[ebarker]

I think Paul and Sean nailed it on my question of "the good old days of FIRST". It took me a minute to figure it out since I'm ancient and never had the student experience.

I can easily see how a wide eyed youth can pick up a romantic view of FIRST and then later in life when they become older, more experienced, and more battle hardened become a little more cynical.

As Paul alluded to the battles that are fought in running an organization like FIRST exist in all organization, corporate, political, non-profit, military. That is part of the hard work of groups of people getting things done.

The literature is full of examples of youth entering the clergy, politics, business, education, etc with a not particularly realistic view of how things really work.

But as Paul said "they" is really "us". Paul has a real challenge explaning this in one of his speeches.

edit: As soon as I posted this and I look up at TV and there is this this special with Peter,Paul,and Mary, from the 60's. The days of the idealist poet musicians. Kinda reminded me of this discussion.