Remembering The “Bouncing Ball”, And Reminiscing
By William Bailey (08/02/03)
Many across this great Nation of ours will remember a time in our history that was quieter . . . . more relaxed. A time when you and your “best girl” would head to a movie on a Friday or Saturday night (never on week nights, ‘cause then you were studying and getting ready for the next day at school).
Usually, the “lineup” at the movie would include a cartoon, (sometimes) a “newsreel”, a preview of the next attraction and then the main feature. There were times that they’d throw in an extra . . . a “sing-a-long” where you had to “follow the bouncing ball” and everybody in the theatre would sing (?) at the top of their voices. Oh, by the way, if you were lucky . . . the main feature was in “living” color.
The days of the “bouncing ball” were days where morals, values and principles meant something in this country. They were taught at home, in school, at church, by neighbors, and by example of our leaders. People respected each other’s person and property. We didn’t have a society of perceived victims. We had a society comprised of people who believed in personal responsibility. The terms “political correctness” and “diversity” had not even been heard of at that time.
It wasn’t too difficult to follow the “bouncing ball” when it came to politics. People from both major political parties presented themselves for consideration based on a sincere and genuine desire to serve. At the federal level this meant a commitment to honor, support and defend that document that created the office which they were seeking. It wasn’t about creating an “elite”, omnipotent, centralized federal government. It was about elected officials striving to carry out the edicts and dictates of the Constitution of the United States . . . trying to find ways to make the nation a better place for “We the People”. Ways to insure that “that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” And, all the while understanding that “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
It’s getting more and more difficult to follow the “bouncing ball” these days. Each of the three co-equal branches of government continues to encroach and intrude on the Constitutionally mandated areas of the others. Or, it seems (at times) they don’t even worry about the Constitution any more.
The U.S. Senate has become a “club” that either increases personal wealth or creates members who are millionaires . . . not the most deliberative body ever known. The only place known that allows filibustering that’s not filibustering. A place where speeches are long on rhetoric and short on fact. A lot of “weeping and wailing” about the National Debt and the deficit . . . . all the while finding ways to spend more money and continue to increase the size, scope and authority of the federal government. Some deliberative body, huh ?
And, the House of the Representatives . . . well, there’s so much rancor and divisiveness in the “other body” that it’s really quite amazing that they ever get anything done.
Yes, the “bouncing ball” keeps bouncing, but gets harder and harder to follow.
Do I think you can un-ring the bell or put the toothpaste back in the tube ? No. Do I believe that we can create a society where there is, once again, a mutual respect among citizens ? Yes ! Do I believe that it’s too late to return to what got us where we are ? No (but we’re sure getting close). Do I believe that we should hold elected officials accountable for their actions ? Absolutely !
More and more often the statement, “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it” is being heard. So, just for a brief moment, a reminder of and from history. It is an irrefutable fact that no nation that achieved greatness ever fell from defeat by an outside force. It collapsed because of corruption and the decay of morals, values and principles from within. In some cases, those things that caused the collapse created the opportunity for an outside force to become the superior force and take over. Follow the “bouncing ball”, look around at what’s going on in our much-loved U.S. and see if, in all honesty and candor, you don’t see collapse underway.
It’s quite difficult, if not impossible, to follow the “bouncing ball” and join in the sing-a-long when the ball bounces so fast and the words make no sense.
No . . . I am not a “nay-sayer”. I am just one member of the group known as “We the people”. A citizen who cherishes the freedom and liberty I have as a member of this nation. One person who honors, reveres and respects those 4,400 words of the Constitution of the United States. One individual who would, very much, like to see us return to those things that have made us the greatest nation ever known to man.
I would like to get back to the point where we could all follow the “bouncing ball” and our singing would make sense and be coherent.
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