I have read several things this week that have prompted this post. They included a story about a boy who shot a bird for chirping too loud and several towns that wants to ban train whistles and flapping flags because they make too much noise. Then there was a traffic accident were the looky-Lou's kept stopping and actually getting out of their cars to take pictures preventing the police from doing their jobs and the traffic from moving along.
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| Flags flying just across the street from my house. Photo taken from my back porch. |
What is this world coming too? Are we all so overworked and stressed that we have to overreact to everything around us? Have we all become so self-centered, developed such a strong “my way or else” attitude, that we can no longer see the big picture? Have we become so jaded by all the violence and mayhem in the world that we must feed on the suffering of others? What has happen to the hard earned rights of a nation that so many have fought and died to protect?
I guess (no I ‘m sure) I am grateful that I was able to live the lion’s share of my life in a simpler world. A world, where the sound of birds chirping, flags flapping and trains whistling; did not send the public into revolt. A world where a traffic accident would have people bowing their head in prayer for the victim, and made physically ill by sights they could not avoid.
I’m grateful that I do not have to be a young person facing life today. I’m grateful that my children were raised in a time when they could be kids and play was still fun created from make believe and imagination. A time, when every horrible action in the world, was not displayed in bold color on a television or computer screen for all to see. A time when they did not have to be afraid of the motives of every adult they met.
Yes, if I could choose, I would want the world I grew up in to be the world that all today’s children would also grow up in. And, when I am the one in charge I will see to it that is exactly the kind of world they will have. Until then I will do my best to improve my little corner of the world, and I think I will start by working on getting my town council to revoke the no train whistles ordinance they passed a few years ago.
I guess (no I ‘m sure) I am grateful that I was able to live the lion’s share of my life in a simpler world. A world, where the sound of birds chirping, flags flapping and trains whistling; did not send the public into revolt. A world where a traffic accident would have people bowing their head in prayer for the victim, and made physically ill by sights they could not avoid.
I’m grateful that I do not have to be a young person facing life today. I’m grateful that my children were raised in a time when they could be kids and play was still fun created from make believe and imagination. A time, when every horrible action in the world, was not displayed in bold color on a television or computer screen for all to see. A time when they did not have to be afraid of the motives of every adult they met.
Yes, if I could choose, I would want the world I grew up in to be the world that all today’s children would also grow up in. And, when I am the one in charge I will see to it that is exactly the kind of world they will have. Until then I will do my best to improve my little corner of the world, and I think I will start by working on getting my town council to revoke the no train whistles ordinance they passed a few years ago.
I'm fortunate to live in a place where the only sounds I hear at night are the sea and the street lights. I think it may be that they quieter things are, the more we are aware of sound intrusion. I suspect you may think me silly but I find the hum of street lights very annoying and would like them to be turned off for part of the night. (Some towns are already doing this to reduce light pollution and to make it easier to see stars.)
ReplyDeleteI'm also fortunate to live in a town where children still play in the street - though they don't range far from their front doors.
And unlike you I think it's wonderful to be a child now and have access to computers and mobile phones.
I think I must be very privileged to live where I live because there's a good balance between the old and the new.
(It's awfully boring though!)
I am totally right there with you. The LAST thing we wanted to do as kids, was to hang around the house. These days, most kids have to be forced to "go outside and play."
ReplyDeleteThere is a fair sized city not too far from us that has banned their own police from using their sirens within the city limits.
I for one (and my wife agrees), love to hear trains. Especially so at night when you can hear them even when they aren't close.
Good post!
Some (but not all perhaps) of the problem is that we hear everything every minute 24/7 news channels, feeds coming into our computers and tablets, radio as we drive.... there is never a moment of peace and bad news sells -- so anything horrible or controversial gets played over and over.
ReplyDelete