Sign of the times

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

1973: Vice principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show jack.

2006: School goes into lock down, FBI is called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

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

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

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

Scenario: Jeffery won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1973: Jeffery sent to the office and given a good paddling from the principal. Sits still in class.

2006: Jeffery is given a huge dose of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets extra money from the state because Jeffery has a disabilty.

Scenario: Johhny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1973: In a short time Johhny 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.

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

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

2006: Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by a state psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Johhny takes apart left over firecrackers from the 4 th of July, puts in them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up red ant bed.

1973: Ants die.

2006: BATF, Homeland security, FBI called. Johhny is charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johhny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

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

1973: Mark shares headache medicine with principal out on the smoking dock.

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

This is funny and sad at the same time.