Our new English language A matter of (dis)respect.

One of the nice things about blogging is that I get to go on about stuff and if you or anyone else doesn't like it, simply click and my ruminations are gone, kaput, off the screen. It is, of course, the same with any other part of social networking too. However, on such places as Face book and the like, the postings are sudden and take me by surprise. Occasionally it becomes unsettling, like the ridiculous bantering back and forth regarding political positions or candidates. I will not participate in that stuff. But then it comes to certain ways of verbal expression that has changed more and more of late, especially much to my surprise, among people of age. Apparently, class is no longer something to be desired. throughout my life there were certain words that belonged amongst a select group of acquaintances or on bathroom walls. More specifically, vulgarity. Yeah, I'm as guilty as many in telling of crude jokes or making a vulgar statement now and then but I've never been good at speaking vulgarity in groups, in front of women or children or generally in public at all.

)Wow! Sometimes I even surprise myself at how many words I use to make a point.)

Anyway, it appears certain rules of good taste, class or integrity no longer apply and those lines are blurred when posting on social sites. vulgarity is becoming more common by the day and seems to be accepted by parents and grandparents of their younger generations. I always believed that as a person of age it was my obligation to say when certain behaviour or speech was disturbing or inappropriate. Recently I have been told to mind my own business and to quit acting "holier than thou!" By the parent! The law against swearing in front of women and children was overturned in favor of free speech. Lately, I'm thinking certain free speech is disgusting.

Now I can understand why so many teachers complain about how disrespectful they are treated by parents.

Dressing in technicolor

Wherever we go, no matter which way we look, there is always the person who stands out by wearing cutting edge, color coordinated clothing. Bright, bold, daring, sometimes almost giving off a neon appearance but at the same time, for them at least, somehow tasteful! Man, I envy those people. Most of us, guys at least, wear whatever the manikins at Sears has on or the shirts and sweaters that go with bluejeans. Truthfully, most men believe that anything goes well with bluejeans. From sleeveless T-shirts, to high end sport coats, Dickie's, no matter really, anything goes. Do we stand out in a crowd? Nope! We simply look the same as any other guy with poor taste. Scruffy, that's the look most guys have right now, Unless you are an attorney, insurance salesman or undertaker. Watching a highly regarded millionaire speak to a national audience on TV over the holidays almost hurt from the shame I felt for this rich guys style: three day beard, hair sticking out every which way, rolled up sleeves, wrinkled shirt, striped sweater, (striped, really?) and to top it off, loafers without socks. OMG! No wonder this country is going to hades in a hand basket. I have an idea to save the American population from total annihilation. Lets start dressing in "Technicolor" just like we used to see in movies back in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. If you haven't seen a movie from that era lately I'd suggest you may just want to. Technicolor you see, is the blending of only four colors to create a magnificent color feast for the eyes. Technicolor was a wonderfully happy explosion of beauty. Horror movies were filmed in black and white or sepia because technicolor had such an affect on our psyche that we weren't horrified by the scenes of terror. With technicolor we couldn't shake the feeling of well being and pleasure was at times almost overwhelming. When we watched movies in technicolor, the women were spectacular and the next thing to perfect, Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida strutted their stuff in such a way to influence the love life of every man that saw them. Then the guys, Rock Hudson, Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, when women watched those guys in technicolor they would almost swoon (that's pass out for you younger folks) with the passion aroused in their very souls. Oh, those were the days my friend, those were the days. While we were watching movies in technicolor we managed to overcome the trauma of a second world war as well as the Korean conflict. We pulled ourselves through a couple of recessions, our music was fantastic and unforgettable, our cars were colorful, fast and creative. As long as we had technicolor we had positive attitudes, were inventive, self confident, could survive almost anything that came along and most of us dressed accordingly. Then came the new, modern way of taking movies. Everything changed. As a country we went off the deep end. Drugs, free love, families started breaking up by the thousands, the price of gasoline skyrocketed, (well, it did) and the dress code went into the toilet for the general population. See what I mean? You can check it out of you want.

That is the basis for my theory that if we start dressing in technicolor, as a society we will begin to conquer the demons that are causing us so much anguish. At your first opportunity, grab a movie from that era, make it a happy one with Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Jack Lemon, John Wayne, you know those types. Sit back with the drapes open so the sun can shine in, sip some wine or hot chocolate, maybe some popcorn with butter, eat a few Dot candies and feast on the display of beautiful colors unfolding before you. Remember those colors when you go shopping.

Simply another avenue towards self improvement and a better life. You're welcome! Now, I have to go out and get a new wardrobe myself. I've been looking a little scruffy myself of late. Yeah, I better practice what I preach. At least I never wore pajamas in the grocery store, right?

State of The Union Address

Our President spoke to the nation last night regarding the issues we face going into this still new year. Unemployment, taxes, poverty and the plight of the middle class were top on the list. Fairness was a war cry for political cooperation between the parties. Much of what he said is important to all of us. I appreciate the hurdles he faces to getting things done his way. I respect his office. I have an opinion on some of the "work that has to be done."

I heard the word, "fair." a lot during his speech. Everyone is entitled to their fair share. I'm not sure about that. I was raised to believe that life is not fair, I am not entitled to much of anything I don't work for or contribute to in some way. If everyone got their fair share without working for it the shares for all of us would soon dry up. It's simple economics. Our annual budget is spending way more than is taken in on entitlements. We are operating on a deficit. How long can we do it with less and less people working and paying taxes instead of paying their "fair" share?

I also was raised with the idea that we behave responsibly. I just don't think our young people are being educated in exactly what that means. I love children! Third world countries are constantly wrestling with irresponsible runaway childbirth and can't provide food, clothing, housing or adequate health care to all those kids, let alone their mothers. In this country, with all it's resources no one should be turned away from basic, life sustaining health care for any reason, right? We probably agree. However, if people continue to bear multiple children they are completely unable to care for, our bountiful resources will soon be gone. Just like third world countries. A huge percentage of children being born in this country are born into poverty. Is it "fair" to do that? Where does the money for their care come from if the parents can't provide it?

The rich can't pay for everything! If a person works hard and earns a huge amount of money and it gets taken away to give to people that don't work is that "fair?" Will they still have an incentive to do what it takes to build a business that makes a lot of money when it just gets taken away anyway? Probably not. Why would they? Someone that hasn't done the building a business thing could not possibly understand what it takes. If a person has lived off the state all their lives how could they know the idea of business? Everything has always been provided to them because it's "fair." If a person has never held a job and only collected money from the government, like a lifelong politician, how would they know what "fair" means?

I agree something has to be done with the tax structure. But I don't exactly understand why the president always says his political party values are American values but those of the other political party are not. Who is he to say exactly what is American and what isn't? I'm just asking.

I felt a few words about the responsibility we bear as citizens would have been in order. Remember John F. Kennedy? "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Same political party. Different approach. Way different!