When I was a kid, I lived (and was loved) in a very small town of about 2,500 people. Everybody knew everyone else and we kids were looked after by the entire town. Nowadays, it seems children have no idea what the word "manners" means, some curse around adults and small children without any regard for their behaviour. The really sad part, it's not always just kids that do it, adults do it too. It often appears that parents don't pay attention to their kids anymore because many allow their children to run rampant in public venues, injure other people, all while the parents seem to smile and make excuses for their own lack of responsibility.
I've been wondering why the education system in America, once one of the best in the world, has become gutted of truly caring educators. When I was going to school the teachers all knew our names and we all had books. Here in the 21st century, schools are without enough books, teachers have to buy supplies out of their own pockets, school doors are bolted and chained and where young people once feared reprisals if they got out of line in the classroom, the tables have turned in some areas and often, teachers are now scared of the students.
My question is this: WHAT HAPPENED TO AMERICA? What happened to the country I was born in and grew up in, what happened to affordable housing where people could find a place to stay? Sure we've had bums and homeless people for many years. Of course, some of those that are homeless actually want to be. I am having a very difficult time believing all these problems are just random, rather, it is more a symptom of the apathetic attitudes of the population, too much influence by corporations and way too much dependence on the government. There is a lack of involvement in communities like there was during the Civil Rights era, we have become too attached to our "things", i.e., iPods, iPhones, video games, etc. that we no longer seek out people to connect with unless we're online or IM'ing.
Sometimes, I wish I could go back to being that kid again. I had my friends nearby and we used to get together every day and talk about whatever. We used to go to the clay pit behind my best friend's house and catch polliwogs. Yeah, those were really the good ole' days.
