Post by Banana Boat on May 25, 2022 11:40:48 GMT -7
We didn't have police officers stationed at our schools, no school locked doors and no fear of a gunman attacking us. That being said, we also didn't have cell phones, computers or microwaves! The scariest things I remember at school was the earthquake drills of hiding under our little desks and as you mentioned Russia attacking!
We didn't have police officers stationed at our schools, no school locked doors and no fear of a gunman attacking us. That being said, we also didn't have cell phones, computers or microwaves! The scariest things I remember at school was the earthquake drills of hiding under our little desks and as you mentioned Russia attacking!
We had police 'walk the beat' & they seemed to know people better then. A v. dangerous job.
I'm sure earthquakes are frightening. But some kids seem to have cell phones too young now IE 8 or 9. The 24/7 news coverage in my opinion makes a tragedy worse. They keep repeating the same thing. And will we ever know the motive of some of these perps? I sent my SIL an emotional email last night: mass killings are sad! sad! sad!
I'm glad I grew up in the mid 50s and 60s. I was in college through 1976 and then graduate school while I taught. It was a time when I never was afraid to go to the playground, school, church or even be out after dark downtown in the city. It felt like a time of innocence and safety if you lived in a decent area of the suburbs or rural areas.
I taught school for 30 years. It was only in the last 5 years of my career that we had to start doing practice drills for terrorist attacks because 9/11 happened. I can't imagine what the children and teachers are facing with school attacks happening so often now. What in the world is wrong with the USA citizens that we can't get it together and change some of the gun laws AND prioritize mental health in all aspects of our society at home, at work, in schools, churches, health organizations, and political institutions? Can't people compromise the far right and far left beliefs in order to change the laws that could stop some of the constant violence? When will the lawmakers say enough is enough? When will people elect representatives that care about these things and not let the lobbyists and special interest groups buy their way into politicians' pockets? I weep for our children and their futures and I weep for the USA.
I cried for a half hour after hearing the news. So many young lives, parents leaving them in school and never seeing them again.
Sadly there will never be a compromise because it seems instead of protecting the innocent lives they are supposed to they are protecting their pockets, NRA is in deep with the law makers and lobbyists, it's sick and it's rotting the supposed morals they preach about. And if Sandy Hook did not get them to implement change I (sadly my optimism for this is gone) I don't think anything else will. Too many states are sneaking in laws that make it easier to get guns into the hands of anyone with little to no background checks. I said before there should be some type of tests to see if the buyer/user is capable and responsible. These politicians do nothing, say nothing and watch as the problem escalates everyday. It's never the right time, it's always too soon or after time has passed it's too late to be speaking about it now. There's never a right time to speak on these matters, but there should be one thing they agree on and that is protecting the young lives and the vulnerable. They make too many excuses to not do their jobs right and look the other way as money is placed in their personal bank accounts.
The worse of it is that we keep seeing these mass shootings, and not all of them are reported by the news, not all of them make headlines, but the effect is still the same until something is done. Loss of life, the thing that these supposed Christian politicians say they want to protect. And one thing they seem to forget as they ignore the right thing to do, that after death they have to face their maker. I'm going to go hug my baby now.
1) All lobbyists should be banned from contacting or trying to influence any member of Congress. Or POTUS. 2) Lobbyists should be forbidden to give any member of Congress or federal candidate or any POTUS or POTUS-candidate $ for his/ her campaign. 3) PAC money should be declared illegal. 4) We should limit US Senators to 2 terms only & they can't return again, ditto for US Reps for 2 terms & can't sit out and run again. 5) 'Both sides of the aisle' in Congress need to ban semi-automatic & automatic weapons. Show some backbone, old dudes in Congress! Our little kids and others do not deserve to be killed by a rapid spray of bullets. No innocent victim in a mass-murder in the US should be considered "collateral damage" or in the wrong place/ wrong time. The shooter uses the pistol/ rifle/ AR-15, or uses a baseball bat or knife etc, not the other way around. 6) P.S. I'm angry at the gutless wonders in Congress.
BTW my spouse has a concealed-carry license & was trained on how/ when to use a gun. He considers it for home use only.
mlover, I agree with most of your list, except the term limits. We have a way to limit terms in our system already; it's called vote the idiots out if they're not doing the job we elected them to do. Trouble is, so many people that are voting anymore don't know who they're voting for. They vote the party ticket--used to be harder before they started putting the party affiliation on the ballot--they actually had to know the names! Now many just look for the R or D. And yeah, I've dealt with it working as a polling election official. Of course, that's only if they actually vote, as well!
Unfortunately, they'll never ban the lobbyists & PAC money--the folks there like that money way too much! And yep, I can tell you're angry at those "gutless wonders" I get angry at the absolute lack of compromise on either side anymore. So nothing gets accomplished because both take the "my way or the highway" attitude.
I was born in 55 & some of my later schools did have security officers patrolling. We also had riots, and I know of one kid getting beaten with a belt. That's when I found out what a belt buckle can do to the human body when heavy force is used. One of the kids I knew taught me how to use a knife. I never carried one, but I would know how to hold it & strike if I needed to--and no, not the Psycho shower scene stroke. If they move out of the way, enough force in your strike & it can come back into your body! My Junior year, we moved out of the city & into the country because the folks wanted us attending a school without those problems. However, then I was attending a small school with limited offerings & listening to the kids call each other the "n" word (which in our family was every bit as bad as the "f" word) and calling the gals "heifers", plus being told that girls couldn't take shop & boys couldn't take home ec, etc. I think I preferred the other--those I could stay out of the way much more easily! The folks never understood why I hated the new school--they wanted safety and I understand that, but I hated the mind-set! Walked into a small store once in town, waiting for the clerk to get something, & a group of fellas (older men-maybe mid-30's-mid-40's) talking about how horrible it was giving folks a day off for that "n"'s birthday but not giving them Good Friday off. I'm sorry, but I hated hearing MLK referred to that way!
I'm sorry you dealt w/ such unpleasantness as a girl and youth.
You made good points. To me the N-word, F-word & B---h word are all insulting. True adults minimize name-calling or don't do it at all. And Dr. King made a big difference in this world. What did the men who stood around complaining do to better the world? Dr. King was brilliant and graduated from high school at only 16! I read he originally wanted to be an attorney.
Term limits. IMO Mitch McConnell, Nancy Poloski, Chuck Schumer, Ms. Greene, Rubio etc. have stayed too long at the party. If this were vaudeville, I'd say 'get the hook out.' Let's get some fresh ideas in Congress. I'm sooo tired of political theatre.
Mlover, I'm sorry as well about the mean and cruel words and attitudes you had to deal with growing up. I know how privileged my upbringing was in my area even though I was in a low income family with five kids. I was blessed mostly with a happy childhood with a drive to succeed to better things in life. I know not everyone gets that chance, but I still believe things can be better if people want to change. I've changed dramatically in my attitudes and beliefs over the years trying to understand all kinds of people despite some of the prejudices that I was raised around.
I agree with the sentiments for change that both you and KC talked about. I just think that so many have become numb or hopeless about the government and laws to change. I wish some new, enthusiastic candidates with some intelligence about the law and integrity with basic values and common sense would run for office and get elected in Congress. We need them all to be willing to compromise with bipartisan support for the changes that both sides should want in order to offer a better life for future generations.
I realize that I'm preaching to the virtual choir.
Mlover, I'm sorry as well about the mean and cruel words and attitudes you had to deal with growing up. I know how privileged my upbringing was in my area even though I was in a low income family with five kids. I was blessed mostly with a happy childhood with a drive to succeed to better things in life. I know not everyone gets that chance, but I still believe things can be better if people want to change. I've changed dramatically in my attitudes and beliefs over the years trying to understand all kinds of people despite some of the prejudices that I was raised around.
I agree with the sentiments for change that both you and KC talked about. I just think that so many have become numb or hopeless about the government and laws to change. I wish some new, enthusiastic candidates with some intelligence about the law and integrity with basic values and common sense would run for office and get elected in Congress. We need them all to be willing to compromise with bipartisan support for the changes that both sides should want in order to offer a better life for future generations. I realize that I'm preaching to the virtual choir.
Ms.D. --- I think you mean the violence/ threat of violence & cruel and crude words that KC encountered at school. I had 3 mean girls in grade school try to break my glasses. But I got away.
The government, & both parties, take voters for granted. I heard more sad news about the recent Texas mass murder at school. Someone left the back door of the school unlocked! The perp got in. It took 1 hour for the police to confront the perp, they were waiting for equipment. What the hell?! I am so sad.
Just finished watching British invasion and later bands on youtube, like DC5, Led Zepplin, Dolly's version of "Stairway to Heaven," and rock/ brass band Chicago. Tom Hanks did intro ( & took forever) for 3 of Dave Clark 5, (2 died) introduction into R& R Hall of Fame.
Thanks Mlover. I did mean KC. I'm sorry she was subjected to violence in school and racial slurs. I can't imagine how traumatizing that can be. It makes me so angry and sad.
Term limits. IMO Mitch McConnell, Nancy Poloski, Chuck Schumer, Ms. Green, Rubio etc. have stayed too long at the party. If this were vaudeville, I'd say 'get the hook out.' Let's get some fresh ideas in Congress. I'm sooo tired of political theatre.
Term limits. IMO Mitch McConnell, Nancy Poloski, Chuck Schumer, Ms. Green, Rubio etc. have stayed too long at the party. If this were vaudeville, I'd say 'get the hook out.' Let's get some fresh ideas in Congress. I'm sooo tired of political theatre.
We are all blessed (I don't say these words lightly) to have family & friends in our lives. They are worth more than a 'beautiful' home, a 'sexy' car, too expensive apparel, or flashy bling-bling. They are the true gems.
Yes they are, when times are tough your realise it's the family and friends in our life that really make a difference, not all that unnecessary expensive "bling" . Nice words mlover.