Posted by Richard Coolman, M.D. on August 18, 2000 at 11:08:49:
Dirt Roads ....by Paul Harvey
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What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have
been paved. There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs,
education, divorce, delinquency, that wouldn't be remedied if we just
had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. People that live
at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That
it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if
at the end is home... a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.
We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our
kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom
they learn how to get along.
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals
didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be
welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were
no drive by shootings.
Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did not worship
their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they
didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you
with dust and bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught
patience.
Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for
a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you
walked to the mail box.
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best
part, then you stayed home and had some family time, Roasted
marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rides on Daddy's shoulders ...
and you learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of
Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.
Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a
fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the only
time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some
neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini. At the end of a Dirt
Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes
would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out.
Usually you got a dollar ... always you got a new friend ... at the end
of a Dirt Road.