To the editor:
Memories: Thinking of how different things were back when I was in college, 1976-1980. My freshmen year at Ohio University in Athens, I was in a place where I knew no one and wondered how I would adapt. I decided at some point that as I would walk up Richland Avenue to class, I would look as many people as I could in their eyes and say hello and smile. I never kept a count, but I remember feeling the majority said hello back and it made me feel better about being alone in a new place.
Other thoughts of that time is how we did not have a smart phone, and when we wanted to be social, we went to our friend's room to socialize face-to-face, and not on Facebook. I never had to take a picture of my food because we sat across from each other when we ate so we knew what we ate and felt. Nothing is the right way or wrong way -- I'm just saying it was different and that's why we have choices and free will.
Back then, we could speak openly and freely and not worry about making an enemy. We had different opinions, but we could accept that and still be friendly. Now, things have changed. These days I avoid all eye contact. I do not speak freely to anyone. My mom, while alive, never met a stranger -- she could talk to anyone about anything.
I want to try to reach out to a group of people whom I respect, our veterans. Because of them, America is great, has always been great and will always be great. Tom Brokaw talked of the Greatest Generation -- all veterans of World Wars I and II were no doubt great heroes. I also say we -- my generation -- are living with our Greatest Generation, our Vietnam and Iraq veterans and wars in between and after, they are our current Greatest Generation, and I don't want see them caught up in another unjust cause. Please don't drink the red-hat Kool-Aid. The hat is a grifter, liar, cheater, tax and draft dodger who questions what you all got from service to your country. You all are better than that.
Another comparison: Through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, a span of 30 years, there were 18 mass shootings. Since January, there have been 141 mass shootings. There were mental health issues then, too, but most of those years assault weapons were banned. Talking about mental health, obsessive compulsiveness is a mental health disorder and I project that some gun lovers have an obsessive-compulsive gun disorder and should be required to see a mental health doctor three times before they could be eligible to buy a gun. Absurd, right? So is the projection that mental health is our gun issue and not assault weapons.
Ban assault weapons today, tomorrow and forever. Oh, to be a duck, quack quack.
Peace and love.
David Boothe
Smithfield