Gobbledygook

Catch phrases are just that...catchy little cute messages that usually stir the emotions of the simple minded.  Two examples: "No Child Left Behind." Wow! What a noble thought. It can't get any more wholesome than that phrase. In reality, however children have 'always' been left behind in the educating attempts. Rather than use a lot of big words to pretend we are talking about rocket science, let me explain the 'why' of kids left behind using another little catchy phrase: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

A more recent 'catch phrase' was parlayed into the election of Donald Trump as President:
 "Make America Great Again." I'm all for that. What American would not be supportive of that notion? There is a problem. First, I never understood what American 'time period' we are referencing as 'great?'  For argument sake, I shall assume the reference time is that 'greatest generation' author, Tom Brokaw advances. That would be post-World War II. Therefore, we are talking late 1940's, 1950's and early 1960's.

An examination of that period reveals that America was gainfully employed in post war expansion, building and development. Let me assure you, we may have that growth again and that would be wonderful. I am hopeful and prayerful. That said, we will not return to that pure greatness because America has lost its modesty, it's innocence and dismissed social filters. We are openly vulgar in our dress, language and public displays. Our sport heroes are pitiful roles models for class or humility. Our people are not safe in shopping centers, restaurants or theaters. Our children are in danger zones seated at their school desks.

In those 'great' times,  when Lucy was pregnant, we were not permitted to view her belly on her television show. Our pregnant women today have discarded maternity clothing as they display full baby growth and unabashedly breast feed in public. Our movies do not require imagination...we show the sex and the killing gore. Our music promotes sex destruction and killing while the singer is often holding and pulling at his penis. I would go on but I stop.

I leave you with another 'catch phrase,' "You ____your friends and I'll ____mine but let's not ____ one another." We Americans are excessively-overindulgent, vulgar and intolerant, which is sad because those characteristics never equate to greatness.