You were lucky to have had parents who taught you right from wrong. I had similar parents. They were religious and voted Republican. Like your father, I also have never asked for a handout. As a college student in the late '60s and early '70s, I worked on a concrete construction crew, hauled and loaded U.S. mail and worked at a heat-treating factory. I have been working ever since -- except for three months in '91 when the elephant sat on my chest.
Some of the best parents I know are "liberals" politically but "conservatives" in terms of family values. Do not assume that because a couple supports Gore for president that couple also embraces a "liberal" lifestyle. In my case, the main reason I am voting for Albert Gore for president is because I feel a Bush presidency, coupled with a GOP Congress, would mean hog heaven for big business and open season on pension plans. The shameful conduct of Bill Clinton pales in comparison to the abuses of big business the past two decades.
Do not lament the pervasiveness of negative influences upon children. It does no good. Negative influences are everywhere. How can one avoid such unless one lives in a monastery? In my opinion, it does little good to shield children from such. I have never believed in rigid censorship. Instead, spend your time discussing the differences between fantasy (no-holds-barred free sex on "Seinfeld," for example) and reality (AIDS, herpes, stalking, etc.) |
