Then: I remember as a kid in Flint, Michigan, a thing called slam-books. I was in the the fifth or sixth grade. We didn't have cell phones or computers. We had steno notebooks. The thing was that kids names were written in the book (each student that participated had one) then the book was passed around and people "Slammed" that person. Didn't take long for it to turn bad. You'd see girls crying, because of what a person said or boys would fight in school hallways to avenge their girl friend or themselves. It didn't last long. Teachers, parents and the students themselves saw that the books were not a good thing and were removed from the loop.
Kids back then could be down right mean-spirited. There were a couple of gangs, and some brought weapons to school like knives, sucker bars, and I saw one with a zip-gun (homemade pistol shot .22 cal) once. But these were few and far between. Police, parents and school officials dealt swiftly and severely when discovered. But even back then kids kept things to themselves. Though many moms were home then and there was supposedly the family table kids were a mystery if no one listened to them.
Now: Now take everything from "Then," multiply by what? Gas back then was .28 cents a gallon, now almost $3.00 a gallon. We had two high schools now I think there are four or five. Whatever the multiplier, the actions are the same by the kids. They just have better technology. They have the cell phones, internet, computers, real guns and new liberal laws that make it difficult to act swiftly and severely. The laws are made because no one listens. It's not until we trip over a body or find that a child has killed themselves that we react.
But what is the same, both then and now, is that the majority of kids are and want to be good. They want to to learn, and live successful, happy lives. There is hope for our children's future and that hope comes from the fact that most are good and they are smart. They have the ability to see and correct or even prevent a wrong.
I now see that I'm my father in my thinking. The old ways were best. Each generation (you can read these same words in ancient Chinese texts) thinks the new generation is going to destroy the "perfect world" created by the past.
Our parents and now us, have done some marvelous things, but we've made some really stupid decisions also. We have experience to share but we really need to share, not dictate, or tell our kids they are doomed to fail. What's the old adage, close your mouth so you can hear. Maybe that's why there are so many ear-buds plugged into young ears. Maybe we, the older generation, haven't taken the time to listen or maybe we just talk too much. If our ideas are so great why aren't there multitudes gathering to hear us, to follow our lead? Why are we talking and no one is listening but us?
Friday, June 29, 2018
Then: I remember as a kid in Flint, Michigan, a thing called slam-books. I was in the fifth or sixth grade. We didn't have cell phones or computers. We had steno notebooks. The idea was that kids names were written in the book (each student that participated had one) then the book was passed around and people "Slammed" that person. Didn't take long for it to turn bad. You'd see girls crying, because of what a person said or boys would fight in school hallways to avenge their girlfriend or themselves. It didn't last long. Teachers, parents and the students themselves became aware that the books were not a good thing and were removed from the loop.
Kids back then could be downright mean-spirited. There were a couple of gangs, and some brought weapons to school like knives, sucker bars, and I saw one with a zip-gun (homemade pistol shot .22 cal) once. But these were few and far between. Police, parents and school officials dealt swiftly and severely when discovered. But even back then kids kept things to themselves. Though many moms were home then and there was supposedly the family table kids were a mystery if no one listened to them.
Now: Now take everything from "Then," multiply by what? Gas back then was .28 cents a gallon, now over $3.00 a gallon. We had two high schools now I think there are four or five. Whatever the multiplier, the actions are the same by the kids. They just have better technology. They have the cell phones, internet, computers, real guns and new liberal laws that make it challenging to act swiftly and severely. The rules are made because no one listens. It's not until we trip over a body or find that a child has killed themselves that we react.
But what is the same is, both then and now, is that the majority of kids are and want to be good. They want to learn and live successful, happy lives. There is hope for our children's future, and that hope comes from the fact that most are good and they are smart. They have the ability to see and correct or even prevent a wrong.
I now see that I'm my father in my thinking. The old ways were best. Each generation (you can read these same words in ancient Chinese texts) thinks the new generation is going to destroy the "perfect world" created by the past.
Our parents and now us, have done some marvelous things, but we've made some foolish decisions too. We have the experience to share, but we really need to share, not dictate, or tell our kids they are doomed to fail. What's the old adage, close your mouth so you can hear. Maybe that's why there are so many ear-buds plugged into young ears. Perhaps we, the older generation, haven't taken the time to listen or maybe we just talk too much. If our ideas are so great why aren't there multitudes gathering to hear us, to follow our lead? Why are we talking and no one is listening but us?
Kids back then could be downright mean-spirited. There were a couple of gangs, and some brought weapons to school like knives, sucker bars, and I saw one with a zip-gun (homemade pistol shot .22 cal) once. But these were few and far between. Police, parents and school officials dealt swiftly and severely when discovered. But even back then kids kept things to themselves. Though many moms were home then and there was supposedly the family table kids were a mystery if no one listened to them.
Now: Now take everything from "Then," multiply by what? Gas back then was .28 cents a gallon, now over $3.00 a gallon. We had two high schools now I think there are four or five. Whatever the multiplier, the actions are the same by the kids. They just have better technology. They have the cell phones, internet, computers, real guns and new liberal laws that make it challenging to act swiftly and severely. The rules are made because no one listens. It's not until we trip over a body or find that a child has killed themselves that we react.
But what is the same is, both then and now, is that the majority of kids are and want to be good. They want to learn and live successful, happy lives. There is hope for our children's future, and that hope comes from the fact that most are good and they are smart. They have the ability to see and correct or even prevent a wrong.
I now see that I'm my father in my thinking. The old ways were best. Each generation (you can read these same words in ancient Chinese texts) thinks the new generation is going to destroy the "perfect world" created by the past.
Our parents and now us, have done some marvelous things, but we've made some foolish decisions too. We have the experience to share, but we really need to share, not dictate, or tell our kids they are doomed to fail. What's the old adage, close your mouth so you can hear. Maybe that's why there are so many ear-buds plugged into young ears. Perhaps we, the older generation, haven't taken the time to listen or maybe we just talk too much. If our ideas are so great why aren't there multitudes gathering to hear us, to follow our lead? Why are we talking and no one is listening but us?
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
New Book Started
Started a new book yesterday around noon. It is 3:30 AM now and I've written 6,634 words and I'm crosseyed but happy. Good Night!
Sunday, June 24, 2018
I'm wondering why people think it's alright to go to a restaurant, movie theater or someone's home and sit on their feet with their shoes on. Don't they care that someone else will use that seat and get their clothing dirty? We even had a government official who used to place his feet on the furniture. What has happened to the show of respect to others?
COMING SOON!
Slowly Santiago became aware that he and LeRue were not alone. From out of the trees, five men wearing wolf hides on their heads appeared. The head of the wolf skin was pulled down over their eyes hiding their faces. Santiago was sure this was to be his last day.
https://www.facebook.com/johnwwood458/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z942KX2?tag=creati0a5-20
Saturday, June 23, 2018
White Crow
My new book WHITE CROW is in the final edit. I hope to have published by the end of July 2018.
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