Gads, I’m just an old guy who likes to write, who has experienced the attempts to put thoughts into words and sentences when an idea, a thought that had never crossed my mind before solves a perplexity, somewhat like a math problem of A plus B equals C. I knew B and C, but could not figure out what A was. C was the change in culture. B was the complacency of the common citizen enjoying the benefits. But what was A?
So, what is happening in this upside-down world being created by, well, there’s a long list of the people who have made their mark as an agent of change. I’ll come back to the first in mind later.
There were the writings of Margaret Sanger. Alfred Kinsley. Rachel Carson. Sigmund Freud. Charles Darwin. Hugh Heffner published a magazine. Steve Jobs wrote with just 1 and 0’s. Then there was Martin Luther King, C.S. Lewis and Billy Graham. And the list goes on. No doubt you may have others in mind.
What effect did they have on the world? Sanger started the birth control revolution. Kinsey had a great effect on the sexual revolution. Carson initiated the environmental movement. Freud saw humans as deceivers to themselves. Darwin postulated that we evolved from lower animals. Hefner portrayed women as sex objects. Jobs pioneered the computer age. MLK stood for racial equality, Lewis explained mere Christianity, and Billy Graham preached repentance.
Go back in history way before these folks came along when another was born just like us, learned to walk and talk on this earth just like us, nourished his body just like us, never took a pen to papyrus, but the change he had on this world has lasted since then, having an eternal effect to every generation since. Whereas over time the above-mentioned names will be superseded by others.
His name was Jesus. And wow, what a mark that life made. He did not accumulate wealth. He did not gain political power. Never wrote a book. Was not an athlete nor an entertainer, a lawyer or media host. He was just a lone teacher gathering a following, providing bread to the masses, healing infirmities and exposing the errors of the power brokers, who couldn’t stand that hint of a revolution, had him arrested and hung like a criminal to be put away forever; so they thought.
He permanently changed the world.
A is to Acknowledge.
B is to Believe.
Equals: C: Communion of sins forgiven, a new joy with eternal sanctified life as a bonus.
Author: Arnold R. Kropp
About Mr. Arnold.
Back in the days when I was a kid growing up in south Chicago, freely roaming around the neighborhood was common, and just a part of life in the late '40s and early '50s. A train track was less than a mile away and a favorite place to walk along the rails. A large city park was a bit closer with areas of dense trees and areas of open grassy picnic grounds. A public golf course was just two blocks away, but the famed 4-lane busy Western avenue had to be crossed to get to it, and we crossed in the middle of the block running between the cars and trucks. We knew the risks. In the winters, we would climb that fence making our way to one of the ponds, we’d push and shovel away the snow and play a spontaneous game of hockey, or bring a sled and slide down the hillside ; no adults, no special padding, just a group of kids enjoying the contest.
Dad was at work. Mom was home tending to the laundry and preparing the family meal for promptly at 6 pm. Life was good. It was fun. Sunday mornings were dress up in suit and tie, polished shoes for Sunday school and the worship service, then to a restaurant.
Arnold went on to college immediately after high school, but could not find a subject, a major that was really up his alley, so he enlisted in the Army and served in Germany during the years the Berlin wall was built. Seeing what effects Soviet communism had on the people of East Germany left an impression on him. During those years, he would write many long letters home starting a desire to write more than just letters. Many years later Arnold developed a blog where he posted hundreds of articles on the political side of American life. Some of those are available in the collection named "Ramblings".
Today, Society is totally different from that of the '50s, a whole lot different.
Today, it has become scary to let the kids roam. Today it has become organized to the hilt with 2nd graders playing organized football. In my present relatively quiet neighborhood, I do see kids walking the streets, but there is a difference as the kids seem to be apprehensive and on guard or intently operating a telephone as they walk, not running after each other playing hide and seek.
Today, the above freedoms of the '50s are suspect and avoided as being dangerous activities. And that is sad. It's sad that today's kids do not have that freedom, and it may be having a direct effect on their development. Consider, one fact that is readily apparent today compared to yesterday; the preponderance of overweight and obese kids, even pre-school kids are heavier than we were, and this has to be affecting the rest of their daily lives. No doubt about it. But, I'd better hush, can't talk about those things.
Yes, in the '50s there were Semi-trucks, public transportation, murders, rape, robberies, house fires, sickness and diseases resulting in death, and yes, there were deadly vehicle accidents too. There was even poverty and homosexuals too. We went to public schools, and the high school was integrated. This was Chicago, but those events did not make the headlines, as news was only broadcast at 6pm and possibly 10pm nightcap. Days of the cold war kept us together as a nation. We saw the "Victory at Sea" war clips before the main feature at the theaters.
And now technology dominates life. A cell phone in every handy pocket posting selfies. A computer saving everything to one of those cumulous clouds. Room size TV’s broadcasting everything 24/7.
This is more information than I want.
Let me decide something.
I think. therefore, I am.
I was born a male, therefore I am.
I was born-again, therefore I am.
I have life within, therefore I am.
The news is not my guide.
The TV is not my Sheppard.
View all posts by Arnold R. Kropp
One Day at a Time 
You got it right! Wish more people would think about these things.
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