I usually delete forwarded mail, but this was interesting.
1965 versus 2006
Scenario: Parents take cute pictures of their 2 year-old playing in the tub.
1965 Parents go to Walgreen’s, get them developed, and put them in the child’s picture album which is shared with friends and relatives.
2006 Parents reported by Walgreen’s to the Police, arrested for child pornography, and child sent to foster care.
Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
1965 Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack’s rifle, goes to his car, and gets his own to show Jack.
2006 School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1965 Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody is arrested, nobody is expelled.
2006 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.
1965 Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the school principal. Sits still in class from then on.
2006 Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping.
1965 Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2006 Billy’s Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy’s sister is told by state psychologist that she remembers being abused by her Dad, and their Dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and his Mother gives him some aspirin to take to school.
1965 Mark’s headache persists. He goes to his locker, gets a couple of aspirin and takes them at the water fountain.
2006 Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.
1965 Several high school boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a special school for expectant mothers.
2006 Middle school counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies the ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over the border and gets an abortion without her parent’s consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and told to be more careful next time.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1965 Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2006 Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files a class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English banned from core curriculum as a required course. Pedro is given diploma any way, but ends up mowing lawns and washing dishes for a living because he can’t speak English.
Scenario: Jimmy takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a fire-ant hill.
1965 Ants die.
2006 BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism. FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny’s Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.