I thought about something today when I dropped my little girl off at school

[The Straight Story]

I sit here tonight listening to my little girl and her best friend giggling over a cartoon (sleep over).

Today they played at school (both are in 1st grade), laughing, and arguing with someone who took two jump ropes leaving them none (they eventually gave them the spare, but then the bell rang).

Each morning my little girl dons her back back with her school work in it, and I drop her off there. She smiles, kisses me, and dreams of growing up to be one of many millions of things. She dreams of fairies, magical places, and all those things little girls dream about.

She sees a long range I don't see - because I am more informed. She has dreams, I have nightmares. She sees the good in life and the fun she can have. Her and her little classmates are not thinking about bringing guns to schools, killing others, war, rape, stealing, or anything like that.

Not only do they not see threats - they are not threats. They just want peace, love, and sharing.

And they cannot understand us adults and why we fight so much over such things as we do.

Why can't one kid get the medicine he needs? Why can't that other little girl in class buy her lunch? Why is the one kid sad so much because his daddy is far away? Why don't some people have a place to sleep, a home?

We grew up wanting to fix all this, to make it all right for each of us. To take care of those other kids we knew who had less, or to be able to have what other kids had that we did not.

We have always wanted equality.

A STANDARD of living - one where anyone can have what they need, and those who wanted more could have it if they wanted to go for it.

We got the latter, but still struggle for the former.

Our fellow citizens need us. They need our help daily, but instead of giving it - some judge whether they have earned it or should get it.

That we kick fellow humans to the curb is damned sad. I could get better health care if I went to jail, then if I spent 21 years working my ass off then got unemployed (which is what has happened to me).

Someday we will fix things. But not when we grow up. When we grow down - and remember the simple love of a child for others.

Rant off.

[fizzgig]

1. 'the simple love of a child for others'

why is something so damn pure and simple so hard to attain?

i don't have an answer but i wish i did

[midnight]

2. Very sweet. It is nice when their inspirations are so loving.

[JeffR]

3. Grow down

Damn, that should be the line right after, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

Very good piece TSS.

Cheers!

[The Straight Story]

4. Thanks my friend, just not a good night for me I suppose

Behind the smile of the clown there are tears of pain.

[JeffR]

5. For reason unclear to me, that seems to be how it works

I've been thinking lately that evolution and only evolution could be a valid proof of intelligent design, were such a thing to exist. We evolve measured by the day or by the epoch. And it hurts like hell sometimes.

[The Straight Story]

8. Indeed it does, in so many ways

The things going on in the last few weeks cannot always been seen by my light hearted posts.

I say that because what you said came up in a conversation the wife and I had a few nights ago.

Humankind has evolved, but not for the betterment of itself as a whole but for the few, who do not see the very simple logic that what is best for them is - "Do what is best for yourself AND the group and everyone wins" - which is why "A beautiful Mind" is one of my favorite movies (that one line sums it all up for me).

[JeffR]

12. I figure the "Myth" of Sisyphus is no myth

It's a zen koan.

We're so far adrift collectively we're about to destroy the habitats in which we live. We're left with our own and ourselves; the world of the The Road Warrior is here, and it's not as cool but just as dangerous as it was in the film. All we can do is huddle and hoard whatever we have and do our utmost to keep the barbarians at bay. And cleave to each other against the dawn of the perfected New World Order.

[fooj]

6. "They just want peace, love and sharing."

Humanity.

[Booster]

7. I was watching the Oprah Show the other day and they featured

the charity where you lend poor people all over the world money to get them started, etc. and then they pay it back. My favorite charity is Heifer International where they give people animals, bees, poultry, etc., then when the animals have babies that person passes them on to others. But I;m going to do the one Oprah showed too - link http://www.kiva.org/ Hopefully some of you guys will check it out also.

[FloridaJudy]

10. It's not really a charity

Because most of the loans get repaid. For anyone who has a few bucks to spare: http://www.kiva.org/

I'm sponsoring a Thai weaver and a Ukrainian innkeeper.

[Booster]

13. Wow, their website says they've funded every business that they

were trying to fund. And people say Oprah does influence people. ha

[Colorado Progressive]

9. Damn, you almost sound like a socialist

I have 2 kids. One is 11, the other 2. The 11 year old is male, a genius, always wanted to be an engineer of whatever sort "gets him the best wife". He is obsessed with having a good wife, family and career ever since he was three. And yes, his wife can be doctor if she wants, of course, because I am raising him.

He imagines the bliss of whatever it is 11 year olds dream of. He is so upbeat and happy, so optimistic, it makes me wonder what the hell happened to me. Where did that optimism go? That free-spirited joy? I want my kids to keep that.

I think being a parent makes you even more outraged, because your biggest investment (your kids) are at stake. It is so hard to watch your young ones and wonder what on earth they will encounter on their journey here. I fight so hard because of them.

No kid should be hungry or without health care. No adult should be hungry or without health care.

[entanglement]

11. ...

I remember, I remember
The fir-trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now ’tis little joy
To know I’m farther off from Heaven
Than when I was a boy

---Thomas Hood

[Pachamama]

14. Straight Story, as I read your description of your daughter, it was reminding me of my own 7 yr old

and my observations of her and ofcourse knowing the difference between the world she lives for and what I realize late at night when (like now) I can't sleep because I know about B-52's "mistakenly laden with nukes", our soldiers and innoncent civilians dieing in Iraq, our economy falling apart etc. etc. and then I think about how your wife and so many others are struggling with illness and the lack of healthcare in this country and the lack of compassion.

The realities that we see are so far away from the beauty they see and yet in the simplest of ways, those kids see so clearly the way it could be and should be.

I hope things get better for you Straight Story....know that there are those of us out there that do care and think its so important for us to help our fellow humans and better our society....and we have to try in order to make this a better world for our kids....

:hug:

[havocmom]

15. A kick for those who remember to ask: "Why not?"

Thanks, Straight.

[The Straight Story]

16. Thanks my friend - and that is indeed the question

And maybe someday it will be answered.