I hope I don't offend anyone or break rules of Forum.
Just thought this gives some realism to life on Local Election Day in
UK!
brings back lots of memories...
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were
kids in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's probably shouldn't have survived.
Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We
had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets, and when
we
rode our bikes, we had no helmets. Not to mention the risks we took
hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or
air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was
always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We ate
cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but
we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We
shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one
actually
died from this.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode
down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running
into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would
leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back
when the
street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell
phones. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video
games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround
sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat
rooms.
We had friends. We went outside and found them. We played soccer,
and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got
cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these
accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember
accidents?
We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and
learned to get over it.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and
although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many
eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or
rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.
Soccer League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who
didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Some students weren't
as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back. Tests
were not adjusted for any reason.
Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of a
parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually
sided with the law. Imagine that.
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem
solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion
of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and
responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
If you're one of them. Congratulations!
You have had the luck to grow up as kids, before lawyers and government
regulated our lives, for our own good.
Regards
Gerry (56 and getting older, but happy!)
Gerry Holland
mailto://gnholland@onetel.com
+44 7808 402404
Europa XS 384
G-FIZY
The greatest enjoyment from existence is living dangerously....
Friedrich Nietzsche
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