Speakout 6/12

Monday, June 13, 2005

Call 471-6636

I would like to make a comment about our animal shelter. I was out there this past week and saw a huge difference. The lady who greeted me was very friendly instead of sullen and rude as last time I was there, and the building was cleaner. I guess it is not the greatest job to work there, but I want to thank those who are there now because you are doing a very good job.

Under the present command, when anything goes well in the military, the president, Congress, the Defense Department and the generals fall over one another taking credit. But when something goes awry, they start another investigation and bust a private. Perhaps recruiting will improve when the leadership does.

Recently someone wrote in with a concern that there is nothing for the teen-

agers to do during the summer when they are out of school, as well as other times during the year. This subject comes up from time to time, usually with the implication that it is the responsibility of city government or some other entity to provide sources of entertainment for the kids. This is evidence of the high expectations of some people as to what the taxpayers are supposed to provide them with these days. These people no doubt are of a liberal mindset and belong to the political party (I'll be politically correct here and not name the posey sniffing, tree hugging, left wing, pinko liberal party) that believes the government should take care of us from birth to grave. The following narrative is an excellent response to such complaints. This was written by Ralph Peterson, a teacher in the Spokane, Wash., public schools in 1958. "Always we hear the plaintive of the teen-agers. What can we do? Where can we go? I can make some suggestions. Go home! Hang storm windows. Paint the woodwork. Rake the leaves. Mow the lawn. Shovel the walk. Wash the car. Learn to cook. Scrub some floors. Repair the sink. Build a boat. Get a job. Help your pastor, the Red Cross, a charitable organization. Visit the sick. Assist the poor. Study your lessons. And when you are through, and not too tired, read a book.

Your parents do not owe you entertainment. Your town does not owe you recreational facilities. The world does not owe you a living. You owe the world something. In plain simple words: grow up. Quit being a cry baby. Get out of your dream world. Develop a backbone and not a wishbone; and start acting like a man or a woman. I'm a parent. I'm tired of nursing, protecting, helping, appealing to, begging, excusing, tolerating, denying myself needed comforts for your every whim and fancy just because your selfish ego, not common sense, dominates your personality and thinking, and requests."

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Every now and then there will be a SpeakOut that just ticks me off. This was one - Summer blues. What this person wants is free babysitting. Good luck, you idiot. Move to China or Something. When I was a kid, I got together with my friends and started a baseball game. Why can't your kids do the same? Why must the city and the community provide very single minute of entertainment for your kids? You and your stupidity are the reasons this country is in the state it is in. Take care of your kids. Give them some love. Maybe - just maybe they will turn out to be "somebody."