Pass the Peas

I was born in 1959 so I am guilty. Guilty of living in a country that did not ban lead paint for housing until 1978 resulting in old lead paint on our walls still being the primary cause of lead poisoning for our children(when most of Europe and various other countries banned it in the 1920s and 1930 - some as early as 1909). Guilty of being from a country that had the bright idea (thank you GM) of putting lead into gasoline, which resulted in the average - yes average - child in urban settings in my childhood years having lead levels that would be considered lead poisoning by today's standards (and I might add that certain third world countries still use our leaded gas - that we sell them (Ethyl Corporation in Virginia)- and are knowingly poisoning their children with our products because it is cheaper than other additives). Guilty of being from a coutry that did not ban the use of lead solder for food cans and plumbing until the 1980s. I am guilt on a number of counts, but I am not guilty of bashing the Chinese and blaming them for all our problems. I am not guilty of forgetting all we have done to ourselves and to other countries with our past deeds.