Controversy is simply a part of the American life

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 9, 2001

"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.

Tuesday, January 09, 2001

"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind." – William Blake

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Perhaps in time I will alter my opinion of George W. Bush.

Watching as little as I did of the debates it felt to me that he spoke from the heart more so than Al Gore.

Unfortunately, it seems to me, that’s all he can do.

Al Gore, who demonstrated no heart in his campaign and is probably somewhere in Florida still counting votes, seemed to speak from the heart in his reluctant concession speech.

I think it’s admirable that the president to be is intent on bringing the Democrats and Republicans together as he says he did in Texas.

It seems to me he brought together his dad’s foreign policy experts which frightens the bejibbers out of me.

I was hoping we had moved past the "bomb Hanoi" leadership.

Maybe, with Dick Chaney running the government, when he isn’t in the senate with his tie-breaking vote, George could be out working in communities to help settle disputes or he even give Al a hand counting votes in Florida.

If George Dubya is successful in bringing opposing sides of government together (some might argue they are already together, considering how both cow-cow to big business and corporate greed) what will life be like.

The notion that Brian Sorenson from the Austin Daily Herald’s composing department has – "If there wasn’t controversy over everything it wouldn’t be America" – might fade away.

I think he’s right.

We live in controversy, especially the male gender.

I’m not sure it’s controversy, I think its men’s inability to listen and their strong "must win" desire.

Ollie LaVaige, a group dynamics instructor I had at San Bernardino State College back in the early 70’s used to say, "It’s easier to come in second." He also used to say that no one should make over $100,000 a year or under $10,000.

I’m not sure how he would adjust those figures today.

Blaise Pascal said, "I have discovered that all of man’s unhappiness derives from only one source – not being able to sit quietly in a room."

To help, we’re getting more women in the house and Senate. They are certainly more civil in dealing with others.

I still have an article I carry around that says women would not have had Desert Storm. To men it was the big "game" we had to win. Especially after "losing" in Vietnam.

Of course oil was another factor.

When our government says "we’re going there to protect our foreign interests" that translates to either we’ve got oil there; or, as in Vietnam, we had to protect the rubber trees for Michelin Tires, and the bombs drop.

I am also truly amazed at the renewed Star Wars effort that George is so in favor of.

One might think, with the new millennium and all, to give thought instead to investing in peace rather then investing in a defense system.

I honestly believe that we have advanced far enough as human beings that no one has any intent to nuke America. However, they may be mad at us for our bully ways.

My suspicion is that the technology necessary will make fortunes for some folks already with fortunes. When you build war items people get rich on our side and die on the other side.

One might think that our government makes enough money selling arms to the world that they wouldn’t need to develop Star Wars.

Perhaps its also time to end our war on drugs that places a disproportionate number of blacks in jails and is creating another mess in Columbia.

The problem isn’t Columbia; the problem is the need for drugs here in America.

What’s that all about.

Should we be thinking about legalizing drugs?

We provide alcohol, and it doesn’t take a wizard to know that people become much more aggressive with alcohol than they do with marijuana.

For heaven’s sake, Bing Crosby smoked marijuana and everybody loved him – except his children.

My intent was not to talk politics, actually I wanted to discuss block scheduling in the high school further.

When I mention block scheduling with the school board I’m met with "It isn’t working."

My nephew teaches in Florida and is a huge advocate. He points out that each teacher in the traditional setting thinks his or her class is most important and piles on the homework so students end up with homework from six or seven classes.

He also mentions the variety of things he can do in his classroom with 85 minutes. Students have time to accomplish something.

Maybe best of all teachers have three preps but they may have to work a harder.

It works in Albert Lea and Lyle.

Seven classes a day is absurd.

Bob Vilt’s column appears Tuesdays