I’m a pretty big fan of the Turner Classic Movie Network, because I like many of the old movies, featuring some of the greatest actors and actresses of their time. I especially enjoy the Christmas time (December, not July) films like Going My Way, Bells of St. Mary’s, Scrooge (the Alistair Sim B & W version), and other great films featuring the likes of Topol, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and Humphrey Bogart.

Along with the great films that are shown, I love the fact that there are no commercials that interrupt the movies, and that we don’t have to be subjected to some of the dumbest (my opinion), most irritating (again, my opinion), advertisements that have ever splashed across the screens in our living rooms.

As mentioned, two weeks ago, and with a connection to this week’s narrative, I remember when commercials were actually entertaining. Today, most of the commercials aired are mostly annoying. Technology has created one of the greatest inventions that could have ever been invented. That, my friends could be something most, if not all, of us already have. In my house we call it, “The Remote.”

In my house, while in my hand, my remote serves as a way to not be annoyed by commercials I find unfunny, or uninteresting, or whose products in which I’m not interested, and I use it quite frequently. Since I can no longer be entertained by the creativity of commercial writers back then, with the touch of a button, I can make some of the annoyance in my life disappear. I mean, in our (my generation’s) day how many of you found yourselves singing along with the Doublemint Twins, or the Oscar Meyer Kid, or the crowd wanting to “teach the world to sing in perfect harmony?” It doesn’t seem like there are many you can sing to today. As has been said of so many things these days, “they don’t make ’em like they used to.” That’s one of the main reasons I always keep the greatest invention in the world (or one of my top three, anyway), my remote, close at hand, so when most any Insurance commercials [with the exception of, maybe a couple Geico commercials (Hump Day, Jackwagon)] air, I can switch channels until I think the commercial on the network I was watching is over. There is little, or no, humor in far too many of today’s commercials (my opinion). They almost can be equated to what you’re feeling like, when you hear fingernails on a blackboard. I mean, come on, how many of you really run to pick up the phone immediately after watching the Medicare Advantage commercials, or call Car Shield after seeing the performances of Ice T and Vivica A. Fox, and has anyone, yet, sent away for the Miracle Spring Water that seems to bring money to those who do?

I understand annoyances in our lives are inevitable, and we’ll always have them. We live in a world right now when television is offering much programming that is not everyone’s cup of tea. Same goes for the music we listen to during our days. So, if you don’t like it, just change the channel/station, or just turn it off. In order to not have to be inundated with so much of what we do not care to watch or listen to, there’s pretty strong evidence supporting the claim that the remote control, with an on/off button, is the greatest invention in the world.

As the remote goes, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have internal remotes inside each and every one of us? Think about it, so many people are trying to rid the world of things that offend them. Some people feel we should eradicate the world of any mention, or celebration, of certain holidays. Some feel the names of sports teams are offensive and school mascots and nicknames need to be removed. I could also write a year’s worth of narratives, probably more, on the huge chasm of differences and information being strewn about in the political world. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone had a remote that they could use, if they come across something that they don’t care for, or that offends them, and they can just push a button and it goes away. It’s kind of like just walking away from something you might not care for or that may offend you. Remember though, some may not be offended by what offends you, and may want to watch it, or see it, or hear it. If you don’t like liverwurst, don’t buy it or order it in a restaurant, but don’t campaign to rid stores/restaurants of it. Some people like liverwurst. (BTW, try the Liverwurst on rye, with onion and yellow mustard, at The Pub if you’re liverwurst aficionados. It’s the best in the city.) When it comes down to it though, many things brought up by people who are offended, usually affects only a very small percentage lobbying for their abolishment.

I don’t like Christmas in July celebrations. (Hope you’re reading Hallmark.) I don’ liket the guts and gore of Halloween and any other kind of “chainsaw type” murder movies. I can’t stand the mudslinging of our political candidates, both sides included, but I can rid them from my living room with a push of a button, or go outside and do something else, or turn my head until they are done, or walk away from them, or accept that others in a majority don’t have the same feelings about things that I do, but that doesn’t mean we have to get rid of things for the sake of a smaller number of people.

When we were kids, and we asked if we could do something our parents sometimes hit the “no” button on their parental remotes. We’d come back with, “But so and so can do it, or everybody else gets to do it,” and at times we were in the minority, but most of the time our parents stuck to their guns. Sometimes those in the minority can’t have what they want.

I’m not advocating being mean, racist, or trashing anyone’s beliefs, but not everyone is going to agree, think, feel, eat, pray (or not), celebrate, react, or even hold a pencil the same way, so why try to make some people to do things, or believe things, the same was as we do. If we find something we think differently about, why can’t we hit our internal “previous channel,” or “change station” buttons, or the on/off button, and let those who want to see, watch, or listen, do it without us? It’s a thought!