BETTER BOTTLE ON THE MANTLE THAN BURIED IN THE GROUND

It's popular, even prestigious, to connect-the-dots. A skill that gives the connector the claim: Intellectual. The claim, of course, depends largely on which dots of history one chooses to connect.

A few totally un-connected dots that have some intellectuals writing about today: New medical hopes are growing in the HIV battle...homicide rates in most large cities are dropping...scientists are recommending flats over high heels to prevent painful thickening of tendons...traditional corner saloons and bistros are disappearing by as many l50,000 in France alone...US battle divisions in Iraq are standing down.

Where in the world is the line that connects these dots of facts into a coherent diagram of life...? Several options, but here's one that proposes a straight strong line directly to the past!

Consider say 75 years ago. There were no HIV epidemics to battle.....fewer homicide surges to drop...too many saloons & bistros for the chain restaurants to shut down...no battle forces there to stand down. [Oh, as for that high heels thing, sorry but looking good has always triumphed over being smart]

Here's the point. America admires youth and youth admires now. And yet, perhaps it's time the young not only the old say this. Say that not everything old is bad. The merits of the past serve us best on the mantle rather than buried in the ground. The good-old-days were good as well as old. This label "nostalgia" may have to be kidnapped back from the doubters and returned to the dreamers.

Not everything 75 years ago was worthy, but more people then seemed to think so. And believe so. And fight so. This is no literary delusion by a few vintage authors and Hollywood screenwriters, but right there in the history texts. The laurel Greatest Generation was not not so much bestowed as it was earned. Which is to say we just might want to do a splashy Broadway-type revival for all the disappointed cynics and disillusioned collegians to see. And maybe cheer.

Better yet -- to re-read the best pages from that old script, and see if there isn't a part in there for them....!