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HEADLINE - SENIOR CITIZENS THREAT TO LAW & ORDER! In June, there was a nice ceremony and a shed dance celebrating the new playground, gazebo and bleachers in Milford. These amenities are a welcome addition to our community and it took the efforts of many Milfordians to put the proposal together and to raise the funds. For this, they deserve much credit. While admiring the new structures, the subject of vandalism, an utterly senseless deed, arose. Most crimes like murder, robbery, and arson at least have a motive. "I need money"," I hate that person®.... these are motives. Whats the motive in vandalism? Maybe if your life is a mess, you feel you will find satisfaction in damaging parks, schools and graveyards. You might think that by adding misery to other lives, you might diminish the misery of your own. Unfortunately, it isn't a zero sum game, so when you inflict intentional misery on others by vandalizing something they value, you don't feel better. In fact, the misery you feel is compounded. Maybe the reason for vandalism is boredom. People with nothing to do might creep out to public places at night with cans of spray paint ; to leave their mark, like dogs peeing on bushes. The illicit thrill would be there, for the penalties if caught, while not severe, would be humiliating. So maybe boredom is the reason. Or maybe it's societal hate. Your life is screwed up, you can't get a job, there's not enough money to have fun, you don't know who to blame, so you see vandalism as a way to objectify your feelings. Maybe that's it. Anyone I have talked to when an act of vandalism occurs assumes it is a problem with "youth". They talk about the need for drop in centres, dances, and activity for youth. I have a theory. If my reasons enumerated above have any validity, when vandalism occurs the police should focus not on youth, but the retirement community. The stimuli for vandalism I have identified would apply more to the aged than youth. If boredom is a reason, think of the old. Are there drop in centres for retired people? No! Because of physical infirmity, many exciting things are impossible for us. We can't go mountain climbing or water skiing. Heck, a lot of us can't even eat corn on the cob. A full dish of tapioca is the thrill for the day. Boredom? Yes, it could be a problem. A huge problem. What about societal hate? Lots of retired people are reduced to eating cat food as the cost of living soars beyond their meager pension earnings. If the payoff for a lifetime of labour is saving up to dine on a dish of Kitty Delite, resentment is understandable. Frankly, I find that unbelievable, for it seem to me dog food would be equally nourishing and wouldn't taste of fish. Besides, I think those fancy cat foods in a tin rival pork and beans or sardines in price. .Jobs are even more scarce for oldsters. 'Who wants to hire a doddering old fool who, if he wasn't so lazy, couldn't do heavy work anyway because of physical infirmity? Retired people can be kind of snappish, too, so don't put them answering the phone in a call centre. Yes, the older generations are prime candidates to harbour a grudge for society and thus vent their frustration through vandalism. At the very least, we're a menace to the proper working of society. I think if | ran an auto repair shop I'd refuse to work on the automobile of a retired person. See, we have time to complain. When I worked, the loss of my car to repair was a major inconvenience. When the car was ready, I'd throw the money at the repair guy, no matter how much I was gouged, and race off to catch up, invariably late for something. Retired people study the bill, i | Tree Trimmin " & Removal Continued on page 9 Brush chipping Lot clearing Firewood, Hardwood & Softwood lumber Black River Tree Service Glenn Guernsey 476-3757