts other
students.
1957
– Jeffrey sent to office and given a
good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and
does not disrupt class again.
2007 – Jeffrey given huge
doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets
extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window
in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his
belt.
1957 – Billy is more careful next
time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful
businessman.
2007
– Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy
removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist
tells Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and
their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has affair with
psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache
and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark
shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 – Police called,
Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for
drugs and weapons.
Scenario:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 –
Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to
college.
2007 –
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
state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English
banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but
ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart
leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model
airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant
bed.
1957 – Ants die.
2007 – ATF, Homeland
Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic
terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home,
computers confiscated, Johnny’s Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while
running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by
his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort
him.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels
better and goes on playing.
2007 – 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.
I should keep this to myself, but had to write it down… fortunately not many people read this…
I was just lying in bed a moment ago, thinking about how proud I was of what I have done with myself. I started talking to myself aloud, and was surprised to find it was almost a child’s voice.
“I’m so much better now. I’m way better than they ever thought I would be. I’m the best me I’ve ever been. Some day I’m going to be REAL good.” And then I found myself crying while saying, “Some day I’m gonna be good enough for someone else to want me…”
Didn’t stay there. I was shocked that it came out that way, simple and childlike with the tears hitting me before I knew what was going on. But I don’t live in pity parties… felt it was better to get it down on virtual paper.
A part of me really does feel that way… lol as if I needed to say that.
Hugs,
Me
One of those songs, one of those moments
I’m moved to tears watching this. I hope it means something to you.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cVOOXQo22o]
Food for thought
I just read an illuminating article on American politics.
Eight years ago, we elected Bush, an oil executive, and Cheney, a military contractor. In those eight years, oil prices, as well as what we are paying (even WITH open-bid contracts) for military supplies, have skyrocketed.
Now the Republicans are running the husband of a beer heiress. Eight years of McCain and we’ll be paying $35 a six-pack…
America can’t take any more of this. What’s next, a paper executive? Intel’s CEO?
I predict the big news will be air filters in 8 years. If we’re still around to breathe.
Hugs,
Me
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is lovely, horrible, fascinating… life with a Tamil woman married (at 15) to a kind, gentle, ugly, unambitious Tamil man living in Malaya before, during, and after the Japanese occupation during WWII. Each child is given his or her own story… I’m only about 1/4 of the way through, and am entranced.
I had a date Wednesday night, my first in, well, longer than I can remember (usually the woman just moves in or vice versa). It went so well… got my hopes up… they are not being dashed, but this woman moves so slowly I can’t tell she’s moving. It will be good if it works out… but it has been a stress on me, one more thing to think about when I needed one or two fewer things on my mind.
Some people offered to take me to a cookout followed by watching the City’s fireworks show, but I really need the time off to get my center back. Picked up something to kill off a few brain cells, and I’m kicking back.
I did talk to my boss for a few minutes. I couldn’t talk for too long, because it was an international call. She’s a sweetie, and she’s been so much help to me over the years that I really want to do good work for her. I’m fairly much caught up in my work, but one of my less-important jobs has gone undone for so long that it’s getting more important to get it done. Probably do that tomorrow, gotta rest up today. I LOVE working for Eternal Press, everyone is so helpful and friendly (and the few who aren’t will probably take themselves out of the mix, and the company, soon enough) that it feels like a real family or gathering of best friends. I just wish we were all in the same place instead of spread all over the globe. I didn’t really make any money last quarter, but then I only worked the second half of the quarter and don’t have my hands on that many books by the end of the quarter. Things are going to get a lot better.
Extra hugz to Flamez, she needs them right about now. She has been a good friend since she was so young I shouldn’t have been talking to her (but didn’t know that at the time)… Life can get rather life-like, sweetie, don’t take it harder than you have to.
Hugs,
Me