Not sure where our society (and yes, I am indeed lumping our American brothers and sisters in with us up here in The Great White North) got so messed up that simple play became a bad thing.
We watched ‘Bonanza’ and ‘Gunsmoke’ and a slew of other westerns and our imaginations took us outside to play…we had a bunch of toy guns, we built forts and teepees and saloons and log cabins and bows and arrows and spears and rocket launchers and tanks and…out of bits and pieces in the pile of construction leftovers (and sometimes from Dad’s new lumber too, but that didn’t oft end as well, LOL) We played cowboys and Indians and soldiers and war and Mounties vs bad guys…
We knew that ‘Gunsmoke’ wasn’t real, and that the ‘Indians’ on TV bore no resemblance to our First Nations neighbours and friends, any more than Hop Sing on Gunsmoke had any relation to our Chinese friends who owned the dry goods/hardware store downtown (we lived in northern BC in a town with large First Nations, Chinese and East Indian communities, and we all lived and laughed and worked and went to school together, without any sense that anyone was different). What we saw on TV was entertainment, as was the play-acting we took from it…we watched ‘Star Trek’ (the Original one!) and ‘Night Gallery’ too, and didn’t believe they were real either.
We shot each other with our toy pistols and rifles knowing full well that they were toys…and because we had all shot real rifles and killed grouse and rabbits, we knew the difference, and there was no chance of ever confusing the two.
minute_of_decade about 4 years ago
I really love of Snoopy is getting more and more tired. Well done by Schulz of adding details to the main plot.
Ralph Newbill about 4 years ago
I’m sure the sjw snowflakes are offended. For me: good memories!
beharford over 1 year ago
I am with you, Ralph.
Not sure where our society (and yes, I am indeed lumping our American brothers and sisters in with us up here in The Great White North) got so messed up that simple play became a bad thing.
We watched ‘Bonanza’ and ‘Gunsmoke’ and a slew of other westerns and our imaginations took us outside to play…we had a bunch of toy guns, we built forts and teepees and saloons and log cabins and bows and arrows and spears and rocket launchers and tanks and…out of bits and pieces in the pile of construction leftovers (and sometimes from Dad’s new lumber too, but that didn’t oft end as well, LOL) We played cowboys and Indians and soldiers and war and Mounties vs bad guys…
We knew that ‘Gunsmoke’ wasn’t real, and that the ‘Indians’ on TV bore no resemblance to our First Nations neighbours and friends, any more than Hop Sing on Gunsmoke had any relation to our Chinese friends who owned the dry goods/hardware store downtown (we lived in northern BC in a town with large First Nations, Chinese and East Indian communities, and we all lived and laughed and worked and went to school together, without any sense that anyone was different). What we saw on TV was entertainment, as was the play-acting we took from it…we watched ‘Star Trek’ (the Original one!) and ‘Night Gallery’ too, and didn’t believe they were real either.
We shot each other with our toy pistols and rifles knowing full well that they were toys…and because we had all shot real rifles and killed grouse and rabbits, we knew the difference, and there was no chance of ever confusing the two.
Somehow, things have changed…