The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-01-05
A MINUTE
WITH MI


was the wish of one partygoer
as he slapped his friend on the
back and grabbed his hand TO
shake il at a New Years eve
party.
ANY dang fool knows that. L"
came the reply, but even the
smartest man alive can't tell you
what's going TO happen this
year"
That was q good sound state
ment, and il took even less time
than the best Of government ex-
perts would require to get his
thinking cap on.
1860 was a good year in many
ways, and to many of us as indi-
viduals. or, even as nations q.
but, IL would be hard TO sincere
ly say that Of the world as a
whole.
Total war was avoided or
was IL only a period of postpone
ment? Verbal accusations and
threats were flung from every
corner; diplomatic relations were
ruptured and discontinued; prop
uganda barrages were intensified
and broadened: waves of unrest
were sewn; mob violence was re-
generated with viciousness and
brutality heretofore unknown Z.
and helpless countries were in
vaded 10 become slaves to their
invaders. All of these, and more
too. could be chalked up on the
pessimistic ledger, as it might
be termed But too, there is
always the optimist who is en-
titled to present his side of the
picture.
Be that as il may, only good
can come from the optimistic OBJ
servations, and no good can come
from the pessimistic opinions =. :.
so we must therefore be ever
watchful and constantly on guard
against the prophecies of pesSi-
mists.
sometimes wonder IL we don't
disregard some phases of the so
called pessimist's point of view
a little more oftener than we
should. This Is not easy TO say,
however. that we should all go
around with our chins on our
chests and a look Of mourning
on our faces. expecting nothing
good from life But, at the
same time, we should not con-
tinually view a bad situation in
the light that il can't get worse,
and therefore must get better.
The old saying that a man is
either an optimist or a pessimist
is pure bosh as far as We are
concerned. There is a point in
between, and that point is the
most important one because IL
is at this point common sense
and good judgment must be the
deciding factor
II is sort Of like the mother
who tells father that Johnny is
too close TO the river for safety.
Father replies that Johnny can
take care of himself and has
proved IL by never having fallen
into the river before . . Johnny
either falls in or he doesn't, but
that does not necessarily prove
that Johnny knew what he was
doing or that good judgment pre-
vented an accident or tragedy
So. mother turns out TO be
a pessimist and father an opti-
mist But. the important point
was when Johnny was warned,
before he either stepped closer
70 the river. or. turned away
from IL
We could make q good start
AZ the beginning Of the new year
with the passing Of a city ordin-
ance prohibiting the leaving OF
junked OF abandoned cars on
the streets
A drive around town brings to-
sight several, IL not many, junked
cars parked on the streets TINS
Is not only an eyesore, il is a
hazard.
Most towns ani cities have
ordinances requiring that all
streets and alleys be kept free
of Junk. trash and other hazard
Gus accommodations Why don
we have one7 or, II we DO,
why isn't IL enforced?