While it is important not to look at the past through rose-coloured glasses, the point many conservatives--especially social conservatives--make is that while there have obviously been a number of very important improvements, the moral fabric of society and our ability to view things rationally has undoubtedly decreased, in some cases drastically. The reason it is important not to refer to the past as "the good old days" is that we need to recognize the progress that has been made--I think we can all agree that the Canadian residential schools and the American segregation laws are practices that belong on the trash heap of history. However, occasionally a political cartoon or sarcastic article highlights differences between "then" and "now" in a revealing and witty manner. Some time ago, I recieved one such article from a friend that I would like to share that I think reveals some fundamental differences admirably, while keeping in mind that the intention is not to deliver an intellectual argument.

What a Difference Fifty Years Makes:

Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack. (Clearly an American scenario).

1956 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to his car and gets his to show Jack.

2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1956 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.

2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1956 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal.
Sits still in class.

2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School
gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his dad gives him a whipping.

1956 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.

2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to
school.

1956 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking
deck.

2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.

1956 - Five High School boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a
special school for expectant mothers.

2006 - Middle School Counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies
the ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an abortion
without her parent's consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and told
to be more careful next time.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.

1956: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.

2006 : Pedro's cause is taken up by state Democrat party. Newspaper
articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a
requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit
against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned
from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing
lawns for a living because he can't speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of
July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant
bed.

1956 - Ants die.

2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with
domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from
home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his
knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to
comfort him.

1956 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
She faces 3 years in State Prison.