Sept. 22, 2003 - 21:28 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Who ? Us ?

Jobs for all would be one good thing. Proper raising by parents, from generations back, another. Fair treatment of the working person including fair wages. And I guess there are other magic ways that good for all could be accomplished.

But what this man is trying for is in the Outer Limits of civil life and thought I think.

His name is Jeff Peckman, a man who got enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot here in Denver -- the Mile High City --

Sometimes it seems that some of us citizens are a bit "high." One of us gets a high falutin,' impractical idea and sells it to people who are inattentive or will sign anything just to be doing it -- acting the big man -- see me -- see me sign, voila ! its on the ballot. And sometimes confused, hurried people will vote for it. More's the pity.

Now this Mr. Peckman thought up the following initiative and went out for signatures. Wording of the initiative follows: "Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver ... ensure public safety by increasing peacefulness -- that is by defusing political, religious and ethnic tension both locally and globally -- through the identification and implementation of any systematic stress-reducing techniques or programs ?"

So if that gets on the books, will a person who is stressed be put in the slammer until a de-stressing program is poured into his skull piece ? Or will we all have to utter OM as we go through the work day ? Or will we have seats at work where we can do yoga continuously ? Transen-damn-dental Medication, forcefeed Prozac to us all ?

Maybe we all shall have the words, "Have a nice day," tattooed on our foreheads. What about enforcement ? Seems to me to be totally bent. It is difficult to say the least to keep people from beating each other to death due to traffic snits. A policeman at every corner directing traffic and a police car on the highway every fifth car ? Failure to show up at a party when invited, would that get a citation or a ticket ? And to get downright ridiculous, Will fines be levied, such as hugs and kisses from the enforcers given to the offenders until a barf point by all is reached ?

I think that some of the wisest words I have ever read were the words attributed to Jesus by many and believed by many, many folks including me. And thinking about it, ways of thought of many religions say in different words The Golden Rule, peace, charity and all. Yet we strive one against another playing the, "Me First -- to heck with you," games. How many of us stress others with the, "I got mine," syndrome ?

Now comes before us the aforementioned initiative, which seems to have been in the news countrywide and possibly elswhere too. Can't say that the news in other places is making fools of us -- looks like we might just do the job all on our own.

Maybe Ashcroft can put some muscle in it if asked.

As Alice said, "It gets curiouser and curiouser."

Are we now or will we be the country's Dingbat Capitol ? Who ? Us ? . . . . . . . . . . . .

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