Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,
There is an old saying that says, “Oh, they are just old and don’t know anything.” We old just laugh at it. I was born before WWII was over, so guess I’m considered old. That was a scary time for Americans. I remember my parents saying we need to turn all lights off at night (we were fortunate to have electricity), so the bad planes would not be able to see lights and bomb us. They would use small oil lamps and candles when they gathered with family and friends and play cards and still have some fun. Just like the scary times of now, but we still like to gather with family and friends and have fun.
 I was lucky enough to go to a small country school for a short time. We moved and I went to Scarville School. I thought “big change.”
America has always been the land of change.  I remember Dad planting corn with horses, to what we have now. “Wow, big change.”
We went from outside toilets to inside bathrooms and from the windmill wells to inside plumbing. We’ve seen the change of listening to programs on the radio to watching them on TV. We have seen the change of telephones from “two long rings and one short ring” to the modern cell phone. The change of typewriters to computers. The first man on the moon.
Another big change was when Scarville High School went to Lake Mills school. I remember saying “Well, I’m not going there,” and Dad saying “Oh yes, you are.” NO BACK TALK then. It was a good choice.
We were brought up to show respect to our flag, elders, teachers, presidents, and others’ property. We were taught that good old hard work never killed anyone, but gives you pride and much more.
In America, we have gone through many changes. In America, you have the right to make your choices. Aren’t we lucky?
We learn from experience which is our past and which is our history. We hope we have learned from bad choices and move forward to make good choice.
I thank God that I was given the privilege to be born and I thank God for the privilege of living in the freedom of America.
So, when you go to the polls to vote this year, look deeply into your hearts and beliefs, and what your candidates stand for. Aren’t we lukcy we still have the freedom of choice? If my candidate is not elected, I will still show respect. And if I disagree, I will show it respectfully.
America has always been the land of changes and choices. So now, when we hear “Ok, they are just old and don’t know anything,” we will still laugh, but in our hearts we know better.
Judy Hengesteg
Lake Mills