[at-l] What 50 years will do...

[Sloetoe]

### I don't usually forward these sorts of things, but
this one really spoke to me. 



See what 50 years will do. 


Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with
rifle in gun rack.

1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at
Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show
Jack.

2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack
hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun
again. Counselors called in for traumatized students
and teachers.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after
school.

1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake
hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail,
nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests
Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both
expelled even though Johnny started it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts
other students.

1956 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good
paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.

2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a
zombie. School gets extra money from state because
Jeffrey has a disability.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car
and his Dad gives him a whipping.

1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up
normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful
businessman.

2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse Billy
removed to foster care and joins a gang. State
psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison.
Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin
medicine to school.

1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal
out on the smoking dock.

2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for
drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Mark's home is put on watch list for child
endangerment violations.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1956: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, and
applies for college scholarships.

2006: State Democratic Party takes up Pedro's cause.
Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that
teaching English as a requirement for graduation is
racist. A class action lawsuit is filed against state 
school system and Pedro's English teacher. English
banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma
anyway; but ends up mowing lawns for a living because
he can't speak English.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers
from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane
paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed .

1956 - Ants die.

2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny
charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates
parents, siblings removed from home, computers
confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and
scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher,
Mary. Mary hugs him, to comfort him.

1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on
playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and
loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison, and
is listed on the internet.

Spatior! Nitor! Nitor! Tempero!
   Pro Pondera Et Meliora.