A jail and a holiday

With many of the problems we are faced with today, it may seem odd to celebrate the opening of a new county jail. Personally, though, I think it’s a good thing, and I definitely believe it’s overdue.

I didn’t take advantage of the chance to tour the new facility, and now I find myself wishing I had, in order to make a comparison.

You see, I have had a tour of the old jail. It was back before I retired from this paper, when a new jail was in the early talking stage, but not much more than that.

What was the old jail like? It was dark, it was claustrophobic. I’m not saying the place looked like a medieval dungeon, but there were places where a rack and an iron maiden wouldn’t have looked too out of place.

One thing occurred to me as I toured, and it was reinforced by my tour guide, Sheriff Bobby May, that the jail as it existed at the time could actually get the county into legal trouble. The jail might even be forced to shut down completely.

So I’m sorry I missed the tour. I seriously doubt the new cells have all the comforts of home. It’s still jail. A person will still be incarcerated, his freedom taken. But maybe someone who is put in one of the cells won’t feel like the Man in the Iron Mask. Not a bad thing.

Whether the jail is too big, or not big enough, I leave to others to argue over.

•••••

We just went through a long Fourth of July weekend. I’m actually writing this before the Fourth, so I don’t know how much partying will be going on.

I’ve been a bit upset by some of the things I’ve seen on social media. There are people who are angered at recent laws passed, and recent Supreme Court decisions. They are saying they won’t celebrate the Fourth, some going so far as to say this isn’t America anymore.

Others, however, are delighted by the laws and court decisions, so they may well be celebrating louder than usual. It may be a wash.

Here’s how I see the situation. Yes, our country is divided. And yes, I’m not happy with everything that has happened. But as for this not being America anymore, that’s just plain wrong.

This is still America, even if it’s not the best version of America. What we have here is all we’ve got, unless we want to immigrate to other countries, or go somewhere and start our own country (which would involve overthrowing whatever government is in place when we get there). Leaving the country just isn’t a practical alternative for many – possibly most – of us.

So as far as politics goes, we aren’t simply stuck forever with the way things are. We’re just going to have to start from where we are and start working. And voting. No choice, unless you want to throw up your hands at one extreme or throw molotov cocktails at the other extreme. As for me, I’m against either of those extremes.

A large percentage of folks in this country are too impatient, too set in their ways and hard-headed, often too shortsighted and too quick to anger and accuse, to ever agree totally on anything. But many of us are also diverse and more able to be tolerant. Maybe at some point we can calm down and learn to get along with each other a little better. Or not.

Be that as it may, I won’t give up on the country, not yet. I will not give up hope. It will take a lot longer, and things happening a lot worse, for me to completely give up. There is still a chance for folks to correct what they don’t like. It may take a while, but there is still hope.

•••••

I do not begrudge some rain for the farmers. I figure they need it. If it can just rain on them and not on my lawn. I’m not sure if that can be worked out, but I wish that it could be somehow.

Sorry, but rain will make my grass grow, and this is looking like a really hot summer. And as I get older, I keep having more and more difficulty dealing with hot weather. Like when I’m forced to mow. Alas.

•••••

Usually, an early reminder of Christmas is not a welcome thing for Old Scrooge.

However, a friend recently gave me an early Christmas gift that – believe it or not – fairly made my little heart go pitter patter.

The gift was a pair of Grinch socks. They are long, they are green. They will be disgusting, no doubt, to Christmas nuts. In other words, I think they’re wonderful. I’m almost tempted to wear them before the season.

But I’ll wait. Beware, all you folks with your socks bearing Santas and Elves and holly and the like. The Grinch is alive and well.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: David Nichol is a freelance writer who retired from the Times-Herald. He can be contacted at nicholdb@cablelynx.com.)