JOINING THE SENIOR RANKS

Fiedor Report On the News #327 ^ | 11-28-04 | Doug Fiedor

[forest]

In today's litigious world, all we kids would be heavily fined or sued for the stuff we did.

School was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer. No exception.

Immigrants in school learned in English because "that was our language."

The "Board of Education" was wood. A second application was applied when we got home.

12 year olds worked.

No seatbelts were in cars. No one I knew was hurt.

Our parents knew that we walked over four miles, so we worked the beer off.

We even took our 22 rifles to school and stored them in the shooting range in the basement. Ammo was kept in our lockers.

We played with mercury on our desks. No one suffered ill effects

As kids, we got into just about everything today's environmental whackos say will harm children. Yet no harmful effects have been noticed.

And, for those environmental jerks and other do-gooders who would make everything fun verboten -- in the immortal words recently popularized by John Kerry's mouthy wife during the election campaign: Shove It!

[OldFriend]

The ration books allowed your family to purchase certain amounts of food for each member. So much flour, so much butter, which was rarely available, barely any meat at all, etc.

Many people grew vegetable gardens so they could have fresh veggies.

We conserved everything, and very little was available to us.

A family friend was once able to buy bubble gum on the black market. We chewed that piece of gum for at least a week. It was such a treat!

[Think free or die]

I often feel a little sad about the ways in which our children's world has changed. I had a lot more freedom (and responsibility) when I was growing up in the 1960's than my own kids do today. Between political correctness, real or perceived dangers, and local traffic, their options are often limited. It makes them very dependent on their parents for rides and even playing with friends loses spontaneity. We try to keep their upbringing more traditional, but it's tough in this world.

One of our battles is keeping the kids from spending all their time indoors with electronic toys. Our sons are limited in their daily electronics play time, but that's not the case with some of their pals. We find ourselves chasing them outdoors to play, whereas we as youngsters had to be dragged indoors at dark. It's a different world.

[wtc911]

All of this fits my 1950s early childhood to a T. I agree that more than innocence has been lost. But I do believe strongly in seat belt laws. If you've ever been a first responder to a serious accident where one car's occupants were belted and the other's were not you would feel the same....it is a matter of life and death.

[LauraleeBraswell]

No seat belts or other contraptions were used in cars back then

As children, we had "wars" with BB guns. No shooting above the neck, of course.

Come on! While I agree that our country is over run with litigation, I think this guy has selective memory.
I'm sure every day was bright with Sunshine too

I really don't mean to rip this guy apart but SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES- Technology is good,
And I'm sorry but children should not have BB-gun fights Maybe his neighborhood was fortunate enough to have no child die through recklessness

Children should not play with real guns against eachother-

If a child is taught firearm responsibility and if he wants to go out and shoot some targets birds or bottles WITH his friends then thats fine!

There are rules and laws for a reason and Some of them are good Like seatbelts and bike helmets-

[LauraleeBraswell]

By the way

Was the generation before this guy complaining about how when they were 4 they got to work in coal mines? Seriously

This article is the other extreme

[Western Phil]

Seat belts were available as a dealer installed option, the fixtures were there. My father had them installed in a 48 Ford because the car his sister-in-law was driving was hit by a drunk driver running a stop sign in the early 40s. She fell of her car on her head on the pavement and needed a funeral. A seatbelt would have saved her life.

[MoralSense]

b

[firebrand]

Also shoes and gasoline. Older people used to give younger people their shoe coupons so growing kids could have new shoes when they needed them.

[Twinkie]

Now the AARP starts sending you stuff before you even get out of diapers. I'm 58 and still too proud to use my senior card to get discounts. If the kid at McDonald's doesn't pick up on it on his own, I pay full price for coffee. My husband wants every possible discount even if his pride is pulverized in the process. In fact, he regularly urges me to use blue hair rinse and put it in a bun so I can pass for 65, he is so cheap.

[jslade]

bttt

[OldFriend]

We never got new shoes. Always hand me downs. And none had a car where we lived so none ever needed gasoline.

[speekinout]

Actually, when this guy was young, children were taught that they were responsible for bad things they did. Everything bad that happened wasn't blamed on the evil corporations or evil gov't.

You'd be surprised at how much better (and, yes, rosier) life is when people take responsibility for their own behavior.

[Doug Fiedor]

"Actually, when this guy was young, children were taught that they were responsible for bad things they did. Everything bad that happened wasn't blamed on the evil corporations or evil gov't."

You sure got that right! Wish I had a nickel for every time I heard: "You are responsible for your own actions, no body else."

Also, it seemed like, every adult for a mile around acted like a surrogate parent.

[speekinout]

every adult for a mile around acted like a surrogate parent

I'll never forget Mrs. Griffith. She knew what all the kids were doing. And if she didn't like it, the parents heard about it very soon.

Kids were responsible for what they did, and parents were responsible for their kids.

Too bad that now only corporations and gov'ts have any responsibility for anything.

[Allosaurs_r_us]

I agree that more than innocence has been lost. But I do believe strongly in seat belt laws

I believe in seat belts, just don't believe in a law that requires me to use it.... Has to do with a little something I call Freedom

[Allosaurs_r_us]

There are rules and laws for a reason and Some of them are good Like seatbelts and bike helmets-

So, we need to be saved from ourselvse, huh?

Get a clue! I think we are all capable of making inteligent decisions. For those that don't, well, perhaps it's better they not enter the gene pool. I do not need some eletist to tell me when to cross the street. Pubbies are for less government. That is why I come here. WHO ARE YOU?

[wtc911]

I believe in seat belts, just don't believe in a law that requires me to use it.... Has to do with a little something I call Freedom

____________________________________

Respond to call where you get to pick up the pieces of a six year old because his father exercised that "freedom".

[LauraleeBraswell]

Actually I'm a republican, just like you.

"'I think we are all capable of making inteligent decisions. For those that don't, well, perhaps it's better they not enter the gene pool.
""
So I guess your pro choice?

Well I'm pro life.

I believe in preserving innocent lives- and I believe laws are in place for a reason-

[Allosaurs_r_us]

How in the heck can you acuse me of being pro-choice from my statement about the gene pool. In genetics it is the strong who survive. It has nothing to do with abortion. If you are to stupid to wear a seat belt, you won't be around to propogate. Hence you and yours will be removed from future generations

If you want to tell others we make laws to protect them from themselves perhaps you should change to the party that advances this belief. I am not pro-choice, I am anti-stupidity. I don't believe we need you or anybody else to advise us how to protect ourselves or our families.

Anyone who believes they need to save me from my self I consider a friggin Dem. We need less restrictions of our private lives, not more. Nuff Said!