We're Soft

Just an off the cuff thought:

After nearly six years of middling blogging pontificating, I've come to at least one semi-conclusion.

Drum roll, Animal.

Thank you.

I think we're soft. As in, as a society. Look closely. Look at our politics, our sports,  our general overall leanings towards security and safety. Don't mean to sound like one of those "in my day" kinda guy because I'm hardly a tight ass when it comes to this sort of stuff.

Still.

It's inevitable that if a player breaks his leg in a freak baseball accident, someone will come and demand a rule change to "protect" catchers - based on ONE play. Someone shoots up a local tavern that sat in peace for, say, 100 years? That's it. No guns and strict cufew for all. Safety first. Terrorists attack? The TSA is created.

Illegal immigration? Can't do anything about that because it would be racist and besides they're great workers. It wouldn't be safe to let them out on the street. Best to give them education.* Bye-bye legal heritage.

Our diet could be better. Our committment to education and athletic excellence as well. Canada is the nation par excellence that exists to provide safety and security above all else trading in excellence for mediocrity.

I'm singling out some precious few examples. I don't jot down everything I read or see. Just an impression.

Everywhere we turn we seem to be seeing someone advocating a "safety" proposal or scholar presenting a thesis on the dangers of playgrounds, soccer or bicycling. All activities we once took for granted looks like.

What was once safe for us to play on or with, has become too dangerous and must be accompanied with a helmet or gloves or whatever. I'm guilty of throwing my kid on a bike without a helmet sometimes. I do have a bit of a wild mentality if current trends are to be used as a measurment. "It's okay. It's just a bruise!"

Ask any parent. Wait, observe parents today and compared to those of the past. One is far more protective than the other and I'm not sure we're any more smarter than our wise ancestors. My mother, for the record, was one of those over protective mothers. We had to hide injuries from her or she'd get mad at us for playing sports. She stopped watching me play soccer the minute it turned hot and competitive.

The first time I blew out my ACL playing hockey, my friend drove me to the clinic. But first we had to go home and get my medicare card. Now keep in mind, I had no clue what just happened to me. The knee was in crazy pain and stiff as a rock. I had to essentially hop and crawl to my room. My mother was passing the vacuum. I thought this was the perfect distraction. Alas, she heard everything. So I wasn't surprised when she asked, "What's wrong?" She always asked what's wrong first as opposed to "what's right." "Nothing" I replied. Just forgot something for the hockey game! My buddy stood grinning at the doorway the whole time. Off we went to get misdiagnosed by the doctor who said I merely strained my knee. Of course, after a few schlock-sounds that felt like I was dislocating my knee, I think something more was at play. Indeed, I eventually got confirmation it was an ACL tear by a specialist. Done by the age of 15.

I digressssssssssssssssssssssssss.

We're afraid to get hurt (can't clog up those public hospitals and clinics. No siree). We soon will be afraid of our own shadows.

No?

Meh.

*Don't mistake this comment for lacking compassion. All I'm questioning is whether the Americans are enforcing their own immigration laws. Indeed, issues like this can bring out the worst in us (right-wing, anti-immigration hysteria) but that's different from upholding the law.