|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Opining of a Cranky Old Man
Disgusting: Babies in Public, Kids Gone Wild, Adults Unaware of
Digital TV, Sports Taking Over Family
By
Bill Kalmar, Retiree
 Jan. 12, 2009 - Just the other day a friend of mine
mentioned that after reading several of my columns he concluded that I
was a “cranky old man”. As I looked back on some past articles I had to
agree that at times I assumed that role. But, I would rather liken my
opinions to that of a curmudgeon – an ill-tempered old man, which sounds
less threatening.
In any event for those of you who may share my
friend’s opinion, I will not disappoint you in this column. In the
words of anchorman Howard Beale (aka Peter Finch) from the movie
Network, “I’m mad as hell and won’t take it anymore”.
Having said that permit me to depart from the
spirit of the Holidays and my resolutions for the New Year to be more
sensitive and offer some issues that have been troubling me of late.
● Have you noticed that attending movies,
Broadway plays and sporting events has taken on a new look? That “look”
is the emergence of small babies being carted around by doting and
adoring parents. Mary and I attended a showing of the play “White
Christmas” recently and had to endure the cries, whimpers, and
restlessness of countless tots under the age of two! If one can afford
a ticket to a play then please have someone watch your offspring so the
rest of us can enjoy the presentation!
While watching the NFL games and the bowl games
over the past two weeks, it seems the cameras always hone in on
someone’s baby. Why do people find it necessary to bring junior to an
event that is strictly for adults? Inevitably my seat is always next to
one of these drooling, precocious imps.
Don’t get me wrong. We have eleven grandchildren
that we love dearly but not dearly enough to bring the younger ones to a
sporting event. Is it just me or do you agree?
● And speaking of children how about the six
year old in Virginia who missed the school bus and thus took his mom’s
car keys and attempted to drive to school while she slept!
The lad drive nearly six miles, made two 90 degree
turns, passed several cars on a rural two lane highway before crashing
into a utility pole only a half a mile from school. He suffered only
minor injuries fortunately.
His parents were charged with child endangerment.
The boy told police he learned to drive by playing Grand Theft Auto and
Monster Truck video games. I hope the parents were jailed for allowing
him to play these games rather than his taking the keys to the car!
● And just when you thought that you had heard
it all, how about this for a headline: “Angry Four Year Old Shoots
Babysitter After He Accidentally Stepped On Child’s Foot.” Sounds like
another case of where the parents should be charged with child
endangerment. My question is why was a gun left unattended in the home
and why does a four year old know where it is stored?
Probably another case of the child playing a
violent video game where he learned how to shoot a weapon! Fortunately
the babysitter had only minor injuries and was treated for pellet wounds
to his arm and side. I want these parents in jail along with the
parents of the six-year driver from Virginia!
● Are you ready for digital only broadcasting
for your TV on February 17, 2009? We have been inundated with
conversion information for years and yet just the other day we learned
that only 90% of the populace is aware of the change.
Cities that have experimented early with the
changeover report that thousands of people were unaware what happened to
their TV when the test change was made. This 10% of the population
probably still think that Truman is President and are unaware that we
have had men on the moon.
These are the uninformed, witless people of
society. Is it any wonder that our national political process is in
such disarray when we have people such as this entering the voting
booth!
● And when did sports take over family life?
Seems some coaches make practice mandatory wherein missing a practice
means removal from the team, inability to play the next game, or a
series of push-up and laps for twenty minutes.
I am even aware of coaches who issue this edict:
“Don’t sign up for this team if you plan to be away for the Holidays, or
family vacations.”
Now I’m not talking about college players, I’m
talking about grade school athletes! And let’s not forget the games
that are scheduled for Mother’s Day – never Father’s Day of course
because that’s when the coach plays golf all day! Let’s somehow convey
to these destroyers of the family unit that we will not tolerate an
environment where sports is first and family is being relegated to
somewhere in the background!
Let’s look at the numbers: there are 32 football
teams and 30 baseball teams in our country comprising a total of 2190
professional players. Every parent seems to have an idea that their
offspring will be one of those players.
With tens of millions of our children playing
sports the odds are overwhelming that junior will make the team. So
let’s be bold and get back to playing for fun and tell the coaches “we
won’t take it anymore”.
Well, I’m now taking a deep breath, turning on a
recording of Frank Sinatra singing “My Way” and slipping into my Lazy
Boy chair. I plan to watch an NFL Playoff game. Just hope I don’t see
any toddlers in the stands!
Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
