Remember when you were a kid and the world was your playground? School yards, vacant lots, street corners, parks, the woods...stomping grounds of every size, shape and venue at our fingertips. Well, today I got the surprise of my life and realized that times have indeed changed.
RJ and I decided that we would pick up the pace on our morning walk with our two dogs, Murphy and Vinny. All four of us could shed a few pounds and it occurred to me that to accelerate this process, perhaps our walk should turn to a faster pace, or at least a trot. We set out for the track at the local high school near our house. RJ, who is recovering from an episode of rhabdomyolysis, could either sit in the bleachers and watch me lead follow the dogs in this gallant effort, or saunder at a slower pace behind me. As I explained this idea to him, he burst into laughter. "How long has it been since you ran track?" he said. I replied, "About thirty years, so what? It's like riding a bike, you don't forget. Remember , I played softball until I was forty!"
As we approached the high school, we entered near the tennis courts, taking the dogs through a very narrow turnstile. The track was on the opposite side of where we entered, a good half mile or so, but then I am not a great estimator of miles. In my mind, it was far. The dogs were in heaven as they stopped at anything of interest in this never before traveled land of Sniffsville.
Halfway to the track, we passed by the school's two baseball diamonds. RJ and Murphy were in the lead, while I stayed behind with the curious Vinny who was marking his territory every two feet. Suddenly I heard this man's voice come out of the sky. "You are trespassing on private property and we are taking your picture. Please leave immediately or we will call the sheriff's department!" Stopping dead in my tracks, I watched RJ's picture being taken as he walked under a camera perched on a very tall pole!
"You have got to be kidding me!", I yelled, as RJ turned and looked at me. I changed direction to avoid the camera, catching up with him. "Can you believe this?", I said. "This is 1984 for sure. They would rather kids hang out at the local malls and spend money their parents don't have, or sit in front of a TV or computer screen and then complain that kids are obese today!" I continued to complain. "Since when are we restricted from property that we pay for with our taxes? Can't kids play at the school yard any more? Are there that many vandals and dopers today that a high school track is off limits? How the hell do we get out of here now? This is Independence Day and we are being photographed by Big Brother, what's up with that? Where's our independence? Where's our freedom?"
I had visions of black and whites showing up with red lights flashing, sirens blaring and cops yelling "get down on the ground!" Although I was a little anxious, I have to say, I was really angry. Angry that I am forbidden to enter the property of a local public school! I understand that there are challenges in schools today but is this the right approach to this problem? Is this not over the top surveillance?
As we moved on, we saw a couple running the track with their dog. When they were within speaking distance, we told them about the "talking camera" as we passed the baseball diamonds. They thought we were hearing things and seemed unfazed by our testimonial, preferring instead to continue their jog around the track. I said to RJ, "Little do they know, but they are common criminals by today's standards, not fitness enthusiasts, as I am sure they brag to their friends!"
We walked along the high chain linked fence until we found a turnstile that allowed us to exit the grounds. As we entered the turnstile, a big fat sign stared at us -- NO ANIMALS ALLOWED. "Well how do you like that", I said to RJ, "they have us on two counts of breaking the law! We better make a quick getaway!" RJ said, "it's a little too late for that. I am already in their line up photos!" "Yeah, kind of creepy", I said. "Now you can be a suspect in any crime they want to pull you in for!"
Yes, this seems to be taken right out of Orwell's book 1984. I read the book years ago while in high school. I wrote in my essay that 1984 was a warning of what could come if we didn't adhere to our common sense. I trusted that Americans would never allow their government to abuse their power in the way that Orwell described. I could never imagine a "Big Brother" society.
Little did I know back then that 1984 would become more than fiction. It appears it may have become a business model for tyrannical institutions and government, using tax dollars to fund these devious schemes under the guise of protecting us. (Patriotic Act, anyone?). Who knew that one day I would become a common criminal for simply wanting to run my dogs on a local public high school track!
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