Our Busybody World

I was just kidding when I told management at the Summit Health Club I was going to resign if they didn't get a "Smoking Room."

I did say, "Wife Iris does not want a cell phone but I'm going to get her one anyway…so she'll have something to do while she's driving."

There have always been social "busybodies". We had a couple at Camas Prairie where I spent some childhood; HOWEVER, the number of professional meddlers seems out of control these days … led by the misguided philosophies of the ACLU and similar self appointed "holier than thous" who don't have regular day-jobs. There are dozens of them writing letters to the editor telling all of us what is best for us … medically, socially, politically, and religiously. They make up facts, and preach their own beliefs on subjects ranging from Chinese foreign policy to the best brand of peanut butter.

One of the biggest "busybody" growth industries is emanating from pseudo-scientific sources. Examples are new diseases discovered almost every month followed up by drug companies ad campaigns for drugs to treat the latest curse. One of the newest has been "identified scientifically" by a researcher in the medical department of the University of Chicago. I'm not going to dignify such phony business by using their name for this disease, but it is a three word title for what the cops call "road rage." Surely there will be pills available by fall.

Are there other "busy bodies?"

Locally, we have those who demand an end to subdividing but don't have a clue on how to stop people from producing more people who need more houses where they can go to produce more people.

A friend of mine who volunteers for conservation work was told that all volunteers for the government loon counting project next year will have to get a background check (clearance) by the FBI. Is somebody in Washington D.C. a little paranoid? Looks like it. (This loony order has since been modified by the Feds)

There is a passel of folks who think you and I should not have the right on the Fourth of July to set off fire crackers. I have a nostalgic love of fireworks, and if the neighborhood kids (all ages) do wake me up a time or two with a late salvo … what's the big deal?" One belly aching letter writer used the words, "annual fireworks torture." I feel sorry for her because she needs to get a life.

What is happening to tolerance of human differences? The kind of people I like "cut others a little slack" and "don't sweat the small stuff."

Religion enters this situation. There are folks who work at doing what is right to lead a fair and honest life without accepting the concept of an all powerful creator. Millions of others do belong to a religious order. I studied "Comparative Religions" in college and it seemed all leading religions are very similar on the bottom line, "Right is right and wrong is wrong," whether reading teachings of Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed.

This country was founded by religious people who had a concept of right and wrong clearly defined by rules of behavior, i.e.. The Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. It obviously worked because the United States has lasted longer and been more successful than any other country in the history of man. Americans have enjoyed freedom as well as a quality life style.

This spring the Valedictorian of a Colorado High School was giving her honored graduation address when the principal ended her speech by cutting off the microphone. He did that because the girl had committed the unbelievable sin of mentioning her guiding savior, Jesus Christ.

An extreme example of busybody influence is an incident in the city of Bath, England. Max Foster's moped was stolen and later seen on the streets. Max located two police officers and asked them to stop the thief but the police refused to pursue him. The thief was not wearing a helmet and the officers said the town's "rules of engagement" discouraged pursuit of a thief who didn't have a helmet. "During a pursuit there is an increased chance the thief might have a wreck or fall off the moped, hit his head, and sue the police."

The busy-bodies are everywhere.