Old Fart Pride

[Paul B]

OLD FART PRIDE


I'm passing this on as I did not want to be the only 'old fart' receiving it. Actually, it's not a bad thing to be called, as you will see.
•Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the National Anthem, Old Farts remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them.


•Old Farts remember World War II, Pearl Harbour ,Guadalcanal , Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing. They remember the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam .


•If you bump into an Old Fart on the sidewalk he will apologize. If you pass an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Old Farts trust strangers and are polite, particularly to women


•Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.


•Old Farts get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies.


•Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity. They seldom brag unless it's about their children or grandchildren.


•It's the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men and women in the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines, serving their country.


This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and decent values.


We need them now more than ever.


Thank Goodness for Old Farts
I was taught to respect my elders. It's just getting harder to find them.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow! A whole lot of true in those words.


I'm a soccer referee.....been doing it for 35 years or so. I just had this conversation last weekend with the crew I worked with how, more specifically, the U17-18 and 19 year old boys show very little respect for authority. It has gotten more and more difficult to officiate these games....and trying to keep these snot nosed kids on the field. Could have very easily carded this one miscreant, but instead asked the coach to pull him off the field to cool down. The coached thanked me after the game for not carding him.


I guess I was part of the hippie generation in the 60's and early 70's and I know my parent's generation thought we were the lost generation.....our long hair and rock music and love and peace. I think we turned out OK, but I've now become my parents and see little hope for the current generation. My dad, being a WWII Marine, would have said this generation needs a good kick in the butt.


And Yes, I'm an old fart.


Thanks for posting this Paul.

 

[Paul B]

I also think this is a lost generation. Some of these "kids" do surprise me and have respect but very few of them know how or why they have the freedom to do what they do. Almost none of them know, or care, how many good people died so they can walk around and tweet their friends. I am not sure if they were ever taught or if they were, if they would care. Very few of them fought in a war or lost many friends to war like we did. I also served in Viet Nam and lost more friends than I care to remember. A couple in my arms. I also think it should be illegal to buy your kid a car, house or almost anything that they should be buying on their own. If you don't want to work, I think you should starve and if you can't afford a car, I think you should walk. We need more pride in this country and for the Flag. Just my Old Fart opinion of course.

 

[Junk2]

At 49, I think I have one year left before I'll concede to calling myself an old fart. I do concede to being old though.

The lack of respect thing drives be absolutely crazy. I don't think it's the kids though, it's their parents that drove it with their entitlement view of their world. I see it not just in kids, but even on the highway. When someone in the fast lane realizes they are about to blow by their exit, they just cut everyone off and go for it instead of going further and turning around.

When it comes to police and veterans I think the kids (under 15) do a better job these days, then the 20 somethings did. Hope that part doesn't wear off.

Like redfishbluefish, I judge sporting events. I've been a freestyler and judge from local to international competitions, I'd rather work the under 15 kids any day of the week. Ok, I'm going back to sleep now

 

[Paul B]

You may be correct about respecting Veterans now more than the last 30 years. Now, if I wear my Veterans hat I get a lot of people thanking me. I recently went into a restaurant and I had a Viet Nam Vet hat on and the waitress thanked me and told me that most of the people just don't get it or know what it means to be a Veteran. Now I also get a Veterans discount in many stores, even "some" Home Depot's where it was unheard of for many years for Veterans to get anything. I always thank a Vet if I see one and take extra time to thank WW2 Vets as there are so very few of them left and even fewer that are still walking. In a few years, the "Greatest Generation" will all be gone. Some people who don't know about these things should watch the Military History channel just to see how many people died in seconds for this country. Jumping out of those landing crafts on D Day must have been a trip as in many cases the entire company died before they hit the beach. There was no turning around or hiding. I was in combat and know the feeling but my war was not a "good" war so many Viet Nam Vets were looked down on for many years. Some guy told me last week that if I was so smart I should have found a way not to get drafted. That is not exactly a respectful remark. Especially coming from someone who didn't serve but is an American enjoying the things that Veterans gave him. I proudly fly my American Flag on a pole outside my home almost every day. But besides Veterans, very few Americans bother to even do that.
I fear that if this country was even attacked (again) and we needed troops. They would be far and few between with more excuses than guts. I hope I am wrong

 

[Junk2]

I still don't understand how folks could resent the Vietnam vets. Not like folks had much choice back then, but that was a bit before my time. Regardless, thanks for all your service and keeping us safe so I could raise a family safely and sleep at night.