Griffin Speaks
BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE
On
Friday March 4th, 2005 I received a telephone call from one of
Alabama’s top Republicans. He told me that Debra and I had been selected
to meet with President George W. Bush when he visits Montgomery, Alabama on
Thursday March 10th, 2005. I immediately accepted the invitation.
I also went to E&S Clothing Store and purchased two new suits. I also
understood that there is a possibility that the meeting may not occur. The
caller informed me that President Bush’s people would be contacting me to
finalize the details. By the time this article appears our visit with
President George W. Bush would have already taken place. I am still elated
that we may have the opportunity to sit and talk with our sitting President.
When I called Debra to inform her of the invite, her first question was
“What will we say to him?” I told her to start with hello. Then we will
follow with letting him know that we share a common friend, Eleventh Circuit
Court of Appeals Judge, William Holcombe Pryor.
President
George W. Bush is visiting Montgomery, Alabama to discuss his plans to
reform Social Security. I support his plans, but I have another concern that
I would love to share with him. I am totally disgusted with the violent
programming that our children are exposed to in the media. If he had the
time I would take him back down memory lane when I was growing up and
watching great shows on television.
I
remember when we had great shows like "My Mother the Car". It may
be known as the most notorious short-live sitcom of all time, but it was a
great show. The series was first seen in 1965. The pilot episode introduced
us to Dave Crabtree. Dave is a regular guy who purchases a 1928 Porter
automobile that he discovers is his reincarnated mother. The show was not
violent and full of laughs. I also remember "The Beverly
Hillbillies". What happened to Jed, Granny, Jethro, Elly May, Mr.
Drysdale, Mrs. Drysdale, and Miss Hathaway? My research reveals that: Jed
died on July 6, 2003 at the age of 93, Granny died after suffering a stroke
on April 26, 1973 at the age of 71, Elly May is still living and is
currently 71 years old, Jethro is still living and is currently 68 years
old, Mr. Drysdale died on April 15, 1980 at the age of 76, Mrs. Drysdale
died on February 8, 1987 at the age of 82 and Miss Hathaway died on February
3, 1991 at the age of 70.
I
remember "Different Strokes". Conrad Bain is now 82 years old,
Gary Coleman is 37 years old, and Todd Bridges is 39 years old, Dana Plato
(the white girl on the show) committed suicide and died in May 1999 at the
age of 35, and Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett is 89 years old.)
I
remember "The Flip Wilson Show". Flip, (Clerow Wilson) died at the
age of 64 on November 25, 1998. I remember "Good Times". JJ
is now 57 years old, Esther Rolle died at the age of 78 on November 17,
1998, Bernadette Stanis (Thelma) is now 51 years old, Janet Dubois is 59,
Janet Jackson was 12 years old when she played the character Penny, Ralph
Carter is now 43 years old, John Amos is 63 years old and Bookman is 67
years old.
How
about the talking horse "Mr. Ed"? This series was about a talking
horse and the architect who loved him. It ran on CBS on January 5, 1961
until September 4, 1966. How about "Room 222"? It was a half-hour
comedy drama that aired on ABC from 1969-1974. It is seldom seen in
syndication today, the show was a huge success.
While it may seem that I am rambling, I am not. My point is television back in the day was better. We enjoyed watching shows even though people were not being mutilated or murdered. My generation is less violent because we were not exposed to the violence that we see on television today.
So
what should I share with President Bush when I meet with him on
Thursday. I shall tell him that we need to clean up the media.
Our future depends on it!
Greg
Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by
visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com
