For lots of us pre-boomers, this politically correct stuff seems contrived at best and plain stupid at worst. It has only been the past decade or so that those wanting to control what we think, by changing what we're allowed to say and do on a daily basis, have edged their way into the mainstream of American life.

Back when we pre-boomers were kids (those born between 1930 and 1945) everyone enjoyed the Christmas season. We had a Christmas play at school attended by parents. Throughout the several weeks leading up to Christmas we sang carols every day. There was always a pageant put on by the kids in the higher grades, and we were read "Christmas Story" from the bible at assembly in the auditorium. Each classroom had a tree and a party. Plus Santa made a visit to each room and every child received a small gift provided by the local merchants' association. No one complained in those days.

We celebrated Lincoln's birthday on February 12 followed less than two weeks later by Washington' birthday on the 22nd. We learned about both these great presidents in the classroom and always were entertained by a little performance attended by the entire school. It made the short month go even fasted. This was good because it would be another 6 weeks or so before we had any more time off from school.

Easter vacation was a welcomed break. The school activities were secular in nature with bunnies and egg decorating and usually a play about Peter Rabbit or the like. In the fall, we studied about Columbus but there was no show unless we did a portrayal in our classes. Thanksgiving was always celebrated with the "Story of the First Thanksgiving" with the participants playing the role of Pilgrims or Indians (there was no Native-American lobby in the '40s and '50s), and the kids wore those goofy black hats and bonnets or colorful head-dresses. It was fun as well as a learning opportunity.

Along the way the PC crowd decided our traditions are inappropriate. So the Christmas holidays are now "Winter Vacation" and the only entertainment kids are exposed to in school are symbols and songs that don't offend anyone. Carols are out because they allude to the religious aspects of Christmas, even though this is the reason behind this federal holiday. Santa, trees and decorations are banned from many schools as well.

"Spring Break" is the new name for Easter vacation. And there's talk of changing Columbus Day to "Fall Day," because the man who discovered America was harsh in the way he treated the Indians -- remember, he set out to find a new trade route to India. Unfortunately, most explorers were not gentle with the inhabitants of the places they claimed for their countries, and the natives weren't always happy to see them, but it is part of history. The PCs haven't attack Thanksgiving yet, but it's only a matter of time.

So, the only way our grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to learn about the traditions that were such a rich part of our lives is for us to tell them the stories from our childhood. They'll love it, and so will you.

By: Don Potter
Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945).

Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com

You didn't know you were an indentured slave?

Let's understand what is an indentured slave. Back in the days of the Pilgrims those who wanted to come to the new land - America - had to have the money for fare and enough to get along when they arrived. Few had it. There were sponsors in America who paid their way in return for 5 years or longer of servitude.

The indentured slaves did the work and kept the sponsors in positions of high income and great power.

Indentured means the workers had to sign a contract agreeing to the terms of the sponsor.

Today slavery in the U.S. and most countries (not all) is not allowed. Today the American slaves don't even realize they have come under the yolk of greedy sociopathic people who seem to be taking care of them just as the original indentured folks were hundreds of years ago.

What do our new indentured slaves do? How did they get that way? Do they even know they are bound to a hidden master?

The hidden master is hiding in plain sight. He (she) lives in the neighborhood. The slaves love their master. Why? Because he continues to feed them and provide freebies of all kinds - free housing, food (stamps), money for TVs, cars, special education, social development, etc., etc.

The new master has a new name - politician. He provides everything the slave can want and the slave does not even have to work. The new master wants as many of these slaves as he can have dependent on him because they keep him in power. He makes more money, has greater power, unlimited health care and fantastic freebies. In fact the slaves don't care as long as they get theirs.

Our new slaves do not sign a contract for all their handouts. They do have to sign their name occasionally. It is on a ballot to vote every couple of years to keep their master in power. They do not realize that these handouts stop their brain from working because they could actually do better on their own. Initiative has been silently stolen from them.

Each time one of those who votes for a politician because he is going to get something "free" has more of his personal initiative stolen and becomes more indentured. They do not understand it is not free.

When freebies are proposed the indentured will always side with their sponsor. They have no thought as to who is going to pay for them or what rights are being taken from those who must make those payments. It's free.

The sponsor (politician) doesn't care either. It is not his money. He takes it from others.

When a person makes his payment to his sponsor (vote) he must decide if he wishes to continue his servitude or determine his own future.

By: Al Thomas
Al Thomas' best selling book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter and receive his market letter (made 15% profit in 2008) at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com Discover why he's the man Wall Street does not want you to know. Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

I remember, as a pre-boomer, the coming together of the United States to fight common enemies in WWII. Although I was only a kid, there was no doubt the country was committed to a patriotic cause with one goal in our collective minds: defeat those who threatened freedom. Victory was all that was acceptable, no matter what the cost. Wars, conflicts and other military engagements since than have met with more and more opposition, the most notable being our involvement in Vietnam and more recently Iraq.

While the fighting continues in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, the protests at home have shifted from overseas military operations to a battle of philosophies instigated by strong opinions for and against health care reform. Both sides are gaining supporters and it appears as if all-out war is just over the horizon. What's interesting is that the loyal opposition is on the right while other protesters over the last hundred or so years have primarily been to the left of center, far left in most instances.

The suffragettes, a century ago, were on the left as were the anti-war sympathizers in WWI. There were workers rights causes, which resulted in unions and their form of protests, the strike, coupled with their form of demonstrations, the picket line. Later the civil rights marches of the '60s, the women's movement, and the anti-Vietnam protesters where strongly supported by liberals, at least in the beginning. Then there are animal rights, gay rights, global warming, immigrant rights and more.

For now, the shoe is on the other foot, and the left is not happy having to defend its positions. That is the likely reason for demonizing the new protesters by many in Washington, the media and the party faithful. However, there are plenty of us who think this is simply democracy in action. Some would like to ratchet down the rhetoric to what they think is a more civil level; but I'd rather see peaceful, yet boisterous, gatherings than have people seat idly by and not voice their concerns. That's the way this country got started, and it's still an effective way for Americans to be heard.

Most people agree that the citizens are scared at worst and anxious at best. But the politicians are not willing to attack our problems on a bi-partisan basis. The result is those in power are pushing through the items on their political agenda. Those on the outside have dug their heels in and refuse to budge without offering alternative plans of their own. So in the words of the song, "When an irresistible force such as you meets an old immoveable object like me, you can bet as sure as you live, something's gotta give, something's gotta give, something's gotta give."

Whether they like it or not, the politicians work for us. If they don't deliver what we expect, they can be voted out of office. During this critical time that will set the direction of the country for years to come, they better listen to both sides of the argument, and then to do the right thing. They'll get their report cards when the ballots are counted. So don't stop protesting or demonstrating. Be loud if you must, but not obnoxious. Take part in the greatest, and sometimes messiest, form of government ever to exist: democracy.

By: Don Potter
Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945).

Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com

The government is setting up a bunch of unelected Czars to tell us what to do in our daily lives. They rule supreme in matters of what's good for our health: What not to eat, drink or smoke, How much we should weigh, How not to take risks in the stock market, What medical treatment we should get or not get depending on your age, How much money we can or can't make in salary, What kind of carbon emissions we are going to be responsible for, What social behavior is acceptable and what is not. And the list goes on and on in a never-ending expansion of a curb on our liberties and the very freedom our forefathers fought for. Are we being made into a nation of zombies? Has the decision been made by the administration and the congress that we are like a bunch of children and not capable of making our own decisions? Is this the kind of change that we wanted? Are we going to just drift through life without feeling any pain or pleasure - without thinking for ourselves?

In attempting to decide whether this major change in the way we live our lives, the control we have over our actions and how much freedom of choice we are going to be left with, ask yourself these questions and decide for yourself if you are comfortable with the answers you come up with:

What is happening to our spirit America? Are we sacrificing it for a cheap handout, the promise of a living without working for it, or free health benefits and insurance? What about the quality of Care? What about the quality of our lives? What about our right to choose our own destiny? What about our proud history of leading the world in innovation and new medical cures, and new technological invention? What happened to all those things that made America and Americans great and that we don't have to apologize for? What happened to hope for a bright future for us and our children and grandchildren? Is it all vanishing in a remake of our civilization, a redistribution of wealth, and the creation of an unbearable debt load? What is happening to our democracy?

Is the capitalist system that made us and our citizens the richest nation on the earth being shelved in favor of a socialist type system that has proven itself time after time in other nations not to work well? Is this major change something that we knowingly voted for or were we duped by false promises? Who is leading this move away from freedom and individual choice? Who voted for this to happen? Is a silent, behind our backs, revolution taking place that will take away our rights, and give us rationing of basic health benefits and long lines and waiting periods - more bureaucracy and less efficiency?

Ask yourself these questions and when you do ask yourself if this is what you want. Do you want to be told what to do in every aspect of your life? Do you want to lose your freedom of choice? Do you want to give away your children and grandchildren's rights in return for a health subsidy? Do you want to be told what to do? Do you want to lose your freedom in exchange for a handout? Do you want the government looking over your shoulder and telling you how to act?

Is this Big Brother reincarnate? Do you want to be told what you can and cannot do in almost every aspect of your life? Are you willing to allow the government and their czars to modify your social behavior? Are you ready for the government to know all your private health conditions through electronic medical records? Are you prepared for the possibility of the government mandating an identity chip embedded in your arm so they can track where you are and what you are doing at all times? How much of your individuality are you prepared to sacrifice? What are you going to do about this? Are you willing to become a zombie, or will you stand up and vote no to an administration and congress that can take away your freedom?

Ask yourself if these questions are just the machinations of some disgruntled individuals who want to maintain the status quo or are they real questions about an impending life changing movement away from capitalism and towards socialism in our society.

Ask yourself if this new reality is something you can live with?

By: Arthur Levine
Arthur Levine is a freelance writer and the author of the novel, Johnny Oops. To read more about the fictional escapades of Johnny oops please access http://johnnyoops.blogspot.com.