Maybe things are not as bad as we think

[RogerDat]

I had a member send me a PM because they noticed some of the brass he was packing to send me had a non-standard head stamp. He just wanted to be sure I was OK with getting military brass that did not have caliber on it. Greek stuff HXP and date stamped. Nice brass from what I have seen so no problem but here is the thing I started reflecting on.

We hear (and possibly say) how institutions and people, and the younger generation are just not up to the standards they once were. I'm not sure that is true. Think about this community, people go out of their way to help each other out, offer encouragement, in reloading, casting and shooting sure but in life's trials and tribulations too.

Guy gets his fishing equipment stolen, another guy just posts asking you right handed or left handed? I have some stuff I can set you up with. The scale on my bench for weighing powder was a gift back when all I had was Lee scoops. Life events be they death of family, illness, or even passing of a beloved pet folks let you know that your not dealing with it alone. Are there still thieves? Are politicians still lying if their lips are moving? Are there scams and disagreeable people? Yes, yes, and yes. But there have always been. My dad and uncles would talk and from what they said all of this stuff was around during their life time, heck Moses did not have "Thou Shalt Not Steal" or "Not Bear False Witness" on those tablets as advance preparation for when the current generation would invent stealing and lying.

And while this community is special so are others. I run dog agility, those folks while the can be competitive they are also warm, caring, and willing to go out of their way to help. They are more than happy to cheer your good run that just bumped them out of first place. I know good honest mechanics, I see people put their hand over their heart when the flag goes by in a parade. I know plenty of liberals and conservatives that are hard working decent people. I know my neighbors don't ask about politics or what church do you attend before they decide to help you out with clearing snow or maybe mowing the lawn because they know someone in the house is sick and the grass needs cutting.

It is not like where I live is some mystical perfect place. We had two guys show up on our porch at 2:30 in the morning, ring the doorbell then hide on both sides of the door. We found their knives where they were dropped when our generally honest and professional police arrived promptly. See I called 911 but also explained that I could see them, was not going to let them in but not to worry about whoever was chasing them because I could guarantee my porch was a crime free zone. Not gun free, but certainly crime free so no one was going to hurt them there. We once found money blowing around our yard from a wad of bills stuck under a tree. Speculation was it came from some guys that pulled one or two armed robberies and fled in our direction on foot from one of them. Not everyone I work with is top drawer, but the vast majority are. Not every client or customer is gracious but most are.

See what I mean, not perfect but maybe not all that bad either. And probably not a lot worse than it has generally been, and just maybe a bit better in at least some ways.

[nagantguy]

I work in people's homes six and sometimes 7 day a week, most are still good folks, it does seem the bad un's are getting worse but buy and large I think most folks are still decent people that just want to live and hope for better for their kids.

[Hick]

I agree completely. I rarely watch news programs because they distill all the bad into a report that makes it look like the whole world is coming apart. After all, how is "horrible accident-film at 11" worth tuning into?? I'd rather wait and read a newspaper or anything that lets me compare and balance and decide what is true and what is not.

[Clay M]

Life is good my friends.
I have had a great life. I am older now and have some heart trouble.
I don't know how much longer I have, but I love my family ,my cats and my friends.

I have always been blessed to live in a great nation with really great people.

I grew up in the best years of the empire.
I believe we are an empire in decline, such as all great empires that ever existed.

But there is still a bright future for those willing to work for it.
My son is one of those people.
I raised him to be a survivor, and indeed he is.

He is the best I have left to offer this world.

I am sure I will be gone soon, but I have done my best to pass on all I have to give.

[jcwit]

Life is good my friends.
I have had a great life. I am older now and have some heart trouble.
I don't know how much longer I have, but I love my family ,my cats and my friends.

I have always been blessed to live in a great nation with really great people.

I grew up in the best years of the empire.
I believe we are an empire in decline, such as all great empires that ever existed.

But there is still a bright future for those willing to work for it.
My son is one of those people.
I raised him to be a survivor, and indeed he is.

He is the best I have left to offer this world.

I am sure I will be gone soon, but I have done my best to pass on all I have to give.

This is a super post and very sobering all at the same time.

Thanks for putting your thoughts out here!

[Stewbaby]

Every time I feel down about our current situations, I just reflect on how bad the future must have looked to my ancestors in 1778, 1865, 1929 and so on.

[Piedmont]

Every time I feel down about our current situations, I just reflect on how bad the future must have looked to my ancestors in 1778, 1865, 1929 and so on.
Yeah. I think about stuff like that, too. How would you like to come to age of worldly awareness and WWI or WWII is going on? Worse, how about if the battleground is your country?

[runfiverun]

it's not how it looked it's about how they faced it.
that's the difference.

[1989toddm]

Great comments, fellas! Glad to see the optimistic outlook.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RogerDat]

I know a lot of kids (at least among my kin) that are pretty decent, a couple that are sort of aimless, and one that is busy making bad choices. Still all and all good crop of next generation.

[shoot-n-lead]

Great post and great job as DAD...ClayM.

And, we should all be encouraged as there are a LOT of great kids out here...it is just that the liberal morons make the news.

[jmort]

We play pretend to think that the long-standing liberal indoctrination, brainwashing, and elimination of critical thinking in our schools and culture, at all levels, from kindergarten to University PhD graduates, has not had a detrimental effect on "the children." But for good, decent, right thinking folks fighting the good fight, we would be smoked. The course has been set for many generations, and that course is a downward spiral. Thank God for the children who resist and prevail in a system rigged to conform to socialist/liberal perversion. There are many great youngsters who do right when everything tells then evil is good. But overall, the toilet is flushing and we are swirling down, down, down as foretold.

[Clay M]

I hope I am able to live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up on the land.My son is the sixth generation on the land I just gave him.I am very pleased with his life and feel honored to be able to see him succeed.

[robg]

This has cheered me up ,thanks guys

[RogerDat]

This has cheered me up ,thanks guys
And that would be sort of the point. Lot of good things and good people around. In all the issues and conflict that sometimes slips from view. Lot of wisdom wrapped up in the saying "I woke up this morning looking down at dirt, not up at it." I guess as long as that happens the day has at least some upside potential. Not to say there are not real problems that people are dealing with, just that most of the time the good outweighs the bad.

[Clay M]

I still love to read Walden by Thoreau .

It makes me realize how little many things matter.

Many times the simple things of life are best.

I have tried to live an uncomplicated life.

Nowdays stress runs my blood pressure up.

I have not had TV for over ten years now.

It has been nice. I read books and play music, or reload.

I really have no blood pressure problem unless I get stressed..

[historicfirearms]

This site has been an outpost of good people for me. I work in the aviation world and while most people there are upstanding citizens, for some reason, it also attracts lowlifes and scammers out of proportion to the average. I come to this site and often feel a sense of community and helpfulness much lacking in my real life. When I first started casting everyone was so helpful with all my dumb questions. I've had people give me boolits and lend me molds to try out. People have gone out of their way to measure things for me, find a tool, or other bit of information I couldn't find on my own. Cast boolits has been my lifeboat when I lose hope with humanity. Thanks everyone.

[Handloader109]

There are a lot of good things and people out there that are young and have a head on their shoulders. But a lot of the young folks have totally fallen for the claptrap that the schools spew and the government backs and promotes. I'm encouraged when I meet one, but they are vastly outnumbered and I think we are sinking fast.

[Artful]

Today I went out to lunch with a friend, he had converted some old tapes to digital files of songs
from his youth - songs of the sons of the pioneers, and stuff from my youth.
We went back to his place to listen.

The thing is it was taped in on and around the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1968-69.
It was him and his fellow USAF having fun - band called the Udorn 5.

One of the songs was a solo of him on the flight line - in the back of a service van, waiting for his
F4D to be repaired so he could complete a mission. Flight crew told him an hour or two so he got on
the radio and asked someone to bring him his six string and walkman up to the flight line.

Sang his blues into his Sony.
Then took off to kill or be killed
- he was shot down by SAM's twice while in the South East Asian War Games.

I'm glad we had men like him and are producing men like him now
I'm just sorry we have so many that can never be like him in our country today.
But it's good to know there is real hope for the future.

[dtknowles]

We play pretend to think that the long-standing liberal indoctrination, brainwashing, and elimination of critical thinking in our schools and culture, at all levels, from kindergarten to University PhD graduates, has not had a detrimental effect on "the children." But for good, decent, right thinking folks fighting the good fight, we would be smoked. The course has been set for many generations, and that course is a downward spiral. Thank God for the children who resist and prevail in a system rigged to conform to socialist/liberal perversion. There are many great youngsters who do right when everything tells then evil is good. But overall, the toilet is flushing and we are swirling down, down, down as foretold.

Just had to be the turd in the punchbowl. Well take you stinky stuff and pack it. My thanks to the OP for some perspective.

Tim

[osteodoc08]

Life is good my friends.
I have had a great life. I am older now and have some heart trouble.
I don't know how much longer I have, but I love my family ,my cats and my friends.

I have always been blessed to live in a great nation with really great people.

I grew up in the best years of the empire.
I believe we are an empire in decline, such as all great empires that ever existed.

But there is still a bright future for those willing to work for it.
My son is one of those people.
I raised him to be a survivor, and indeed he is.

He is the best I have left to offer this world.

I am sure I will be gone soon, but I have done my best to pass on all I have to give.

i am of a younger generation (I'm 35 as of today). My father will have passed 3 years this Sunday. I would like to think he instilled moral, character and determination. If I could only do the same in my short time here that he did, i would die a happy man knowing all my children will be well served by their own conviction and hopefully defeat this moral turpitude we see so rampant today.

[Clay M]

i am of a younger generation (I'm 35 as of today). My father will have passed 3 years this Sunday. I would like to think he instilled moral, character and determination. If I could only do the same in my short time here that he did, i would die a happy man knowing all my children will be well served by their own conviction and hopefully defeat this moral turpitude we see so rampant today.

I am impressed with a lot of the younger generation.
Most want a good life and are willing to work for it.

As far s education goes, I believe majoring in the right fields of study is key .

Looking back on life, I would have chosen differently.

I believe in our young people. Remember many have volunteered for service whereas they would not have to.

I can always learn something from young people today.

My grandfather taught me much of what I used growing up.
I still use it today.
His honesty, and hard work is never outdated.

He was a brilliant man who bought the land from his father that I just gave to my son.

My son has already earned it in too many way to mention.

I am happy I lived in the time in which I grew up, but it wasn't perfect.
We also had our problems.

For the most part our politicians either sold us out , or made many bad decisions.

That is why we are an empire in decline.

All empires eventually decline, and for the very same reasons.
Seems we never learn anything from history.
That is what empires do.

For you young people out there, hoping for a future.

Go and take it my friend. There is still a bright hope on the horizon,
but expect to work hard to achieve your goals.

Always be honest and true. It will pay off in the long run.
Don't look for short cuts to lasting stability.

As for me , my daughter is very sick. I feel helpless sometimes ,and inadequate to meet her need.
Just found out today she need surgery on her neck.

Good luck,
I love you all my friends.

Clay M

[Clay M]

I especially love the book "A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens.

The part where the wine cask falls off of a wagon into the street and all the people gather around and drink the rich red wine that has spilled .

Read the book.:wink:

[leftiye]

Naah, thangs are just as bad as we think they are. Trust your perceptions people, don't be deceived by nor confused by people telling you that platitudes are a form of thinking. They aren't real thought, they only divert you from perceiving while telling you how to think their way.

[dtknowles]

Naah, thangs are just as bad as we think they are. Trust your perceptions people, don't be deceived by nor confused by people telling you that platitudes are a form of thinking. They aren't real thought, they only divert you from perceiving while telling you how to think their way.

Yes, things are pretty bad but they aren't going to get better. Best to look on the bright side and do the best you can instead of wallowing in a life of woe.

Tim

[RogerDat]

I tried to teach the kids that you need to do your best to figure out the right thing to do, then do that thing to the best of your ability. You won't always be right, and even if right your best may not be successful but overall the odds sort of favor good outcomes from this approach. Worse case you will have fewer regrets from trying your best to do what is right. Even if sometimes it doesn't work out.
Lesson mostly took root.

I just don't see things as all that different than they have been, humans have not changed all that much. Still working off the same 7 deadly sins etc. Not any more evil or less evil. Still find most people try to make things better rather than making them worse. Some of the gloom and doom strikes me as a little bit too much "drama queen" for my taste. Not ready to climb some hill and wait for the end of days. Some things are clearly better. I have at least a 1/2 dozen people I care about that are alive because of basic medical advances. People don't need to die from many of the diseases our parents saw as a deadly threat. I knew people with Polio growing up, one who considered himself lucky since he was only in a wheel chair not an iron lung. Appendicitis, or lockjaw or rabies..... long list.

The glass half empty, the glass half full, the glass will probably shatter any minute from _________. Which is my pet fear.
Bah, any engineer will tell you the glass is always full, partly with water and partly with air. Nice day out, back is a little stiff, knees ache a bit, looking forward to a holiday weekend. Which is air and which is water?

[dtknowles]

I tried to teach the kids that you need to do your best to figure out the right thing to do, then do that thing to the best of your ability. You won't always be right, and even if right your best may not be successful but overall the odds sort of favor good outcomes from this approach. Worse case you will have fewer regrets from trying your best to do what is right. Even if sometimes it doesn't work out.
Lesson mostly took root.

I just don't see things as all that different than they have been, humans have not changed all that much. Still working off the same 7 deadly sins etc. Not any more evil or less evil. Still find most people try to make things better rather than making them worse. Some of the gloom and doom strikes me as a little bit too much "drama queen" for my taste. Not ready to climb some hill and wait for the end of days. Some things are clearly better. I have at least a 1/2 dozen people I care about that are alive because of basic medical advances. People don't need to die from many of the diseases our parents saw as a deadly threat. I knew people with Polio growing up, one who considered himself lucky since he was only in a wheel chair not an iron lung. Appendicitis, or lockjaw or rabies..... long list.

The glass half empty, the glass half full, the glass will probably shatter any minute from _________. Which is my pet fear.
Bah, any engineer will tell you the glass is always full, partly with water and partly with air. Nice day out, back is a little stiff, knees ache a bit, looking forward to a holiday weekend. Which is air and which is water?

While all engineers will agree that the glass is full some will argue that it is twice as big as it needs to be.

Tim

[DCP]

Today I went out to lunch with a friend, he had converted some old tapes to digital files of songs
from his youth - songs of the sons of the pioneers, and stuff from my youth.
We went back to his place to listen.

The thing is it was taped in on and around the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1968-69.
It was him and his fellow USAF having fun - band called the Udorn 5.

One of the songs was a solo of him on the flight line - in the back of a service van, waiting for his
F4D to be repaired so he could complete a mission. Flight crew told him an hour or two so he got on
the radio and asked someone to bring him his six string and walkman up to the flight line.

Sang his blues into his Sony.
Then took off to kill or be killed
- he was shot down by SAM's twice while in the South East Asian War Games.

I'm glad we had men like him and are producing men like him now
I'm just sorry we have so many that can never be like him in our country today.
But it's good to know there is real hope for the future.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVR0lpz3EjY

powerful words start at about 2:17

[RogerDat]

While all engineers will agree that the glass is full some will argue that it is twice as big as it needs to be.

Tim

Pretty much all of them would have that view. Me I go with if just fits is good, twice that is better, double strength is also desirable. So maybe that is the secret, keep focus on right size and scope for worry and concern. Or as some group or another put it. Think globally but act locally. Or as noted in the new testament (paraphrase) there will be poor always look at the good that one can do today for those that deserve it. Or even those that do not deserve it.

[opos]

Remember one important thing....It's always darkest just before it goes totally black!

[Char-Gar]

The culture of our country changes with every generation. While the young people may have different points of view on some issues, where it counts, they are salt of the earth people. If you squat down in the past and see all change as bad, you will die a miserable angry old man.

Life is good, the vast majority of people are good and God is good. We are a blessed people.

[Detroitdanm]

I still think there are more good than bad people, but the ones pulling us towards the darker side of life have better organization and have established bases of power in education, politics, the bureaucracies and the press giving them outsized sway on public opinion. The good folks in the land have a strong tendency towards NOT being joiners and followers but instead forge their own way and tend to be "hands off" until pushed too far. I think whats happening now in our country has hit "too far" and the folks rallying to the candidacy and message of Donald Trump are indicative of that. The Tea Party started the movement, but the establishment shut them down. Trump is riding roughshod over the establishment and has become to me at least, a hopeful sign when I see the folks he has brought out of the shadows and energized.

I work with primarily blue collar types, truck drivers, mechanics and others of their ilk. There are so many good folks working hard and trying to do right. I have to believe God hasn't given up on us yet.

[PS Paul]

I meet a lot of good people every day. Many young, polite and respectful. A majority of jerks who I meet are not of the younger generation. Gives me great hope all the time. Hope is needed.