A JOURNEY TO THE DARK SIDE
THE FOLLOWING IS INTENDED PRIMARILY AS A CHRONICLE OF THE CHANGES I HAVE WITNESSED IN CALIFORNIA AND OUR NATION WITHIN MY LIFETIME AND SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMPACT THOSE CHANGES HAVE HAD ON OUR LIVES AND VALUES TODAY
I was born in the small central valley town of Selma just south of Fresno and smack dab in the middle of California in the period following the Great Depression and just months before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Can’t say if it was the best of times or the worst of times historically but I had hard working, honest, loving parents who devoted themselves to me and my two sisters. We never had a lot of money but there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads. We did things as a family and shared whatever we had. So, for me it was the best of times in the things that really mattered in my life. My dad was the finest man I have ever known. he lived his life for us kids and my mom.
At that time California was the “Golden Land”. Hot summers. Cool, wet winters. Fertile soil. Abundant crops. From agriculture to manufacturing, jobs in all fields were plentiful for those willing to work. Criminal activity was the exception and I remember little exposure to it other than in the movies. We did not lock our doors, often left keys in the car so they would be easy to find. Like most folks we attended Church and believed in “God and Country” in that order.
Historically, I know there was racism but I did not see it in my own life or experiences and it never occurred to me to hate someone who was “different” than me.
In many ways it was a much simpler time. We did not have the medical “miracles” we have today but also we did not have many of the other things and “stuff” we can’t seem to live without, and often can’t afford, today. I started working with my dad in his shop when I was 12 and by the time I was 15 years old I had an after school job. After graduating from High School I had a full time job at a shoe store and later a men’s clothing store. I only made a bit over $100 a week but taxes were low and I rented an apartment for $50 a month. Utilities were only a few dollars a month. You could hardly fit $20 worth of groceries in the back seat of a car. Come Friday night you could put ten gallons of gas in your car, go to the movies, have burgers and root beer after and finish the evening at the bowling alley and do it all for $10 or less.
If there was some incident of corruption in government it was considered shameful if discovered and those who practiced it were outcasts and looked down upon, not made into “Rock Stars” as they so often are today.
Your word was considered your bond and a handshake was considered more binding than a legal document is today. I remember my father taught me at a young age that if a person’s word was not good then likely the person was not good for much else and to never trust them.
So when did the country I love begin the journey to what I call the “dark side” or as they refer to it in the Star Wars movies, “The Dark Side of the Force”?
I have thought about it often and it seems to me that much of it can be attributed to four things. The “Great Society” and beginning of the Welfare State, The Vietnam War, the “Drug Culture”, all followed by the decline of reverence for human life and basic values.
Government in particular seems to be corrupt at all levels, very little at a local small town level, more so at a county level, much more so at a state level and nearly totally corrupt at the federal level. It is not that everyone involved in Government is corrupt but the small percentage that are honest are overwhelmed by what I like to call a “Consortium of Clowns, Criminals and Lunatics”. The “Good Guys & Gals” don’t have a chance.
What used to be simple truth has been corrupted and it is destroying our culture. What we are left with is half-truths which are often more damaging than an outright lie. Take a lie and put some lipstick on it and call it “Talking Points” or “Spin”. We face an onslaught of it daily from politicians, advertisers and too many of the people we must deal with in the normal course of living. I am often dismayed and amused when people I know seem surprised that a politician who has a history of lying to us is caught in a lie.
I fear we have gone past the point of no return and are doomed to a world where the values I was raised with are becoming nothing more than a quaint, outmoded anachronism. If I look back at the history of great civilizations it would seem that the Second Law of Thermodynamics applies to humanity as well as in nature. Entropy dictates that order eventually descends into decay and disorder. We are descending from the order and structure of our founders to the decay and destruction of a lawless society based on lies, corruption, chaos and theft.
And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made. (Paul Simon – Sound of Silence – 1960)
Bob Bandy
Your style is unique compared to other people I have read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.
1I was excited to discover this page. I need to to thank you for ones time for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to check out new stuff on your website.
2I blog often and I genuinely appreciate your content. This article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your site and keep checking for new information about once per week. I opted in for your Feed too.
3I really like reading through an article that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
4Hello! I could have sworn Iíve visited your blog before but after browsing through a few of the articles I realized itís new to me. Regardless, Iím definitely delighted I came across it and Iíll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!
5Everything is very open with a very clear clarification of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your site is useful. Thanks for sharing!
6I blog often and I genuinely thank you for your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to book mark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your Feed as well.
7Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your site is useful. Thank you for sharing!
8Good write-up. I definitely love this website. Thanks!
9Iím amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog thatís both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I stumbled across this in my search for something concerning this.
10Howdy! This article could not be written much better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I’ll forward this article to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!
11Hi there to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this webpage; this blog carries
12remarkable and actually good material in support of visitors.
Excellent post. I’m dealing with some of these issues as well..
13Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus the rest of the website is also very good.
14This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Cheers!
15Very good blog post. I absolutely appreciate this site. Keep writing!
16You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve truly read a single thing like that before. So wonderful to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is needed on the internet, someone with some originality!
17Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
18I couldnít refrain from commenting. Well written!
19There is certainly a lot to learn about this subject. I really like all of the points you’ve made.
20I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this blog. I really hope to see the same high-grade content by you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own website now 😉
21There is definately a great deal to find out about this topic. I love all the points you made.
22Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
23Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of the issues. It was really informative. Your website is useful. Many thanks for sharing!
24Great info. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I have saved it for later!
25Hi, I do believe this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to return yet again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
26You’re so awesome! I do not believe I’ve truly read something like this before. So good to discover another person with genuine thoughts on this issue. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This web site is one thing that’s needed on the web, someone with a bit of originality!
27I enjoy reading a post that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
28Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post. Thanks for supplying these details.
29Great web site you have got here.. Itís difficult to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
30You need to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful blogs on the net. I am going to highly recommend this web site!
31There is certainly a lot to know about this subject. I love all the points you have made.
32An intriguing discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people do not discuss these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
33Excellent site you’ve got here.. Itís difficult to find high-quality writing like yours these days. I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
34Your style is really unique in comparison to other folks I have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this page.
35This is a topic which is close to my heart… Many thanks! Where are your contact details though?
36Contact details are in the header as well as the right hand column. Free subscription form is at the bottom of the left column
37After checking out a handful of the articles on your site, I truly like your way of writing a blog. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website too and tell me what you think.
38I quite like looking through an article that can make people think. Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
39Hi, I do think this is an excellent blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to return yet again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
40Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus the rest of the website is really good.
41You need to take part in a contest for one of the highest quality blogs on the net. I am going to highly recommend this website!
42You need to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful websites on the web. I most certainly will highly recommend this website!
43Nothing can be just as good as this!
44Your talent is incredible! You have such a kind and also caring nature.
45You provided a well balanced sight of the subject without being prejudiced.
46This is a really good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
47Short but very precise info… Many thanks for
sharing this one. A must read article!
I truly love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you make this website
48yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my
own blog and would like to learn where you got this from or exactly what
the theme is named. Cheers!
Hello,
49I created the website using elements of WordPress. Hope this helps.
A person necessarily help to make critically articles I would state.
50That is the very first time I frequented your website page
and thus far? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular post extraordinary.
Excellent activity!