My two-cents worth and then some. An online journal by LP Brown.

Browsing Category The Way I See It

A Boomer’s Introspection on The Purpose

by on ·Religion, The Way I See It

“You are not an accident. Even before the universe was created, God had you in mind, and he planned you for His purposes. These purposes will extend far beyond the years you will spend on earth.” Those thought provoking words are from Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life.

As Baby Boomers come closer to the end of our road, some are pondering our objective for being here. Although I once had a firm conviction about purpose, I am beginning to question my own thinking on that subject.

For years, I have been among those who believe that every individual was created by our maker for a specific purpose; and I suspect that our personal goals are secondary to the purpose for which we were born. I also wonder, are our personal goals commingled – unbeknownst to us  – with our purpose for being here? And, if we do all have a purpose and the purpose of some people is to do basically good things – like strive for world peace or, on a smaller scale, improve a chaotic society – then what is the purpose of evil doers?  

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Halloween: Celebrating All Saints Day or Runnin’ With the Devil?

by on ·General, The Way I See It

“Trick or treat?” That’s the rhetorical question that follows the knock on your door on Halloween eve. Upon opening the door you see giggling, anxious children, eagerly holding out their bags, waiting for you to drop in candy, fruit, or other goodies.

Many adults as well as children enjoy the annual celebration that gives imaginative children the opportunity to fantasize that they are the characters of their dreams – or nightmares – by dressing up in appropriate costumes and going door-to-door trick or treating or attending parties. Some child-at-heart adults join in the fun and put on costumes, too.

While numerous religious factions have no problem with Halloween, some

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The Faces of Evil

by on ·The Way I See It

The world is a scary place. It is especially frightening if you are a God-fearing person who regularly contemplates the battle between good and evil, and you worry that evil too often seems to prevail. Baby Boomers have witnessed magnitudes of evil during our lifetime; among them the senseless killings during the civil rights era, the Oklahoma bombing and 9/11. Some Boomers even believe that the most recent triumph of evil on a lesser scale occurred this week in Orlando, Florida at the trial of Casey Anthony, the 25 year old woman accused of murdering her two-year old daughter, Caylee.

Many of the people who anxiously followed the six week long court proceeding, and were watching on Tuesday as the verdicts were read, were convinced of Anthony’s guilt. The disappointed staggered under every metaphorical right hook to the jaw each time they heard “not guilty.” And, as the shocking verdicts reverberated nationwide some locals were caught by television cameras chanting “OJ2” referencing a similarly unexpected outcome of the sensational O.J. Simpson trial in 1995.

Hours after the Anthony trial adjourned, the masses were still reeling, stunned and punch drunk from the unexpected blow of the woman’s acquittal on the most serious charges. And before the smoke had cleared following the devastating knock-out, Prosecutor Jeff Ashton announced his retirement.

Former prosecutor and television host, Nancy Grace, commenting on the shocking outcome of the Anthony trial, provided the best remark for those pondering the issue of good versus evil when she said “The devil is dancing.”

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A Message to Young Men: Put a Belt On It

by on ·The Way I See It

Beyonce popularized a hit tune telling all the single ladies to “Put A Ring On It.” Meanwhile, well-intentioned people all over are wishing for an anthem that would convince young men to wear a belt and stop sagging their pants. 

General Larry Pratt came close to doing that when he appeared on American Idol, during its 9th season in January 2010. He wowed the judges with his clever song “Pants on the Ground.” While the catchy tune went viral on the Internet and brought the 62-year-old Pratt overnight fame, apparently the message was lost on the youths.

There is nothing sexy, cool, or attractive about young men wearing their pants drooping off their butt. Hip hoppers are no exception. I have been told that “saggin” as it is called, originated in prison where men are not allowed to have belts and some want to show that they are sexually available. The inclination of some young people to follow any trend, even if it equates them to criminals, is just another sad saga in a morally bankrupt society.

Well, saggin may be “in” outside the prison walls, but mature people think that it shows ignorance. Furthermore, it has to be as much a pain in the butt for young men to constantly struggle to hold up their pants as it is for reluctant witnesses to see their drawers, and in some instances their bare behind. And Jimmydee creepers! Don’t let them bend over while the pants are sagging. What do youths think is so cool about being prison chic?

When my adolescent son was growing up in the 80’s, I would often scold him about wearing his cap turned backward. “It makes you look like a thug,” I told him more times than he cared to hear. He’s a grown man now, and God knows that I appreciate the fact that my challenge of trying to keep him from conforming to negative peer pressure was minor compared to the challenges that nurturing parents face today.

Numerous states including Louisiana, Virginia, Florida, and public venues nationwide have attempted to institute anti-sagging policies that ban men from wearing their pants below their waist and exposing their underwear in public. Some people oppose criminalizing the practice, because they believe that the proposed law targets a particular group — black men.

Last Wednesday, a University of New Mexico football player was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport over the issue of his saggy pants. Reportedly his mother said: “He was attacked for three reasons – his clothing, his skin, and his hair.”

In my recent discussion of this issue with a few acquaintances, some opined that saggin is practiced by people who are immature and have no self respect. Then, a member of the group temporarily halted the discussion when he said there is a double insult when you spell the word saggin backwards.

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Upside Down and Inside Out

by on ·The Way I See It

Baby Boomers think back about three or four decades. When we were younger didn’t the world seem to be a simpler, more rational place? Granted, our youthful generation produced dramatic social change, fist-pumping militants, barefoot hippies, and psychedelic drugs. Ours was a tumultuous yet evolving culture that led pundits to predict that because of the recklessness of our generation the world was going to hell in a handbasket. Look at the world today. Now look back at the days of our youth. Now look at the world today. Tell me is the basket half full or half empty?

The point is that overall today’s society seems ten times more out of sync than it was back in the day. The 21st century cultural landscape is muddier than the Woodstock Festival. Normalcy, privacy, and civility are things of the past. Call the present the go-along-to-get-along society, because there is a lot of denial and pretending going on. People are pretending to accept things that in their heart they feel are morally wrong. Political correctness rules over common sense, and PC has virtually annihilated the spontaneity of “call it as you see it.” The trend now is to pretend that you don’t see something inappropriate or unethical even if it is in plain sight. You can no longer call a spade a spade, offer a prayer in a public forum or use the world God without offending someone.

Violence and iniquity is spreading like blood gushing from a gunshot wound, and overreaction has reached new heights, from body scanning before plane trips to jostling in the office. Jokingly say to a co-worker, “Pal, if you borrow my stapler again without returning it, I’ll kill you,” and you are liable to find yourself snatched outside your cubicle, thrown flat on your belly, hands cuffed behind your back and swat team rifles pointed at your head. Don’t try to explain that you were only kidding. Don’t blink. Don’t sneeze. Don’t even inhale.

Thanks to texting and technology, even the English language is convoluted. Decades ago, when people thought of a mouse they visualized a creepy rodent scurrying across the floor. Now unless your home is infested with the critters, the tech savvy immediately think of a pointing device used to direct images on a computer screen. Proper grammar and spelling have become a hodgepodge of gobbledygook. We — used to be spelled w-e, not Wii. Now, we is still us, but Wii is a video game console. Who would have thunk it?  Yes, I said thunk. Thanx u. 

Boomers, look at the world today. Now look back at the days of our youth. Now look at the world today. Tell me is the basket half full or half empty?

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