During my summer vacation, while I tried to relax and recuperate, I could not ignore the immense political challenges facing our country.
Debates over budget deficit, tax breaks and raising the debt ceiling have ensued during the last few months.
To make matters worse, the United States’ credit has been downgraded to a AA+ rating, making it lower than the UK, Switzerland, Australia and, even, the Isle of Man.
Yet, with all the problems our country is facing, it baffles me when I hear stories about dim-witted people making issues out of nothing.
Instead of focusing on the important political qualms the country is going through, Americans seem to be distracting themselves with nonsense and insignificant events.
If we as a country cannot concentrate on the problems at hand, how can we ever hope to solve them?
Restaurant bans children
On my way to work in early July, I was pleasantly surprised to hear this story on my car radio.
A restaurant in Pennsylvania — McDain’s Restaurant — had decided to implement a ban on children 6 and younger.
After the owner of the restaurant, Mike Vuick, had received numerous complaints of racket from other patrons, he sent out an e-mail informing customers children would no longer be allowed to eat there.
While most have praised McDain’s Restaurant for the decision, it’s no surprise that not everyone agreed wholeheartedly.
Many locals who have children thought the move discriminatory.
As the signs say, “They reserve the right to refuse service to anyone,” even children. According to the federal law, it only prohibits discrimination against customers based on their race or religion.
As someone who has previously worked in the restaurant business, I understand the necessity of controlling miniature monsters who think it’s fun to throw food all over the floor and scream bloody murder if they don’t get ice cream for dessert.
If there’s anyone to blame, really, it’s the parents. With the way some children are raised these days, it’s no wonder why Vuick decided to take action.
I’m not saying every parent sits idly by while their cranky child hollers at the top of their lungs, but why should customers have to put up with incompetent parenting?
Instead of accepting responsibility for their children and disciplining them, they’ve turned this into a violation of rights issue. Way to point the finger.
How can we ever expect to overcome our nations’ difficulties when citizens are blaming others for what they should be held accountable?
Of course, Vuick put it best.
“Children might be the center of their parents’ universe, as it should be, but they’re not the center of everyone else’s universe, too.”
Vegetable garden
While reading a magazine one day, I came across a particular article that stuck out to me.
A woman from Michigan faced jail time for planting a vegetable garden in her front yard.
The veggie fiend, Julie Bass, received many warnings about her lawn, but refused to remove the plot.
According to the city legislation, decorative planting is allowed in the front yard, which includes grass, shrubbery and “suitable” live plants.
Oh, the horror.
I suppose potatoes and onions must be drawing the line.
People go to jail every day for theft, fraud or murder, but I have to say I’ve never heard of vegetables.
It’s no wonder the government is unable to unite to solve the country’s obstacles when vegetable gardens run rampant throughout the nation.
I see now where their priorities lie.
These officials must have nothing else better to do than criticize a woman for her garden patch.
I would expect to see this in a “Stepford Wives” movie — not in reality.
Way to conform to conventional standards Michigan.
Fortunately, the prosecutors dropped the misdemeanor charge against Bass for her crime, but this issue was far from disappearing.
Instead, they decided to go after her canines for late licensing.
I suppose government really has gone to the dogs.
Bank foreclosed
Among this sea of insanity, there was one uplifting story that gave me hope, after viewing it on “The Daily Show.”
Warren and Maureen Nyerges of Florida purchased a home — in full — with no mortgage from Bank of America in 2009.
So, I am sure it was a quite a surprise when they received a foreclosure notice a year later.
After being turned down by numerous attorneys, Todd Allen accepted the job — he had only been a lawyer for eight months.
The couple ended up winning the case, but never received a payment from the bank.
Big surprise there.
What came next was remarkable.
Along with two sheriff’s deputies and a moving truck, Allen and the Nyerges went into a local Bank of America and began taking possession of everything.
When confronted by the manager, Allen informed him that the bank was being foreclosed.
What a line. I can only imagine his reaction.
Although the bank ended up writing a check to settle the matter, the impact of this story was far more inspirational.
With all the arguments occurring in the political realm, it is enormously gratifying to hear someone received what they deserved.
This is what people should be fighting against, not bans on brats or vegetables in a garden patch. I just hope there are enough intelligent people out there to do so.
Amid all of the id
iocracy in the country, it seems there’s still some optimism that we will all get out of this mess alive.
By CLAIRE MUNN
Senior Editor
clamunn@umail.iu.edu