Changing Times

Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.

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.

1973 – Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack’s rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

2006 – Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.  Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

1973 – Crowd gathers.  Mark wins.  Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends.  Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

Scenario:  Jeffrey won’t be still in class, disrupts other students.

2006 – Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin.  Becomes a zombie.  School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

1973 – Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal.  Sits still in class.

Scenario:  Billy breaks a window in his father’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping.

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 herself and their Dad goes to prison.  Billy’s mom has affair with psychologist.

1973 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school.

2006 – Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons. 

1973 – Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.

Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.

2006 – Middle School Counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies the ACLU.  Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an abortion without her parent’s consent or knowledge.  Mary given condoms and told to be more careful next time.

1973 – 5 High School Boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a special school for expectant mothers.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

2006: Pedro’s cause is taken up by state democratic party.  Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.  ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro’s English teacher.  English banned from core curriculum.  Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he can’t speak English.

1973:  Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4^th of July, puts them in a model paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed. 

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.

1973 – Ant’s die.