When I posted this chain email I received in August.. I had no idea that it would generate this level of attention.
Posting non-original content is not something I teach or normally
do. At the time I thought it was interesting, my list might appreciate
it and it would make a good tweet.
I didn’t expect it to generate 100’s of comments and initiate debates on race, religion, sex and drugs… but it has…
I’ll keep this post up for now, but if it really digresses I’ll probably remove it..
The original author of this article created 8 extreme scenarios to highlight some differences between 1957 and 2009.
Obviously there are 1000’s of scenarios that could be created to
highlight the good and bad of both generations, but this particular
post was written to favor 1957.
I guess the real question is… Would you rather grow up in 1957 or 2009 and why?
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.
1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2009 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack
hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors
called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2009 - Police called and SWAT team arrives — they
arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged them with assault
and both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and
given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits
still and does not disrupt class again.
2009 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He
becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra
money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt..
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2009 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse.
Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state
psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused
herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with
the psychologist.
Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2009 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2009 - Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles
appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for
graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state
school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is then banned from
core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing
lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July,
puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 – Ants die.
2009 – ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all
called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates
his parents — and all siblings are removed from their home and all
computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch
list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is
found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2009 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator
and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison… Johnny undergoes
5 years of therapy.
