I was going to post this in House of Fun but changed my mind. The following is sad, very sad, but true. Common sense has gone right out the window now.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2008 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1958 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2008 Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADHD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt. 1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2008 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1958 - Mark shares aspirin with teacher out on the smoking deck.
2008 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Ahmed fails high school English.
1958 - Ahmed goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2008 - Ahmed's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. Files class action lawsuit against state school system and Ahmed's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Ahmed given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from Bonfire Night, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1958- Ants die.
2008 - Daily Mail contacted, Homeland Security, MI5 called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, MI5 investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during breaktime and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2008 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
The last one particularly maddens/saddens me!




