In the Brady Bunch episode known as Getting Greg's Goat, Greg steals Coolidge High's mascot, a goat named Roxanne. When he is finally discovered, and the goat runs wild through a concerned parents' meeting on the mascot-stealing situation, his punishment is to write a 5,000 word essay on the evils of mascot-stealing.
Mr. Brady turns to Mr Binkley, the principal, and says, "Boy, times sure have changed. I did the same thing when I was a kid and I was suspended for a week."
Mr. Binkley looks around to make sure no one is listening and replies: "I was suspended for an entire month." And they all laugh.
The message is that everyone, even those who grow up to be responsible adults in positions of respect and authority may well have indulged in foolish pranks when they were young; and also, perhaps, that their experience has led them to take a more balanced, sensible attitude towards those in their charge who make the same mistakes. Mr. Binkley and Mr. Brady were suspended; all Greg has to do is write an essay.
Well, things have changed yet again since Greg Brady's mascot-stealing days. If this story is any indication, an updated version would have Greg's own son replying: "I was sentenced to eight years in a state prison."
Sheer madness. How did this country become such a perilous place to grow up?
Posted by Dr. Frank at July 6, 2011 01:26 AM | TrackBackwe're living in a police state full of frightened small minded people. a revolution is imminent. its going to make altamont look like a infant's play date.
Posted by: farmertedbread at July 7, 2011 06:06 PM