Kierstie and I hit the streets, on a mission to pick up a few more things to make our lives easier and to help Cary get his flat more organized (Org-Gasm's Baby!). We cruised, had some baked goods, both savory and sweet, then met Cary at the Rathaus to hit the train to Poco. Poco is a store they have here in Bocum that sells junk. And I do mean junk. Every item Kierstie picked up was over-priced and was on par with the original Hyundai Pony, quality wise. After purchasing a shoe rack, which was plastic and therefore not total junk, we went next door to Real, basically a German Wal-Mart. We had much better results, buying food and other goodies. It was fun to shop like a North American for a while. We headed back and installed, mounted, re-arranged and organized. Kierstie was very happy and Cary had some nice surprises when he got home from his show this evening. All in all, a productive day. It did rain however. The pedestrian lifestyle gets a lot less romantic when sheets of freezing cold rain are falling from the heavens. Needless to say, I sprang for a cab back to the flat and we dropped Cary off at work on the way home.
Lets get back to crossed lines. I've seen things here that I've seen before in Canada, but they've all mysteriously disappeared. Please see below...
As I said, no bubble wrap here in Germany. The kids play on every dangerous (and cool) playground toy there is. Monkey bars, teeter totters, the spinning wheel of death, it's all good here. I have to admit, I kind of respect them for that. They simply operate under the assumption that the children have parents that actually pay attention to what their kids are doing...imagine that. Instead of the government legislating common sense, like my beloved Canada seems to be doing, they operate under the assumption that the parents actually know what's best for their child and let them decide. Kids climb on ridiculously inappropriate things and if they fall, well, a trip to the hospital, a cast or some stitches and then the child knows better. It's called growing up.
I did insane things as a child. Skateboarding down a steep hill followed by a face plant. No rules races on a GT snow-racer through trees at Esther Lorrie park in Rexdale. I was also a huge fan of projectile weapons growing up, enough said on that front. Don't even get me started on water sports, I did some ridiculous things. And now, having done them, I know just how ridiculous they were. I don't claim to be an expert. I am the last person who should give parenting advice, since I obviously don't have children. Unfortunately for you all, I'm like my father. My lack of experience in a particular subject doesn't mean I won't have an opinion on it. The truth is, Canadian government has been systematically taking away minor freedoms. They are obvious things, such as no smoking in a car with a child present. A good rule, in theory, and it's just common sense. As a smoker, I would never smoke with a child in a car...ever. I wouldn't even smoke with a child nearby. But, like every legislated common sense law, there's no thought behind it. I offer as evidence a story I heard a while back about an 18 year old who was pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. During the course of the stop, another 18 year old passenger in the back seat lit a cigarette (her own) and the driver was charged because the smoking girls 15 year old sister was in the car. Atrocious! Another one that drives me bonkers is that kids can't have peanut butter at school. Seriously? I understand that there are kids who are deathly allergic. I get it, truly. But are there not children with bee allergies? Did they ban bees at schools? What about the million other things that ANYONE can be allergic to? I went to grade school with a kid who had a deadly serious allergy to sesame seeds. Well, we just didn't give him sesame seeds and last time I checked, it was okay to send your child to school with a pack of sesame snaps. Imagine the simplicity. If you're allergic to something, don't eat it. I myself had an allergy to homework while growing up, but they still shoved it down my throat. ;-)
The hard truth is this. Legislating common sense gives people a legitimate, government issued, excuse to be stupid. Don't worry, the government will tell us what to do. At its basest level, that's playing with natural selection. I know, that's a stretch, but if you ponder a bit, you'll likely see it's not as far a stretch as you might think.
I love Canada. I miss it too, even after only a couple of weeks. I miss dishwashers and dryers. I miss 24 hour Wal-Marts and McDonalds menus that don't include anything with "wurst" in the name. But I also miss old Canada. The Canada where you could go down a 15 foot metal slide with no safety rail, then jump up to the rings hanging from chains and hang upside down until your head felt like it would pop.
Lesson for the day. Think for yourself. Pay attention to the laws that elected officials are passing without asking your opinion. I guarantee you that 5 minutes of Googling will open your eyes to a world of lunacy that you never knew existed.
Hope that wasn't too deep for you all and I also hope that anyone with a differing opinion will have the courage to tell me so, I love a good debate and, if you're good, you might even get me to admit I'm wrong. Like the old saying goes, opinions are like assholes...everyone has one. Well, I made a new saying. Opinions are like hands...Only one of them is the right one!
Nighty night all...
Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment