When my children were young, my wife Ulla and I would often take them on journeys to visit museums, zoos and parks around the state. We also took them to St. Louis, Dayton, Cincinnati and Chicago. Whenever we took a vacation to Florida, Washington, D.C., or South Carolina, we loaded the kids into the car and made it into a road trip. I doubt there was ever a family that spent more time together in a car.
At the beginning of each trip, we would double check to make sure everything was packed, nobody left the iron on and everyone had been to the bathroom several times.
We couldn’t get three blocks down the street without someone asking, “Are we there yet?” Sometimes we weren’t even out of the driveway when the back seat chorus started. No matter how long the trip was going to be, the kids ran out of patience by the first stoplight.
Enjoying an early morning drive to Chicago was nearly impossible with all the tension between neighboring regimes in the back seat.
“Quit hogging the seat!”
“Turn the heater off!”
“Quit looking at me!”
“Stop touching me!”
“He’s breathing my air!”
“He’s in my aerospace!”
“I gotta pee!”
My wife finally found a way to deal with the little rascals. Three miles north of Terre Haute she unveiled her game plan. She produced a two-dollar roll of nickels and placed one on the dashboard. “Whoever sees a yellow car first gets this nickel.” Instantly, the kids began quietly scanning the road for yellow cars. I encouraged Ulla to spend freely.
Our first rest stop was usually about 100 miles north on U.S. 41 in Newton County at The New Joy’s Café. By then we’d have to add a new game — one we could use both in the car and in the restaurant.
The game we came up with was called, “What’s On My Mind?” This game consisted of one person thinking of an object that was animal, vegetable or mineral. It could be solid or liquid or gaseous. Everyone else would ask questions to try to determine what the object could be. Three “no” answers and you were out of the game.
These games were more than just tools to keep the kids busy enough to stay out of trouble. The game with the nickels helped our kids sharpen their powers of observation while the guessing game helped improve their listening skills and their ability to formulate the type of questions that get you information rather than a “yes” or “no” answer.
Each year, billions of dollars are spent worldwide to influence our behavior. Money is spent by movie studios, advertising executives, political parties, armed forces recruiters — companies and organizations of every sort — in order to gain influence over our choices, manipulate our emotions, direct our spending, create fears so we can recognize the need for their product, tell us what is in style, convince us which lawyer is the best, etc. They even tell us where to send our charitable contributions.
Our powers of observation and our ability to ask the type of questions that get us information rather than a “yes” or “no” answer have been stifled by these many forces of influence. People today are lacking in the ability to carefully analyze information and ask the type of questions that bring more information rather than dogmatic answers meant to influence us.
This year, controversy over whether or not to say “Merry Christmas” was a hot issue. I’m left wondering whether it became a hot issue due to public outcry or whether the public even knew it was a hot issue before the media made it one. These days, controversies are created by political machines and marketing departments to help bring attention to their agendas. Those seeking to eliminate the name of Jesus Christ from public use create controversies where there are none in order to bring attention to their cause.
Nobody was offended by the use of the phrase “Merry Christmas” last year. There wasn’t a public outcry when it was used for the entirety of the 20th century or the 400 years before that. This year, it became a hot issue because certain organizations wanted it to be a hot issue.
Our country is on a journey. We are heading down the road together. Make sure you know who has the wheel and where they are taking you. Keep your eyes on the road, scanning it for information. Ask the type of questions that get you more information instead of dogmatic answers. Practice using your powers of observation and analysis.
Don’t get duped by the political machines, fashion gurus or entertainment moguls into thinking you can’t live without their products or guidance. Learn to think for yourself and make decisions without the influence of CNN, MTV, HBO or The New York Times. Ask questions when you watch the news. Don’t settle for dogmatic answers but instead examine the source and ask to see the process they used to get their information and ask to see the raw data. Don’t just scratch the surface, dig deep to the heart of the matter. Keep digging deeper.
Express your freedom to celebrate, worship, speak and believe what you’ve decided — not what Dan Rather has decided. Do your own research and make up your own mind.
Pete Chalos, a longtime teacher, coach and public servant in Vigo County, was mayor of Terre Haute for 16 years. Send e-mail to pchalos@netscape.com.
Pete Chalos
December 30, 2005
Don’t get duped, be skeptical and ask smart questions
- Pete Chalos
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- Pete Chalos: Fluoridation removal should be on local agenda Last year, 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee unions, representing over 7,000 environmental and public health professionals, called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country. I wrote a two-part commentary exploring the evidence that inspired the letter these professionals sent to the U.S. Congress.
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Pete Chalos: Traditional family unit has served America well
Much has been said concerning the institution of marriage this past few years. Elements of our society have been trying their best to redefine marriage. Every American tradition associated with raising a family has been questioned by some group or another. Some feel the rules concerning marriage and family have changed because our society has taken progressive leaps beyond any society the world has ever known. Others feel we are losing touch with the time-tested wisdom of our fathers and the tradition this great nation was founded upon.
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Pete Chalos: Never too soon to pay attention to 2008 election
The next presidential election is already a hot topic of discussion in the press and we aren’t even close to the election year yet. Everyone is interested in finding out which candidate will have an edge come 2008.
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Pete Chalos: Community needs leadership from best and brightest
What does it take to win an election? Last week, we saw the climax of months of hard work and well-organized campaigning. Some candidates had been preparing to run for several months or even a few years. Spouses, children, family, friends and colleagues had been organizing, recruiting and promoting before most voters were even aware an election was coming up. It takes a lot of time and effort and a great deal of commitment to win an election.
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Pete Chalos: A community must invest in itself to improve itself
This month, the Terre Haute City Council voted in favor of the proposed tax increment finance (TIF) district on Indiana 46, passing it 6-3. Council members Jim Chalos, Rich Dunkin, Chuck Miles, Todd Nation, Shelva Warner and Cliff Lambert voted for the resolution.
This evening, the Vigo County Redevelopment Commission is going to conduct a public hearing concerning the details of the resolution, outlining the specifics. Upon their confirmation, the resolution will go back to the Terre Haute City Council for adoption on May 11. -
Pete Chalos: In Iraq, we must get job done, then get out
You can call it what you want to call it but what is happening right now in the country of Iraq is a civil war. Fancy words like “insurgency” aren’t fooling anyone. You’ve got two sides fighting over the fate of a country. That is a civil war.
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Pete Chalos: America must maintain high standards of immigration
My father John Chalos arrived from Greece at Ellis Island in 1910 for the purpose of working in Seattle. He ended up losing his ticket while the train was stopped in Terre Haute.
- Pete Chalos: Your vote counts in numerous and hidden ways
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Pete Chalos: State has moved too quickly on Major Moves initiative
The reason the government builds fire stations, roads, sidewalks and parks is to accommodate the general public. No single private citizen can afford to build all of these facilities on his own so we all chip in and pay taxes. As a result, we all end up benefiting from the use of the facilities. Government facilities are built for the public and they belong to the public. That’s the basic premise of a tax-supported Democratic society. Government by the people and for the people.
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Pete Chalos: City’s leaders, citizens must be willing to support progress
We live in an extremely competitive society. From early childhood, we are taught the difference between winning and losing. In some families, more time is spent learning the difference between winning and losing than the difference between right and wrong.
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Pete Chalos: The future of elderly care in America
This past month, my family and I have been reviewing all available options for the future care of me and my wife Ulla. At 78 years old, I am finding that I can no longer take care of myself and my wife the way I once could. In truth, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to do so on my own, but learning to accept and admit it has been a difficult process.
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Pete Chalos: China poised to become next big economic, military power
“If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons. … If the Americans are determined to interfere, we will be determined to respond. … We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”
This statement was made a few months ago to members of the press by General Zhu Chenghu of the People’s Liberation Army, also a professor at China’s National Defense University, concerning U.S. opposition to China’s threats to invade Taiwan. -
Pete Chalos: Women’s basketball flourishing in the Valley
This month, the ISU women’s basketball team recorded its 18th straight win. The victory also marked the milestone 100th career win for ISU women’s head coach Jim Wiedie. He and Edith Godleski are the only two women’s basketball coaches to achieve that mark in ISU history. Local golf enthusiasts may remember Edith from her impressive record in local golf tournaments.
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Pete Chalos: Lack of opportunity raises concerns for future
Over the years, I have been invited to speak to numerous service groups, church groups and political organizations within the community of Terre Haute. After sharing a few of my own thoughts and ideas, I always take the opportunity to answer questions from the crowd. I look forward to these question and answer sessions. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the meeting.
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Pete Chalos: Diligent oversight of utilities an important mission
At the end of January, ExxonMobil Corp. revealed record-breaking profits, the highest quarterly profits ever reported by a public company in the history of America. Exxon’s annual profit was $36.13 billion. That’s a 42 percent rise since last year.
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Pete Chalos: Major Moves plan could be major disaster for Indiana
The governor is at it again. First, he closed down license branches in rural areas, forcing many Indiana citizens to take a day off from work and drive long distances in order to get anything done concerning their license or picture identification (which he made a requirement for voter registration). Then he established an Inspector General to act as his own personal prosecutor (along with a staff of lawyers in every Indiana county). Then he crammed his plan for daylight-saving time down our throats.
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Pete Chalos: Use baseball classic to unite us, not further divide us
No sound is more exciting than the crack of a baseball bat hitting the ball. It’s quite an experience to watch your favorite team score that winning run in the bottom of the ninth or pull off a double-play to ensure their victory. The crowd roars and stands to its feet.
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Pete Chalos: This nation needs purpose, trusted leaders to show the way
Just like individuals, nations need goals. In the 29th chapter of the book of Proverbs it is written, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In the absence of a unified sense of purpose, progress is replaced with unrest. Like any nation, America needs a national vision, a national direction and national goals.
- Don’t get duped, be skeptical and ask smart questions
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Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Sudden Storm Topples Wisconsin Trees
Vegas Grocer Deported to Face War Crimes Charges
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: SpaceX Capsule's Docking Delayed
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Hurricanes and Heat Waves Across America
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
