"I"M BORED"

CONTRADICTION IS INHERENT IN THE AMERICAN PSYCHE. FOR EXAMPLE, MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BUT SUPPORT A WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. WHAT ELSE BUT DENIAL OF REALITY COULD EXPLAIN CHILDREN SAYING, "I'M BORED?" THEY HAVE MORE CHOICES THAN EVER BEFORE IN HISTORY FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STIMULATION.

HAVING SAID TO MYSELF, "WHAT CAN I DO?" TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT ACTION I SHOULD TAKE TO ABANDON MY BOREDOM, I ALWAYS CAME UP WITH AN ANSWER. MY ANSWER WAS MORE PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY CORRECT THAN THE ACTIONS OF TODAY'S YOUTH. I DISCOVERED THE SATISFYING ACTIVITY OF READING. THIS WAS IN ADDITION TO BOTCHING AROUND - AND SEQUENTIALLY DISCARDING -EVERY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IMAGINED BY AND AVAILABLE TO A GROWING CHILD. NO, I WAS NEVER BORED. APPARENTLY READING INSPIRES ADDICTION BECAUSE CONTRARY TO PURSUITS THAT FLEE, IT CANNOT BE OVERCOME WITH AGE. USING THE PHRASING OF A MOVIE CRITIC, MY NEEDS FOR ACTIVITY AND MENTAL ENGAGEMENT WERE "DRAWN TOGETHER BY EMOTIONAL LOGIC," THAT IS CALL READING. MY SALVATION JUST POINTS OUT THE VOID IN THE LIVES OF BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS TODAY.

TWO CONSENTING ADULT COLUMNISTS WROTE THEIR READERS THAT THEY "TRY TO TAKE A CRUISE ONCE A YEAR." THEY ASSUMED THAT "BY NOW YOU'VE PROBABLY MADE PLANS FOR YOUR SUMMER VACATION." YEP, I HAVE. WITH A GOOD BOOK I CAN TRAVEL THE WORLD; SANS A GOOD BOOK AFTER A GREAT MEAL, WHO WOULDN'T BE BORED?

OUR CULTURE ELEVATES A $4,000,000 HOME ON THE OCEAN FRONT ON .6 ACRE AS A DESIRABLE, STATUS SYMBOL. WITH A GOOD BOOK I CAN FEEL RICH IN A SMALL, COMFORTABLE CHAIR; SANS BATS, TREES OR A GARDEN PLOT WHO WOULDN'T BE BORED?

HINT: HEAR ME, HEAR ME, PARENTS, CARE GIVERS, GUARDIANS, TEACHERS. ONLY A TEMPORARY STATE OF ENNUI, DOWN TIME THAT IS FOR YOUNG AND OLD, PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE READING AND NEVER TO BE BORED. JUST ANOTHER AMERICAN CONTRADICTION.