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RADIO REFLECTIONS
Grandpa serves up a stern
warning about our freedom
By PROF. GORDON GREB
of TheColumnists.com
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Good morning. Something
just now walked through the door that’s forced me to
face up to the question: “How many people think for themselves
these days?” This never would have entered my head except
that Old Grandpa Cyrus came wandering
into the studios this morning, pointing his walking stick straight
at the bridge of my nose.
Said the spry old gentleman with obvious consternation: “What’s
this country coming to when people spend more time having what
they call ‘fun’ and don’t give a hoot for some
of the troubles we’re heading for in this dad-burned world?”
Of course, I didn’t know what to say at this sharp remark
by the aged gentleman but I started to open my mouth to say something
when he interrupted with another remark.
“Sonny,” he said. “You don’t know
where this country is going because you ain’t been as far
back as I have – to see where’s it’s been. But
you’re in the news business. You talk to folks on the radio.
And it’s high time somebody got them to thinking for themselves
for a change, instead of all this loafing around.”
At this point I replied, as politely as I could, that Grandpa
Cyrus had come to the wrong place, because what people decided
to do – or not to do – just wasn’t my business.
My job was simply to deliver the news and let people decide for
themselves.
“That’s just the trouble,” Grandpa said.
“Nobody’s deciding for himself anymore. Modern-day
people just drift around – eating, sleeping, drinking, and
driving those confounded automobiles.”
This was too much. So I spoke up in defense of the modern man
and pointed out that things were a lot better than he thought
they were. “Look at all the advances we’re making
in jet aircraft, electronics, atomic energy, medicine, and other
scientific fields – all too many to mention.
“Lazy people can’t accomplish these things. That’s
hard work, to come up with new inventions, new concepts, and
new scientific miracles. If people really were lazy, this country
never could exist. It would collapse of its own dead weight.”
Grandpa then sat down on the green office chair, gave a big sigh
of relief, and lowered his voice to a gentle tone.
“Son,” he said. “You just don’t
understand what I’m driving at, do you?”
“Frankly, no, I don’t,” was my reply. “You
came in here, blaming me for the state of the world, throwing
accusations around left and right, and then you expect me to
understand just what you are driving at.”
Grandpa seemed more at ease now. He was resting his feet and
he got out his pipe. He spoke slowly and deliberately now. “All
right, I spoke up too quickly. I didn’t hit the nail on
the head. But this is what’s bothering me and somebody had
better do something about it pretty quick.
“When I was a boy back in the l9th century, things weren’t
the way they are now. We believed in progress and people of my
time did a lot to get it. But I’m not talking about new
gadgets. I’m talking about people as people.
“Today, I ask you, ‘How many people really care about
what’s going on?’ Sure, they now what’s playing
at the movies; they know who’s on ‘The ‘$64,000
Question’ this week; they know how much money Elvis Presley
was paid by Ed Sullivan to appear on his Sunday show; and …
oh, they know a lot of things like that … But take last
April 10th, for example. Look what they did then.”
“April 10th?” I said, wondering what he meant by
that.
“Yes, last April 10th. Most of the people didn’t
do anything.”
Still confused, I asked Grandpa to be more specific and explain
what he was talking about.
“Why, the city elections,” he thundered. “We
had nine of them here in Santa Clara County. Did 50 per cent
of the people vote? NO! Well, then, did 35 per cent of the people
vote? NO! Did 25 per cent of them vote? Yes, in some cities.
And only some, mind you, where about 25 per cent voted.”
Grandpa then went on to point out how people in his day worked
like the dickens to give everybody the right to vote. They eliminated
the property requirement. Then they extended it by freeing the
slaves. Then they expanded the right by including women.
“Now look at the people,” said Grandpa. “Everybody
– practically speaking – has the right to vote –
and most of them don’t do it. We should be ashamed that
in city elections only 25 per cent show up. In the last primary,
the turnout was lower than a year ago.”
Grandpa now was really agitated. “Thunderation,”
he almost shouted. “Do they think this country is going
to run itself –or are people going to exercise their right
to choose their elected officials – and decide some of the
important issues themselves?”
“You have a point there, Grandpa,” I said. “You
have a point.”
“Well, tell the people to think about it, son. Tell them
to think about elections – and government – and the
issues of the day. This is an election year and what happens
is up to them.”
I promised Grandpa to tell the people to think about these things.
So he grunted “thanks” and went out. Old Grandpa
Cyrus! There aren’t many men like him around anymore.
This is Gordon Greb signing off and saying, "See you
here tomorrow and at the polls in the next election.”
©2012 by Gordon Greb. This column first posted April 16, 2012.
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