A friend in Chicago sent these 8 scenarios comparing life in 1956 and today. We are always told how repressive, staid, homogenizing, and uncreative the 1950s were. These comparisons suggest how far off-base that stereotype is.
1. Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack’s rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.2. Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.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.
1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.3. Scenario: Jason won’t sit still in class, disrupts other students.2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
1956 - Jason sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits still in class.4. Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping.2006 - Jason given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from state because Jason has a disability.
1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.5. Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school.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.
1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking dock.6. Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
1956 : Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.7. Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.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.
1956 - Ants die.8. Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.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.
1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison.
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