We Used to be Happy

We Used to be Happy

By Bill Schaeffer

We used to believe in the Bill of Rights, the dignity of man, and the pursuit of happiness.

Now we believe in managed care, right to work, and increasing the bottom line.

We used to want to build schools, parks and hospitals for our communities.

Now we want to build more prisons, more factories, and more gambling casinos.

We used to value learning, reading, music, and literature.

Now we value the loudest beats, the baddest car, and the dirtiest girl.

We used to read poetry, the Bible, and the classics in French, and Latin.

Now we read the stock market report, the racing form and the Penthouse Forum.

We used to listen to symphonies, musicals, plays and lectures on politics.

Now we listen to sound bites, ring tones, commercial interruptions, and professional sports announcers.

We used to go to church picnics, community dances, and country fairs.

Now we go to nightclubs, dance halls, movie palaces, and restaurants and bars.

We used to take a hike in the woods and have a picnic in the park.

Now we have catered events, fast food , TV dinners, and caffeine free diet cola.

We used to fall in love and get married.

Now we have sexual expression, prenuptial agreements, child support, prophylactics, and marriage counseling.

We used to sing work songs, sing in the church choir, and sing the baby to sleep.

Now we have personal music systems, internet downloads, noise canceling headphones, and Prozac for children.

We used to play baseball, or hide and seek, marbles, dolls, or build a fort.

Now we watch TV, have structured play time, watch TV, play computer games, or watch TV.

We used to know who our neighbors were, and what they did for a living.

Now we have security access, gated parking, video surveillance, and condo management.

We used to make decisions based on principle, honor, and the right thing to do.

Now we attempt to justify our expediency, convenience, greed, laziness, and theft.

We used to write letters, diaries, memoirs, and visit the relatives.

Now we have focus groups, email, blogs, phone messages, and new found friends.

We used to be thankful for the few comforts and graces we had.

Now we are bitterly resentful that we do not have everything we see on TV.

We used to care about trying to build a better world for our children.

Now we just want to get our piece of the pie before it is all gone.

We used to be proud of our country, our work, and our family, and our community.

Now we just want to take the latest anti depressants and play the newest video game.

We used to love life, laughter and the feeling of sunshine in the afternoon.

Now we despise anyone and anything that stands in our way.

We used to have beautiful wild forests and meadows, and fresh clean rivers.

Now we have asphalt, cement, smog, dirty water, toxic waste, herbicides, and killer bees.

We used to have clear night skies, and a fresh new moon.

Now we have street lights, 24 hour access, motion detectors, security lighting, and razor wire.

We used to have medicine men, root women, and family doctors.

Now we have pharmaceutical corporations, medical insurance payments, and thorough research documentation of known possible anti carcinogens.

We used to have myths, and fables, and stories by the campfire.

Now we have primetime programming, mass marketing to children, adult literature, and Cable News Network.

We used to know what life is about and where we were going.

Now every day is a new experience of unlimited possibilities in and exciting and challenging universe of change.

We used to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Now we eat breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, tea time, cocktails, dinner, desert, nightcap, late night snack, and finally a cookie before bed.

We used to be happy.

Now we experience, and are aware of, the full range of our emotional nature.

©2007 Wm Schaeffer