Too Young to Remember

We live in a different kind of world than the one I knew when I was growing up--very different. Truth is there is an entire generation of Americans who know nothing of life as I knew it in my growing up, formative years. I will bet that many of you have never seen an authentic RC Cola and a Moon Pie, much less have enjoyed them. In my day, these were staples, like peas, corn bread, butter beans, sweet iced tea, and fried chicken.

There were some other staples that I really miss: no one ever locked his house and as far as I know, most didn't even have a house key; no one ever broke into someone's car to steal his radio because, well because no one did; every Mom had authority over everyone's kids, which meant that kids behaved or got their bottoms tanned by whichever Mom deemed it necessary; school teachers were held in high esteem, if not by the student, certainly by the parent,which meant the student might as well follow suit; the school teacher was always correct--always--which meant that the student might as well behave in school; church was what church was supposed to be, which meant that family life centered around it; families ate together, which meant that families talked to each other; there were no ratings for TV shows because there was no need for ratings; and America was America--the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I share this with you because tonight when I arrived at a local restaurant to eat supper, a bus load of soldiers (young men and women!) unloaded just ahead of me. I talked with some of them and learned that they were on their way to Fort Benning to begin a tour of very disciplined training. As you might imagine, most of them will find themselves in harms way sooner, rather than later. Before I moved on to eat, I said to those who were engaged with me, "I really appreciate what you are doing! Freedom is really not free and you are earning mine!" The response from one of the young men really shocked me; it was this: "Thank you because we seldom hear that!"

You might not be old enough to appreciate the joys of an RC Cola and a moon pie, or any of the other pleasantries I mentioned, but you are old enough to appreciate what the men and women who are earning your continued freedom are doing. When you see them, tell them!

The scene was very difficult: almost without exception, these young man and women were on cell phones talking to those they loved, as if there might not be another chance. Sadly, for some of them there will not be and they will have died to earn the very freedom that we take for granted!

Just thought I would remind you--