Try To Remember
By William Bailey (06/24/03)
One of the best-remembered songs from the musical, “The Fantasticks” is entitled, “Try to Remember”. Thus, the stimulus for the thoughts expressed herein. In case some aren’t familiar with the words, the opening goes:
“Try to remember the kind of September, when life was slow and oh, so mellow . . . “
Life has, certainly, accelerated and become a lot less mellow in recent years. That is not to say that we have not benefited from research, technology and development during that time. However, at least to this writer, there are some things that we should “try to remember”.
“Try to Remember” . . . when personal responsibility took precedence over
looking for ways to either become a victim or blame someone else.
“Try to Remember” . . . when the goal of public education was to teach students
how to read, write, calculate and communicate so as to teach them HOW
to think . . . not WHAT to think.
“Try to Remember” . . . when those who sought election to public office were
more interested in what they could do FOR their constituents than TO
them.
“Try to Remember” . . . when, should you have the need for prescription drugs,
it wasn’t necessary to decide whether to buy food or to pay for the
needed medications.
“Try to Remember” . . . when Courts functioned to interpret and enforce laws
enacted by Legislative bodies NOT make law to further an agenda
outside the scope of judicial responsibility.
“Try to Remember” . . . when the first and most important job of being a parent
was . . . to be a parent, not leave it to “a village”.
“Try to Remember” . . . when you could go to bed at night and leave your doors
unlocked and your windows open without having to fear for your life.
“Try to Remember” . . . when you could defend your home and family without
fear of going to jail or endure the pain of defending your actions.
“Try to Remember” . . . when the Constitution of the United States was revered,
respected and, most importantly, adhered to.
“Try to Remember” . . . when most folks sought to “leave the woodpile a little
higher than they found it” . . . or things a little better.
It is not the intent of the writer to suggest that the “toothpaste can be put back in the tube” nor the “bell can be un-rung”. There is merit, however, in giving some serious consideration to re-instating those morals, values, principles and standards that are the very basic foundation of this nation . . . those things that cause the U.S. to be the shining example for people everywhere who seek liberty and freedom for themselves and their children.
The chorus to the referenced song goes:
“Try to remember and if you remember, then follow, follow, follow”.
Isn’t it worth the time (and effort) to return to those precepts that made us so great ?
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