DENNIS MURPHY, San Clemente
Ed Ward’s compelling “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” letter made me think of how enjoyable and relaxing it was living in The Spanish Village by the Sea during the ’60s and ’70s, so I just wanted to thank him for making me look back.
After listening to “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, instead of Cardi B’s “WAP,” I put on Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World” and started reminiscing about San Clemente, American values and the enemy within.
In the ’60s and ’70s, SC was about:
- The waving of an American flag, knowing that our neighbors (whom you actually knew and spoke with), believed American culture was worth saving (unlike the left of today).
- Shopping at the “All American” market on the corner of Mariposa and El Camino Real, knowing in the back of your mind that there was organization and accountability in our blessed lifestyle, along with the need to have our international borders secure (unlike leftist thinking of today).
- Dining at a restaurant, knowing you won’t have to look out at a lost soul defecating in the parking lot (which our state Democratic stronghold could easily remedy if it actually cared about people).
- Using common sense and rational thinking when understanding law enforcement, instead of believing a deputy sheriff wakes up in the morning and decides he is going out today to find and kill an unarmed Black homeless American.
- Knowing you can go to our local college, and young Americans aren’t threatened or offended by the football team’s (Gaucho) name.
- Learning from history and science in an achievement-based educational system, instead of being brainwashed into moronic and suicidal political activism by the enemy within.
In 1968, The Rascals came out with the song “Beautiful Morning.” After I listen to it, I’m going to walk along the seashore without a mask and know that I will be safe, because science told me so.
Thanks for the memories, Ed.