>If you lived as a child in the 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's, looking back, it's
>hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have...
>
>As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
>
>Riding in the back of a ute on a warm day was always a special treat.
>
>Our cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paint. We had no
>childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cupboards, and when we rode
>our bikes we had no helmets.
>
>We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors.
>
>We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the
>hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes
>a few times we learned to solve the problem.
>
>We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were
>back when the streetlights came on.
>
>No one was able to reach us all day.
>
>No mobile phones. Unthinkable.
>
>We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were no law suits
>from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame, but us.
>
>Remember accidents?
>
>We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to
>get over it.
>
>We ate patty cakes, bread and butter, and drank cordial, but we were never
>overweight...we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four
>friends, from one bottle and no one died from this.
>
>We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, video games, 65
>channels on pay TV, video tape movies, surround sound, personal mobile
>phones, Personal Computers, Internet chat rooms ... we had friends. We went
>outside and found them. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and
>knocked on the door, or rung the bell, or just walked in and talked to
>them.
>
>Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves! Out there in
>the cold cruel world! Without a guardian - how did we do it?
>
>We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and ate worms, and although
>we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did
>the worms live inside us forever.
>
>Footy and netball had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who
>didn't, had to learn to deal with disappointment.....
>
>
>
>Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and were
>held back to repeat the same grade. Tests were not adjusted for any reason.
>
>Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide
>behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard
>of.
>
>They actually sided with the law - imagine that!
>
>This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem
>solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years has been an explosion of
>innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and
>responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
>
>And you're one of them. Congratulations!
>
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Received on Wed Dec 18 2002 - 04:03:15 UTC