Saying it my way . . .

REMEMBER WHEN� .� .� .

• Coke was drunk and not snorted;
• Your neighborhood drug store had a soda fountain and a grill;
• White Oleo/margarine came with a packet of yellow coloring to make it look like butter;
• Doctors made house calls (on weekends too) and usually lived in your neighborhood;
• Medical care was affordable and a physician would listen to you;
• You did not need health insurance;
• Thongs were worn on your feet;
• Car radios could only be heard by the occupants within the car (if you had a radio or a car);
• It was okay to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in schools;
• It was okay to salute the Flag;
• A person would not even consider burning The Flag;
• In God We Trust and the Ten Commandments did not offend anyone;
• Attorneys were not allowed to advertise;
• There were speedy trials and no jury consultants;
• Crime didnt pay;
• A jury considered evidence to be more important than personalities, wealth and the defendants attorneys;
• It was acceptable and generally expected to have deeply held religious beliefs and ethical values;
• American society was doing okay without the trendy and chic concepts of situation ethics, the free-speech movement, and the question authority proponents;
• You could walk to and from your neighborhood school without fear of being beaten, robbed, kidnapped or shot;
• Good grades in school were common goals for the majority of students;
• You knew the Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other important historical leaders and founders of this country;
• Germany, Japan, and Italy were the cause, not the victims, of WWII (World War Two);
• It was okay to open a door for a lady;
• Students did their homework and respected their teachers;
• Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic were the primary subjects taught in public elementary schools;
• Some students did not pass to the next higher grade level;
• Parents took an active role in raising their children and took responsibility for the actions of their children rather than blaming the so-called ills of society for their own parental failures;
• People could disagree without being disagreeable;
• Babies were carried to full term;
• Planned parenthood was between a husband and wife and done before conception;
• Marriage was between a man and a woman and marriage vows were honored;
• A mans (no chauvinism intended) word was his bond;
• Having a criminal record was not a badge of honor;
• Professional athletes made a reasonable rate of pay and conducted themselves professionally;
• Outrageous behavior was outrageous;
• Football end-zone celebrations were considered unsportsmanlike;
• You helped your neighbor even though they may not have asked;
• A persons rights to peace and quiet were respected;
• A child aspired to be the President, or a Policeman, or a Fireman, because it was honorable;
• Most of your toys did not require batteries and ALL of your toys could fit into a small box;
• A hero or role-model was a person with positive behavioral traits;
• When you came home from school your mom was there;
• Companies and employees were loyal to one another;
• Tall buildings hired people to operate elevators and announce the names of departments on each floor;
• You made a phone call and a real live helpful person would answer;
• White wall tires, an AM radio and a heater were all the extras you could get on a new car;
• You listened to and watched radio programs while your imagination made the scenes;
• Comedians did not need obscenity to be funny;
• A person felt it necessary to earn his or her way rather than feeling entitled;
• Politicians promised a chicken in every pot and you knew they didnt really mean it;
• Pants were worn above the waistline and ball caps were worn with the bill over the forehead;
• T-shirts did not have obscene messages;
• You could understand the lyrics in a song and repeat them in a public place;
• You could hum or whistle a popular hit tune;
• If a cashier gave you too much change, you gave it back;
• And, all that you had seemed to be enough!

I remember! This is how I grew up and these reflect my values to this day.� Old fashioned? (But not living in the past!)� Na�ve?� Out of touch with present day cultural and societal practices? Yes, and glad of it!  Copyright 2005 - Jim Woodward