We Once Made Things

Each Labor Day, I am reminded of my youth (1940-1957) in blue-collar East St. Louis, Illinois a bastion of intensely organized trade unions. Labor Day offered those Union men and women a grand stage on which to demonstrate their solidarity and workers' pride. Much has changed through the years. Perhaps the journey found union leaders over-reaching for benefits thus inflating construction cost. On the other hand just maybe corporate America's profit greed over-reached with business outsourcing. Today's current political wars over organized unions is just another issue that divides our people.

Those yesterday East St. Louis Labor Days kicked off with a morning parade of thousands of union members flanked by decorated floats, kids riding decorated bikes and heavy equipment vehicles winding their way through the East St. Louis city streets ending at the massive Jones' Park. The day long family picnics was the basic theme with sounds of Municipal League baseball games, horseshoes clanking, croquet games. children's' games and a beach style swimming pool. The day long event truly marked the end of summer. Traditionally, the public and Catholic schools opened their doors the next morning. As the Labor Day sun gave way to evening darkness the reality of school day routines entered the mind...a sobering thought.

I'm not sure but I don't believe Americans champion the labor work force as it once did. Most young people seem to avoid physical labor but rather pursue service type jobs.

Holy crap, if Trump builds that wall, we Americans are going to lose our low cost labor force. Our young people are going have to get their hands dirty and God have mercy, they may even sweat.

Hold My Hand; I'm a Stranger in Paradise

I believe one reason that earthly life is not infinite is over time society and its people's behavior becomes so bizarre and strange looking that the elderly are simply out of 'place.' I understand that fashions, folkways and mores change over generations but many recent behaviors seem closely connected to unfamiliar attitudes, which are foreign to me. Let me offer three behaviors now acceptable, which was out of the realm of yesterday's thinking.

Womb-to-Room Mentality: Overtime the public (not parochial) schools have become 'responsible' for child care earlier in the child's life and that includes before and after the ordinarily acceptable school hours. There is no defensible logic to support this parental expectation. Couples should plan families predicated on their ability to take care of children with regards to time and finances. This should NOT be the teachers and tax payers' burden.

Extended Maternity Leave for Dad: Give me a break! A couple has nine months to plan for postnatal care. The birth of a child should not result in a family vacation. Perhaps a three day, Dad-around-the-house period is reasonable, however if the child and Mommy are healthy then Dad needs to go to work...he has a two-fold responsibility: (1) His employer and (2) His growing family. Military men don't get time off for births; why should others?

Peoples' Public Presentation (Attire): I see more public-bared-skin today than once seen at a 1954 burlesque show. Today's partial-nudity is less appealing due to numerous tattoos and piercings. Many Men wear hats in restaurants today...some men have their hair pulled back into a bun. Everywhere everyone is preoccupied with self-absorbed Internet engagement or text messaging. I suspect some people will go through life having never executed a handwritten letter.  Today's clothing attire and folks chosen isolation into self coincides with society's new mantra> Me, Me, Me !

It appears that my generation is surrounded by a new breed; 'amoralist'...people who are indifferent to previous moral and social standards. They are not to blame; I'm just hanging around longer...I am the 'Stranger in Paradise.'

One final illustration. My grandmother would have had a heart attack and our mothers a tizzy-fit had my wife and I not married but simply lived together......
I'll close with that thought.

Smart Choices 'Matter.'

Shall we step back and objectively look at some of the senseless killings in our American streets. Recently, we have witnessed numerous black male deaths at the hands of law men. It would seem fair to state that some were justified killings because the victim was involved in criminal activities and chose to fight police. Some deaths occurred under suspicious circumstances and appeared to result from police wrongdoing. Only a fool would claim that all police officers are free of guilt in their actions and reactions. Equally, you'd be an idiot to defend every black man in police confrontations simply because he is black and there is some desire to jump on that bandwagon.

Let's look briefly at two deaths. Michael Brown (Ferguson, Missouri) a black teenager and white Texas Deputy Sheriff, Darren Goforth. Michael was an 18 year old teen who refused to follow a police officer's command to get out of the street. A verbal confrontation between the youngster and the officer escalated into some physical struggle. The officer shot a killed Michael. The officer was acquitted under an undeniable cloud of suspicion. Demonstrations ensued with great property damage.  On the one year anniversary of the tragic incident more demonstrations and more property damage occurred.

Last week, Texas Deputy Goforth was putting gasoline into his squad car when a 30 year-old black man walked up behind the white 47 year old father of two and shot the officer. The Deputy fell to the ground and the assailant put 14 more bullets into his body. No white people demonstrated and therefore no property damage.
There is no reason to destroy peoples' property and place others in danger with violent night time demonstrations. Those who feel that a demonstration is called for...then organize and execute that demonstration in broad daylight in front of city hall, thus making the point and garnering attention.
Knock off the nighttime 'thug fertile' environmental invitation !

All Lives Matter!

Stupid Supports Stupid

Okay, I promise, I shall let this subject go after this final comment. Previously, I have spoken to this matter of government employee, Kim Davis (A Ky. County Clerk) who refused to issue a marriage license to a gay couple based upon her religious beliefs.

Please follow a Fox News analyst's defense of Clerk Davis:

 The Fox person stated that she believed it shameful that the liberals are bringing up Kim Davis' four marriages, three of which ended in divorce thus suggesting Davis is hypocritical. The pundit's logic is, and I paraphrase: 'Kim 'found' Jesus and became a born again Christian AFTER her three divorces.' Readers, I consider myself a born again Christian but I did NOT know that once you confess your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you suddenly posses omnipotent powers to judge others' sinful behavior in a condemning manner.  I will search scriptures and ask my preachers. In the meantime, I shall write a letter to the television Emmy Committee and ask them to consider Fox News in the Comedy (Awards) Category. Those Fox-Folks crack me up.

Spell Hypocrite

I have quoted scripture at times to make a point. I recognize that I attempt to follow Biblical laws and the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, I also must recognize and accept the secular reality that IF we are going to have a truly 'Free America, ' we must abide by the law of the land for the 'good-of-the-order.' That said, we cannot enforce individual religious beliefs (Bible laws) upon a secular Nation, which states people must be free of religious rule.

Rowan County, Kentucky county clerk, Kim Davis does not understand the aforementioned reality. This past June, the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages were legal under our nation of laws called the Constitution. Therefore Kim, who receives a yearly government pay of approximately $90,000.00 decided not to follow the Court's ruling but refuses to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. She claims to be following Biblical scripture and obeying God.

I find it interesting that Kim apparently did not have any conversations with God regarding not 'divorcing' three of her husbands. She is now married a fourth time. I'm just saying, "Wass up, Kim?"

The Devil May Care

I recall a few years ago, my daughter, who is the mother of seven children, shared with me the following: Her two year old little girl misbehaved and was placed is 'time out.' The resourceful and skilled manipulative child said, "Mommy, can we talk about this?"  This little girl is the youngest and undoubtedly the family 'Princess.'

Not unlike this little pampered child is NFL talented quarterback, Tom Brady. Brady got 'caught' misbehaving and the league's 'parent' (commissioner) Roger Goodell placed the big boy in 'time out.' A four game suspension 'time out.' However, just as my sweet-pretty little granddaughter...sweet smiling media-manipulating Brady got a lawyer and said, "Can we talk about this?"

I find it noticeable that we have become a society of self-absorbed, me-me, ain't my fault folks who wish not to be accountable for anything. We maintain an attitude of don't blame me or those consequences are too harsh.

The modern day philosophy is: All things are negotiable. Therefore, can we expect a Bible printing revision by removing Matthew 5:37 "But let your yes be yes and your no be no. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

Believe Your Words

A nearby school district's athletics director recently telephoned and asked me to address his coaching staff, student athletes and athletes' parents. I agreed to do so. He then asked if I gave 'power-point' presentations. I told him no; he seemed fine with the answer.

This issues of 'power-point' speeches is interesting. On the one hand it would seem that if a speaker's presentation had passion and substance he would not need a slide-show. On the other hand, I believe many folks today suffer from attention deficit disorder unable to focus on the spoken word without some visual aid to keep them awake. We have produced a generation of people who simply lack imagination; they need a picture.

I don't know about others but I don't even need to 'see' Dr. Martin Luther King's face to feel the passion in the words, 'I Have a Dream.' I can listen to a recording of Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech and feel the goose bumps. I believe that the greatest speech ever heard on this earth was Jesus Christ's Sermon On The Mount. I suppose if the Lord gave that message today He'd have to use an overheard projector at least.

What strikes me is that most speeches end with a call to action. Therefore, the speaker needs to scratch the hidden potential to motivate the listening audience. I never needed visual aids to touch THAT nerve. If the day comes when I cannot strike that nerve, I'll stop giving speeches.
Personally, I like speeches that contain a clever beginning, a passionate finish and little time lapse between the two.