A Message for The Neighbor Family

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer, Eddie Levert of the O'Jays has still 'got game.' The man delivers with a powerful voice and engaging entertainment personality. Attending the O'Jays / Gladys Knight concert at the Fox Theater (St. Louis), Levert spoke candidly to the audience near the shows end regarding today's youth. Before I paraphrase those comments let me preface by saying the audience of 4,500 people was perhaps 95% 'Black.' I make this point because it is right to do so considering Levert's philosophy about raising kids.

Lervert's random opinions are here paraphrased: 'Kids are out of control fearing nobody. They go to school and do not respect / fear teachers or the administration. In the streets they blow off law enforcement with an attitude of non-compliance and no fear of police authority. In fact, the police have greater fears that they may easily get in trouble when attempting to control the unruly youth. The kid goes home where the lack of respect and no-fear life style continues. Levert continued saying, "We parents need to knock some kids upside the head and beat the shit out of them so they no what it feels like to respect and fear."

Of course, the audience was on board with those comments because don't you just know that the few hundred white folks' attending thought Levert's comments were about 'black kids.' Give me a break...

I've got a flash for parents with doubt. Once upon a time children of all colors and ethnic background respected and feared. Today, African-American families continue to create privileged youth attitudes as have white families for decades. And if white parents for a moment believe the lack of respect/fear permeating our country is a 'black family problem only...those folks are full of crap or as Eddie Levert would say, "You need to knock the shit outta some people."

Seemed Like Old Times

De'ja' Vu. I had some old flashbacks, some moments of seeing familiar scenes but sensing something missing. This past Saturday night, I was walking the immediate area around the Fox Theater located at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. I have often walked those streets before but it had been some 54 years when last my wife and I had been afoot in that neighborhood. The occasion to head to the iconic Fabulous Fox, a National Historical Landmark, which was built in 1929 was to attend the musical concert of Gladys Knight and the O'Jays.

Back in the day, (1940's & 1950's) that theater was a special date night destination to see the latest movie. Today, I still have photos of my teenage girlfriend (wife, Gerry) taken by sidewalk photographers as we walked towards the Fox Theater entrance. I also recall the intersection representing the final leg of a three-part journey from my East St. Louis home by city bus to Washington Avenue near the Eads bridge where I caught a St. Louis city bus to Grand Avenue for the last leg by streetcar to old Sportsman Park to root for the Cardinals.

St. Louis like many American cities has suffered the negatives of industrial decline, white flight, shrinking tax base and escalating inner city decay and crime. The proud folks appear to be fighting back to gain yesterday's look and feel.

Oh, the concert? You're kidding? A packed house of nearly 5,000 music lovers were brought to their feet time and again with the powerful yet sweet voice of Gladys Knight and the familiar songs and dance moves of the O'Jays. I thank our son, Steve and daughter-in law, Kathy for taking care of the old folks and allowing us to be young at heart recalling, 'The Way We Were.'

Stupid comes in all Colors

You know, I do understand. I understand how people can become so frustrated and angry with others whom they wish to support. Currently, I am very frustrated and angry with the behavior of some (black & white) college students. I'll make this simple. I have fought the racism battle for years. Your welcome to investigate that claim. That said, I am compromised with my arguments in behalf of blacks who suffer the slings and arrows of discrimination and injustices when some over-the-top stupid behavior hurts the cause.

Leaving the grocery store parking lot yesterday, I heard Rush Limbaugh in a high frenzy rant about this very issue. Of course, Rush was not upset with blacks' behavior (specifically) at the University of Missouri. Nope! In true Limbaugh fashion, he had already identified the college problem and determined the solution. I paraphrase Rush's comments and inferences: 'University students are taught by liberal wackos. These students should not be allowed an opinion expression on any matters of consequent nor should those students hold any voting rights. Actually, Rush with half his brain up his ass (or did he say, "tied behind my back?) concludes that America's political voting age should be changed to age twenty-five.'

Rush did not elaborate on changing the age at which young people can embrace a patriotic opinion motivating them to join the military and fight and perhaps die in a corporate America war.

Poor Me

How important can it be? Read the accounts of Nazi Germany before WWII. I'm talking about the 'free and open press.' No surprise these days, Americans find our 'free and open press' under attack by the wannabe government officials. On the one hand the Republicans would like the 'press' to investigate the hell out of Hillary Clinton's background but don't ask Presidential candidate, Ben Carson 'how that kid he attempted to kill is doing these days.' I'm  just saying, maybe that kid was not wearing a belt that day. Given today's 'bag & sag' fashion who wears a belt except some nerdy-ass white kid. Was it a white kid? Was it a racial incident? Did some white kid call Ben the 'N' word?

Our Poor politicians are America's newest group of victims. And playing the role of victim works. You folks having your Starbucks coffee this morning, in that Anti-Christmas cup, have gathered in the restaurant's corner chit-chatting about how awful you think it is how the blacks play that 'Race-Card' at every chance...well, if that is your cloak for they day then accept poor Ben's bitching about the press vetting everything he says. And also let's feel sorry for Cruz, Rubio and Bush for being held accountable by our press. These people simply wish to have your financial support, money and vote...other than that leave them alone to use the 'Party's credit card.'

Poor 'woe-is-me' Ben, if he could just capture that magic carpet ride of 'racial' victimization and that evil press victimization, the chap will soon move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC.

Thank Goodness Fox News is 'Watching Out for Us.'

I hate-a-say but I told my mom and dad in 1958, that I feared a conspiracy to take 'Christ' out of Christmas. Okay, that's not exactly true. I didn't say any of that. However, it was 1958 when the first artificial Christmas tree was manufactured in Chicago. As Archie Bunker would say, "If God wanted us to have them fake trees He'd grow'em in da woods for us to cut down."

Today, we got people saying, 'Happy Holidays' as they intentionally rip at the fabric of Christianity, which if not for the likes of Hannity, O'Rielly and Rush we'd never hear those sacred words, 'Merry Christmas.' Why, I recall that freshmen year at the State University when that liberal professor tried to fill our heads with that notion that Christmas was a Pagan celebration. I sure didn't tell any of my kin folks back in East St. Louis about the prof's crazy propaganda; they'd likely tarred and feathered the guy.

Lo' & Behold, this Christmas season, we can't even buy our $5.00 Starbucks' Latte and enjoy the Christmas greetings inscribed on the cup...nope, the cup is all 'red.' Probably some Communist message.

I've decided to keep an open mind on this presidential run. The first candidate that comes to their senses and prioritize ideas placing this 'War on Christmas' #1 ahead of gun control, immigration, healthcare and the economy...well, he's getting my vote.

I recall back at Lansdowne junior high school, East St. Louis in the early 1950's. We used to get a long Christmas vacation from school. My good Jewish friend, Alan Stienman told me that his parents were going to complain to the school district that the Jew's should get the same vacation length to celebrate Hanukkah. Hogwash! Next thing you know, we'll be allowing black people to stay in our white neighborhoods after dark The following fall, I put my two cents in to have half-days during afternoon World Series Games.

He What?

I was recently in one of those 'gun debates' at a family gathering. Add that conversation topic to that of religion and politics as topics, which should not be publicly aired. Those three topics: religion, politics and gun ownership are issues with profound misconceptions about other views laced with one's ethnocentric beliefs and intolerance.

When the second amendment was scribbled into the United States Constitution, we countrymen owned muskets and yet today, some argue the right to own assault weapons. This  represents a growing number of people left behind in the American formal educational process.

One family member told of a gun debate issued resolved between he and his wife. It appears she is fearful of a loaded gun in the home. However, he wants the perceived gun protection assurance. They have compromised. He keeps the gun in the master bedroom but it is empty. The bullets are kept downstairs in a kitchen cabinet.

If you give thought to this arrangement it becomes clear how truly frightening it is living in America and even more scary being a member of my family. Now look, many family members read my daily blog. I need not disclose which side of our family-hodgepodge this debate involves. In fact, I will never mention if it's the 'good guts' or 'bad guys.'

Liar, Liar Pants On Firer

Truth be known, I suppose we are all guilty. Guilty of some exaggerations about our past, guilty of a few lies, yep simply guilty of telling tall tales. Perhaps it's our nature to overstate and glorify our history. I recall reading somewhere that America's college campuses were fertile ground for high school graduates to gather and flat out lie through their front teeth about past escapades.

Most people don't believe that those overstated stories about our past experiences will come back to bite us. Recently, we saw the fall of NBC News anchor, Brian Williams because he exaggerated a war experience as a journalist and some folks checked it out. Williams made matters worse when he did not come clean. Ultimately the man was disgraced and fired from a very prestigious news position of public trust.

Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson told some 'tall tales' about his supposedly troubled  youth and angry violent behavior. He told of having a robber place a gun in his ribs at a fast food restaurant. He explained how he chased folks with hammers with intent to do bodily harm. He recalls in his early teens stabbing another teen who was saved from death because the knife broke when hitting the belt buckle.

These stories would never be checked out had Dr. Ben not enter the Presidential race. Wow! Wouldn't it be fascinating to talk with the grown man who Ben nearly killed with his knife. Maybe the man also became a Doctor. Then perhaps he is a successful rap singer. We'll never know because the evil liberal-media, all of which are descendants from Satan cannot locate this phantom cat.

Ben, you and that other politician who has thievery tendencies make Trump look honorable. Now THAT'S a frightening thought.