THE RIGHT TO BE BAD

AN AMERICAN UNHAPPY WITH GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE SAID, "I HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE BAD CHOICES." SUCH A SENTIMENT IS ADMIRABLE UNLESS THIS SAME AMERICAN THINKS THAT SOMEONE OR GOVERNMENT IN SOME FORM SHOULD HELP HIM PAY FOR HIS MISTAKES.

THE FUTURE 'Y' GENERATION IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN ALONG WITH HIGH-TECH LITERACY AND THE NEED TO BE NOTICED. ALL THREE QUALITIES COULD LEAD TO BAD CHOICES. THEN WHAT? WILL THE INABILITY TO SIT ALONE WITH ONE'S THOUGHTS OR READ SOMEONE'S ELSE'S RESULT IN OUR YOUTH SELECTING THE EASY WAY THROUGH LIFE? WILL HIGH-TECH LITERACY BE VALUABLE AS A SOURCE OF INCOME OR REWARD ON THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE? CAN THE NEED FOR ATTENTION POSSIBLY BE USED FOR GOOD PURPOSES?

LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW TO SEE MANHOOD SHUNNING MORAL MUSCULARITY, FEMININITY RE-DEFINED AND ON VULGAR DISPLAY AND CONSTANT STIMULATION SATISFIED ONLY BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD ALBEIT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

HINT: I SALUTE THE RIGHT TO BAD CHOICES AS WELL AS THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES. THE POET ROBERT BROWNING PUT IT THIS WAY: "WHITE SHALL NOT NEUTRALIZE THE BLACK, NOR GOOD COMPENSATE BAD IN MAN... LIFE'S BUSINESS BEING JUST THE TERRIBLE CHOICE."