Touche' Gents

Yesterday morning, I stopped in at a local restaurant for a cup on coffee and a newspaper read while waiting for a meeting time to arrive. It was impossible not to hear the conversation exchange between four fellas at a nearby table; they all spoke loudly trying to get their opinion's on the table before interrupted. The topic choice was the demonstrations and rioting in Ferguson, Missouri. Since the fatal shooting of a young Black boy by a police officer that city continues to be in turmoil.
I heard some worthy thoughts expressed by these fellow patrons but for the most part this all white gathering strongly suggested that young 'Blacks' seemingly have a problem accepting authority. I wanted so badly to interject a tidbit but I remained stifled. I would like to have asked the rather nearsighted group if they had any thoughts about the plethora of mass killings in our schools and public square perpetrated by 'young White boys?'

The Cost of T-Shirts and Apathy

Back in my 1950's youth, I often heard my paternal grandmother scold her children for NOT buying American MADE products. Grandma Rosedelle was a strong 'Union' supporter! She would be sad with the 2014, American working landscape. Our trade unions are the weakest they have been in decades and most of those low-semi-skilled jobs are no longer available in the United States but have been outsourced. I browse the clothing aisles in various department stores and read label after label...'Made' in China, Bangladesh, Honduras, Mexico and on and on. The clothing industry is but ONE example of lost USA jobs. The cost of our non-union made 'T-Shirt' is low in the department store but the citizenship-relationships and tax payer cost is immeasurable. Many young people who meander aimlessly about the chaotic streets in Ferguson, Missouri could benefit from a T-shirt factory.


Before  any reader would take exception to my suggestion that minimal jobs are the only jobs inner city people can handle...JUST STIFLE your thought. You know very well that many young people in our nation's history have made a good living (financially) working at those jobs which are now done in foreign countries so that corporate America can turn a greater profit.
 We protest too late the wrong issues. Oh, that apathy cost? Many people in Ferguson, Missouri complain about the political power structure in their city. Check it out: In the last city election only 1,500 of the 15,000 eligible voters went to the polls and the mayor ran unopposed. I suppose we have even outsourced our 'caring.'

'Cuts Both Ways'

 A very sad loss of life and accompanying negative events occurred in America's heartland (Ferguson, Missouri) where a young eighteen year-old 'Black' young man was murdered in daylight by a 28-year old 'White' police officer. The predictable rioting, protesting and chaos followed and continues to erupt and simmer. Once again all the expected accusations and racial-laced rhetoric surfaces with the same old finger pointing.


The 'root' of the problem, in these too frequent detestable events is multi-faceted. There are deep-seeded racial issues buoyed by profound regional economic woes.


The raw emotions are anchored in the reality of a young lad dying at the hands of a police officer's pistol when lesser force could likely sufficed. The facts will slowly come forth but the obvious haunts all who witnessed a young man with hands in the air (posturing a surrender) was shot and killed. Many supporters of the slain victim and protesters expressed immediate anger suggesting the police department was withholding information, stonewalling and failing to be transparent. The police finally released the name of the officer who shot the youngster and at the same time released video of the victim who was involved in a robbery act minutes before the shooting. Some protesters are angered by the video being made public by the police. That scenario reminds me of the movie, "A Few Good Men." In that movie, Col Jessep (Jack Nicholson) is asked by Attorney Kaffee (Tom Cruise) "I want the truth!!" Col Jessep responds, "You can't handle the truth!"


When we beg for truth, we must accept that which helps and that which hurts...it is the only way which HEALS. If our nation is ever to have 'THAT' racial-healing conversation, the masses of rainbow colors must check all ethnocentric attitudes at the conference room door; seemingly, "The Impossible Dream." We cannot heal by evaluating other's cultures based upon our own standards.

R E S P E C T ?

I try not to use this blog as a personal sob-story exercise. Forgive me today, I must let flow some 'feel-sorry-for-myself' tears.' Lately, people have been stomping on my ego... It began about five weeks ago when my wife and I traveled to the Metro-East area to see our first born great-granddaughter. Surprise...I was told I cannot 'hold' the child because I don't have a whopping cough booster shot.


Let me state a personal position about chemical-injections into my body. I have had my share. I never get a flu shot. I had the flu one time; 1986, when I got my one & only flu shot. I have had all those inoculations along this journey plus a pneumonia shot and shingles shot. The only shot I'm entertaining these days is a cortisone shot in a problematic tendinitis inflamed shoulder. I suppose I will hold my great granddaughter when she is 'out-of-the-woods,' as they say, of course by then, I'll likely be the one vulnerable.


A couple of days ago, my wife and I traveled to Illinois State (Bloomington) and took our granddaughters, Loren and Erica out for dinner; we do this often during the school year. The girls are now sophomore sorority sisters. After dinner, the girls invited their Nana up to see their room. I was told I could not enter the sorority house because I am a male. Therefore, I sat in my auto in the parking lot and deflected doubtful glances from sorority girls coming and going as if I was some suspected pervert.
On the drive home, I asked my wife if she remembered when we were middle school sweethearts and during the summer months, we would attend a nearby open-rec gymnasium where she would 'rebound' basket shot attempts by me. She acknowledged she did recall those days. I then said, "I could have gotten more shots-off if you had been quicker retrieving the basketball." She responded, "You could have gotten more shots off had you hit the basket more frequently requiring me to run less after your missed shots."

Who's In Who's Out ?

Growing up in the very diverse East St. Louis, I was exposed to a lot of different ideas, thinking, opinions and beliefs. One rather strong influence was religion; my own Methodist faith and the many other religions. The Roman Catholic Church held a strong presence in that river city and was special in my growing up years. Let me explain. Aside from the fact that my father's people were mostly Catholic, the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) offered some special sports' programs from which I benefited. Each of the some 10 Parishes were allowed to have one 'outsider' on its grade school basketball team; I was the designated 'outsider' for a couple of years at St. Martin School. I honed my basketball skills in the CYO leagues.


Interestingly, one summer, my Catholic boyhood friend and I attended a open gym play day at the newly completed Assumption Catholic High School. We had not been on the court but a brief period of time when a Priest called my friend aside and told him to tell me that I HAD TO LEAVE because only Catholic boys could be in the gym. As I left the gym that morning, I thought, 'what bullshit !' I was good enough to score a shit load of points a few years earlier for St. Martin's to compete for the CYO title; suddenly my Methodism was showing.


I am not dishing on the Catholic Church, God only knows that people of all faiths need to look within!! I'm just saying,  we need to be careful 'deeming' others as 'outsiders.' 'Outside' of what ?


Jesus angered the nation of Israel when He said His kingdom was for ALL. The Jews felt they were the only people headed for 'Glory.' Jesus' 'inclusive' preaching is simply missed by most folks who call themselves CHRISTIANS...and so it goes, we have THOSE outsiders!

Expect Less From Others

I hear much conversation and debate about a 'polarized' America. I think we all notice that separation is very transparent in American politics. I am sure that my average intellectual capacity will over-simplify any cause, therefore let me show my ass.
Anytime two differing opinions emerge, which separates people it always 'smells' of self-centered 'entitlement-expectations' butting heads! When a couple's relationship (married or not) hits a wall usually one or both are convinced they deserve more from the other.




Classic conservative-liberal standoffs are perhaps the most ridiculously transparent polarized fighting. Here is an example: "White" rural farmers are pissed about inner-city entitlement programs benefiting many 'Blacks' yet those "White" farmers have no problem accepting excessive farming subsidies. Most Union workers believe corporate is making 'big' money at the expense of 'blue-collar workers,' and corporations feel they take all the risks and pay too much in taxes.


I'm convinced that feelings of 'entitlement' is the cause of our polarization; at every turn and in every relationship. We stumble when 'thinking' we are deserving of more from others. That said, I need to write each of my children and grandchildren and express my appreciation for their willingness to share time with me and their Nana...we oldsters are not necessarily 'entitled.' to such.

Why Not?

August 19, 1951, Major League baseball owner of the St. Louis 'Browns', Bill Veeck sent a 3' 7" midget, Eddie Gaedel to the plate to bat. Veeck told the little man that he was NOT to swing the bat; if he should swing a rifleman on a nearby rooftop would shoot him! The small fry hitter followed instructions and received a base-on-balls. A couple of days later the MLB Commissioner banned all midgets from playing major league baseball.


I think it's time for parents of midgets to bring a class action lawsuit against professional baseball. Let's face it, there is another St. Louis baseball team that needs base runners!!