Where did all of this discontent about everything come from? Why does everything have to reach a fever-pitch before the average person hears about it? What’s more…is it really important? Or to quote a friend, “Does it really matter?”
There are many people who do not watch the news. They seem to be content with their life and all connected with it. I have another friend who never turns on or listens to the television or radio news, doesn’t read newspapers or magazines, and has no interest in general about much that’s going on. I’ve known him for many years. He is a brilliant person with a great sense of humor and a joyous personality. He is artistic and a great commercial designer. He creates magnificent stained-glass windows, and is deeply invested in the historical preservation of buildings and structures. He is also capable of actually accomplishing much of the work himself. It is only recently that age and health issues have restricted some of his activities.
There are a great number of people who have no interest in politics and only casually interested in the news. They seem content as well. They go to work, do their jobs, come home to their families, have dinner and watch a TV show or movie and go to bed. Nothing’s wrong with that either.
It is almost safe to say that most of the people that I know have no interest in what’s going on in the world, but are more invested in their local communities, their own circle of friends and their own lives. They’re too busy with their own affairs, problems, planning, health and future to really be concerned about some injustice committed two hundred and fifty years ago…or a year ago for that matter.
Are they apathetic? Not intentionally. Do they not care about mankind and man’s injustice towards man? Unless it concerns them, perhaps not. I can’t read a person’s mind, so I don’t know. So, what is it that pisses people off so much lately?
Recently, and I’m talking about within the past year, there has been so much discontentment and it’s hard to figure out why. I do understand the result of COVID-19 being introduced to this country by a foreign government, and it certainly was not the fault of anyone in the USA. Our leaders did what they thought best to protect us…some right and some wrong. Does it really matter? What’s done is done. Some are in lockdown, and some are not. It is what it is.
What I’m speaking about is not really connected to COVID-19. What I am talking about is the rise of gangs, rioters, rebellious hoodlums destroying other people’s toils and labors, their works of art, and personal sacrifices. Why? Where does all of this anger come from?
During the 1960’s there were the flower children…the “who cares?” group, who displayed a lackadaisical attitude exacerbated by drugs and alcohol. They only destroyed themselves. Through self-deprivation, they lived in combines, had free-love shared among themselves and with everyone else they wanted to, and learned to live without much of anything including a bath. They were very irresponsible and mobile. How do I know? I was twenty-four years of age and in the entertainment industry, living in Southern California. I saw it firsthand.
Today, the trouble makers are like bulldozers and seemingly have no other purpose but to destroy what they don’t have or can’t afford and to hell with anyone who accomplishes what they are incapable of achieving.
We’re always looking to blame others, so here goes…I believe it is the education system created by the teachers unions. It has failed to recognize that there is a difference between Johnny and Billy and Mary and Jane. While we are created equal as humans with unalienable rights, we are NOT all the same. One size does not fit all.
There are two boys and two girls…there is a difference, regardless of what others may think or say. The two boys are not the same either, Johnny has an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 136 and Billy has an IQ of 87. The same goes for Mary (IQ-126) and Jane (IQ-100). Why does the public education system not differentiate their level of intellect or capacity for learning? To a degree, they do, they dummy-down to the IQ-87 level, leaving three of the four out of the equation.
Most of the teachers realize this. They are dedicated and genuinely care about their students. Why don’t the unions listen to them…they know how to teach our children? They are unable to do so because the unions have created an environment requiring them to belong…if they want to get along or ahead. It has become a “go along to get along” situation. So, realizing this, they are afraid to buck the system. It is the teachers union who creates the curriculum, its objectives, and establishes the policies.
Who runs these unions? The same type of people who run most bureaucratic organizations, comprised of people who value power and influence over mission. These same people also have their own political agendas as well. So, rather than address the IQ differentials they work on things that do not require any special brain power. They are attacking our history (or what’s left of it) and social issues.
Over the past several decades the teachers unions have infected our institutions of learning and have developed a curriculum that is teaching our young ones a socialistic philosophy that is contrary to the American way of life. They are teaching that America is bad. That our history has been bad…of course some of it was; however, we’ve learned from it and made corrections. If we are so awful, why is it that we are the envy of the world and everyone wants to live here?
They are teaching our children and youth that many of our heroes were not heroes. They were real people who have done bad things. Of course…some have, no one is perfect, yet, in spite of their faults, they have excelled beyond their past and accomplished something great and worthwhile for humankind. That’s what the statues are for, to remind us of this history…“warts and all,” to quote Abraham Lincoln.
I don’t care what Christopher Columbus did or didn’t do, who he was or wasn’t…he risked his life and ventured out onto the “flat” ocean surface and discovered the earth was round and found a new land – one that we call America. That’s pretty significant…at least for me. I’m proud of him and this land. Who do these young people think they are to destroy his memory or history?
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America, was a magnificent individual and one of the more intelligent men to ever live. So he owned slaves. So did nearly all of the gentry of his day and those before him. He even fathered several children with one, but then so did everyone else owning slaves during his time. Was it right…yes, for that time. Is it right from our perspective today? No! But that was nearly 250 years ago. That’s 10 generations ago. However, Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence…a most splendid document that still lives today and created the greatest nation on earth.
The Romans had slaves, too. Does that mean that all Italians are bad and we shouldn’t buy anything from Italy. No, not by a long shot.
Michelangelo created many fine works of art. He was also a homosexual which was not acceptable for that time and generally were burned at the stake. Aren’t we glad they didn’t destroy him or his beautiful and magnificent works of art?
The Egyptians had slaves who built the pyramids – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Should we bomb them or tear them down? I don’t think so. Truthfully, we couldn’t rebuild them even if we wanted to, we’re not sure how they did it!
George Washington, the first President of the United States of America, dedicated his entire life to this nation. He suffered every adverse condition imaginable and isolated himself from Martha, his wife, for years at a time. Of course he dallied, but he also won our independence from Great Britain and without him, there would be no USA. Martha loved him and she was no fool. Get real!
How about Jesus Christ, a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth, in Judea, Israel. He was perfect and they nailed him to a cross and crucified him. They killed him…or so they thought. Was he really perfect? Over two billion people in the world think and believe so. So what right does a bunch of disgruntled and mostly uneducated hoodlums think they are to tear down his memory and destroy his churches or to destroy statues? The US Constitution gives us the legal right to believe whatever we want…we have that guaranteed right. Freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
Father Junipero Serra, a Roman Catholic priest, personally established nine of the twenty-one missions in California. Could just one of those who destroyed his statue even imagine going out by themself, facing a primitive country filled with indiginous people and building as much as an outhouse…let alone a full mission after converting the natives? These missions are still standing nearly 300 years later. I know…for the San Buenaventura Mission was right down the street from my home and I attended many services there including the funeral for my best friend.
We must never destroy our history, any of it, for if we do we are bound to repeat it. That’s what an ignorant society does.
Our curriculum is teaching our young minorities that they are victims. No…they are not! They will be who they choose to be, if they are taught properly, they will know that all people are equal. If they are taught that life is full of choices…and if they don’t like being the victim, then choose to do something about it. Go out and get a job, work hard, save your money, get an education, learn to act in a civilized manner and elevate your standards and thus, yourself. Become someone. All who have, have done just that and earned it. No one gave them anything…not even a participation trophy. So don’t wait for a handout!
Growing up, there were three little stickers posted by my mother on my bedroom mirror: “The world owes no one a living…it was here first,” “You are judged by the company you keep,” and “One can only remain a bystander for so long.” I had a friend who offered this additional piece of advice: “It’s better to be alone, than in bad company.” That’s good advice, too.
