Kids today

Folks, the other evening my friend James A. and I were sitting around solving the world’s problems.

We got to talking about the behavior of kids today.

We believe that some actions and language are deplorable. We also have some ideas on how to improve this situation.

Since that evening, I have been doing some thinking.

Do you folks remember a musical entitled, Bye Bye Birdie?

It came out in the 1960s. One song in it was entitled, "What is wrong with kids today?" Some of the lyrics are, "…what is wrong with kids today, why can’t they be like we were, perfect in every way?"

I recalled this tune and this is what got me to thinking about the problem kids today.

I wonder how many generations have asked this question and others concerning people all over the world and the situations we face daily.

I recall that back in 1945, I told my mother that Betty was pregnant and she asked me the following question: "Joe do you think it is wise to bring children into this world with the condition it is in?"

Oh it goes back much, much further than 1945. I recall reading that Socrates said to the people of Athens something like this: "Ye men of Athens, why do you spend so much time hurrying and scurrying about and being concerned with worldly things and so little time with your children to whom some day you will have to leave it all?"

So concerns over our youth and parenting are not a new phenomenon! We should be concerned, but it behooves us to remember that we may have made a few mistakes ourselves!

Let us do our best as parents, teachers and friends to instruct our youth in righteous behavior, but do not expect perfection. After all there was only one who met that standard!

So, perhaps, just perhaps now folks, James and I will quit trying to solve the world problems. This is probably a good idea as no one seems to listen to us anyway.

Especially our wives!

Be that as it may, there is one saying that James and I agree upon and will not change regardless of what others think. That saying is: "We are too soon old and too late smart!"

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