I'll never understand bigotry

     This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and 2015 will remind us of the
passage of the Voting Rights Act. These two federal mandates reaffirmed 2 of this nation's most fundamental rights. But it literally took an "act of Congress" to establish the civil and voting rights for those being discriminated against in this nation of "equal opportunity."  With the US Constitution on the books since 1789 and bolstered by its twenty-seven amendments, why such Congressional action had to be taken in the first place is still a mystery to me.

     The 1960s were speeding along with the civil rights movement. Names like Roy Wilkins, George Wallace, the 16th Street Baptist Church, Selma, Lester Maddox, Martin Luther King, James Meredith, Watts and the Freedom Riders, became familiar, garnering media coverage virtually everyday. If you didn't know what was going on, you were a hermit, lived on another planet or were dead.

     Over time, it became less clear why not only white supremacists like the Ku Klux Klan but the everyday Joe had embraced not only illegal but morally un-American views. Backed by bloody violence, these people had found it not only unreasonable but impossible to share restrooms, lunch counters, buses, schools...water fountains...with American citizens of a different skin tone.  I may be naive, but why such unholy convictions were allowed to stain this nation's history in the first place is still a mystery to me. 

     For too long, Constitutional amendments and acts, owning businesses, paying taxes, dying in wars for a nation that has its roots in the concepts of " life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "equal justice under the law" just haven't been enough. And America should have a heavy heart because of that injustice.

     In general, those views still infect this nation. Being, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or of the "wrong color" or ethnic background still warrants risk to life and limb. Moreover, being a "foreigner" has always been a favorite excuse for extremists to cheat, threaten and kill in the United States of America. 

     My grandfather was 16 when he emigrated from Europe, "the old country." Grandpa entered this country through Ellis Island in 1909, eventually putting down roots near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During the Great Depression he worked hard to provide for his family. 

     One night, his eldest daughter witnessed men dressed all in white as they paid the family a visit. Her father was informed that, as a "foreigner", he was not welcome, The men then proceeded to burn a cross and set off a blast of dynamite to drive home their point. Grandpa was a stubborn Serbian. He defied the threat and stayed. 

     But the irony is that all who have such bitterness and hatred for those from other lands or different backgrounds didn't actually arrive here by spontaneous generation. With the exception of the Seminole, Apache, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Lakota and the more than 500 hundred other Native American tribes who have lived in...and died...for this country, all of this nation's ancestors have come from somewhere else. There are no exceptions.

     Robert E. Lee 'Bob' Ewell of "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the ugly face, the vile heart of hatred and bigotry. He's as poor as poor can be, with barely a nickle in the pocket of his faded overall's...but he's white. In his eyes and those of a Southern white jury, that makes him better...superior... and more worthy than defendant Tom Robinson...because he's black. 

     Wake up America and look around you. This is the 21st century. That divisive, disparaging "I'm better than you" attitude hasn't really changed a whole heck of a lot, now has it? And why this is so is still a mystery to me.

Click here to Reply or Forward

Terrorists have beaten us at the waiting game

     The attacks on the United States (and the world at large) on Sept. 11, 2001, sent this nation charging into a war it could not win. In time, false bravado, “Bring ‘em on,” and grossly exaggerated claims of victory like “Mission accomplished” sealed our fate.
     The war on terrorism was officially declared by a president totally clueless regarding potential repercussions as we invaded Afghanistan in October of that year. Less than two years later, that same president, still clueless, continued like a petulant child seeking further reasons to exact revenge for 9/11. Thus, using the pretense of national security and non-existent weapons of mass destruction, we charged mindlessly into Iraq.
     To help deflect any criticism, Afghanistan bore the official media-friendly name of Operation Enduring Freedom, while Iraq got tagged with an equally misleading title, Operation Iraqi Freedom. To date, the world has learned just how misleading and ironic those two operational names really are.
     It was deluded minds that believed a quick defeat of al-Qaida and Taliban militants would ensure a world free of terrorists. Since those invasions, we and the rest of the global community have witnessed anything but that goal.
     To date, hundreds of thousands of people — the innocent as well as the guilty — have shed their blood in both operations. Americans, Iraqis, Afghans and others have suffered terribly because of two idiotic suicide charges into uncharted waters. A “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” mentality worked fairly well in the 19th century but has proved disastrous in the 21st century.
     After $6 trillion and unimaginable pain and suffering, al-Qaida, The Islamic State and the Levant, the Taliban, and others more closely aligned with fringe and splinter groups, are still present. Striking mercilessly, they use a perverted understanding of Islam to spread terror near and far, their successes helping to fuel that perversion.
     For more than a decade, while we tried to fully engage the enemy on our terms, the militants have played the waiting game, knowing full well we couldn’t stay forever. Taking only necessary, yet very successful risks, militants have kept their heads down, stayed out of the line of fire, biding their time. The wait has paid off.
     We’re going home, while countless militants in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan, are already home. Now, they are clearing taking advantage of our absence. Sadly, since October of 2001, that was a foregone conclusion.
     When the war on terrorism started, our enemies made it clear they were totally in charge. In our leaving, the militants have issued follow-up statements as to who is in charge and who will be in charge in the future. Current and future results of the manifesto proclaimed over the years by these loosely bound yet deadly and highly effective groups can’t be stopped. No power on earth — not the United States, not the United Nations, not a collection of Middle Eastern nations — can stem the tide of radical Islam.
     The militants have waited us out, calling our bluff. Tragically, the world has paid dearly during that wait. They’ve won and like a disease that can’t be eradicated, we had better get used to it and learn to live with it. That’s reality, not some president playing a childish game of “getting even” with absolutely no regard as to how much it will cost or who will get hurt. It’s time our presidents grew up.

Copyright 2014 Winona Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or re

An Indifferent America Needs a Constant Reminder

An Indifferent America Needs a Constant Reminder

     "Being wounded or killed in any action against any enemy of the
United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing
armed forces." Simple and to the point, these words are the basis for
America's oldest military decoration.
     The Military Order of the Purple Heart, a revised Badge of
Military Merit (introduced by General George Washington in 1782), was
authorized and first presented in 1932. Recipients are not recommended
for the decoration; they are entitled to it. (From 1942 until 1997,
civilians were also eligible for the decoration). Since its inception,
over 1.9 million (and counting) Purple Hearts have been presented. It
must noted that nearly 300 women (and counting) have received the
decoration.
      As this nation struggles along, her history is no longer taught
nor valued. Thus, newer generations suffer the embarrassment of not
knowing who they are nor where their historical roots are. Future
leaders of this nation are forced to leave behind a legacy that is now
only remembered by a dwindling number of older citizens. It is no
surprise,therefore, to find that the significance of Memorial Day,
Veterans' Day or Pearl Harbor Day has been lost on a self-indulgent,
self-absorbed and self-satisfied nation. Millions not only don't know,
they don't care. Such information is irrelevant. As such, it should be
no surprise that millions of "enlightened" Americans are totally
ignorant of the Purple Heart...ignorant of the pain and sacrifice that
it represents. An overstuffed America has become a comic book nation
with the emotional capacity and intellectual development of an
adolescent.
     The Purple Heart embodies the spirit and quality of unselfish
service, dedication and sacrifice our men and women, especially those
in uniform, have shown throughout our history. They've made sacrifices
that few of us will ever be asked to make. Not until 2003 were those
efforts finally recognized by the federal government with the issuance
of the first Purple Heart stamp.
     For too many years, this nation has taken for granted the
pain...the suffering...the sacrifice our armed forces have endured in
the performance of their duties on our behalf. The Purple Heart stamp
is therefore critical to a nation that generally has an attention span
of about 12 minutes; any longer than that and it's ancient history. As
Alexander Hamilton put it, "Man is very much a creature of habit. A
thing that rarely strikes his senses will generally have but a
transient influence upon his mind." Therefore, we need a constant
daily reminder of what our men and women risk when they put on the
uniform of the United States military.With pride and without
hesitation, municipalities, businesses, clubs, churches, service
organizations and individuals need to use the Purple Heart as their
"everyday", "go to" stamp in honor of that service, dedication and
sacrifice.
     Thus far though, this nation has failed miserably to realize
that, in the end, many will make the ultimate sacrifice so that we
Americans can enjoy the freedom of being self-indulgent, self-absorbed
and self-satisfied.

A Bomber Crew's Long Road Home

     There was a recent news story about a World War II RAF fighter plane found in the Egyptian desert in 2012 by a Polish oil exploration crew.
     Virtually intact except for damage sustained during its crash landing, the plane and its pilot (still missing) had disappeared in June 1942. The find was described as an "aviation equivalent of Tutankhamun's Tomb." The story, however, reminded me of a discovery over fifty years earlier far more similar to the Boy King's story.
     The story begins with the building of B-24D-25 CO, Army Air Force Serial Number 41-24301, at Consolidated Aircraft Corporation's San Diego plant. She was assigned to the 514th Bomb Squadron of the 376th Bomb Group (Heavy), The Liberandos, of the 9th Bomber Command, 9th Air Force. Her pilot would be 1st Lt. William J. Hatton.
     With plane number 64 painted on its nose, the bomber and her crew left Soluch Field, just outside of Bengazi, Libya, with two dozen other B-24s on 4 April 1943. The target was Naples Harbor. Mission 109 was essentially the new crew's first combat mission. It was also their last. By the end of the day, and with but one brief communication, the fate of the bomber and her crew was unknown. After routine searches and many days, it was presumed that all nine men had perished with their Liberator, probably in the Mediterranean Sea.
     Following thorough, but fruitless investigations, the case was officially closed 15 June 1948, the fate and circumstances of number 64, code name Red Wing 4, still unresolved. Graves Registration Service, for the record, listed the crew as "unrecoverable." So ended the government's interest and the military life of 41-24301 and her crew.
     But the saga of the "Lady Be Good" resurfaced on 27 February 1959, when a British oil survey team reached the sight of a crash-landed bomber. (The aircraft was first spotted by air in 1958 by a British oil exploration team and marked on maps). Noting the smashed up warbird, the U.S. Air Force was notified.
     Beginning in March of that year, the fate and sorrow of the "Lady Be Good" unfolded. The Air Force had a plane but no crew.
     Still wearing her livery of Sand and Neutral Gray, careful examination of 41-24301, now a priceless time capsule, revealed that the radio still worked, coffee in a thermos and canteens of water still drinkable, oxygen bottles and fire extinguishers still operable, chewing gum, cigarettes and food were just as the nine men had left them. There was no battle damage. Fabric and rubber components were intact due to the hot, dry climate. Ammunition and weapons were just as deadly as on 4 April. When found the "Lady Be Good" was indeed a ghost ship on an ocean of sand.
     Whether by chance, a miracle or Providence, the full emotional impact of the recovery efforts didn't materialize until after many months of searching.
     While following a trail of shoes, parachutes, Mae Wests and other items left 17 years earlier, searchers came upon the remains of five of the crewmen, lying in close proximity to one another. Months later, three more crewmen would be found. Given the 17 years of winds and shifting sand, it was truly remarkable to find the remains and rescue them from the Saharan wasteland. The eight men were solemnly returned to their families.
     Using Army records and notes from a diary found with the remains of the co-pilot, it became obvious the "Lady" and her green crew had made a navigational error on returning to base in the dark of 4 April. Because of that and a broken radio direction finder, they had no idea they'd overshot the airfield by 440 miles.
     Thinking they were on course for Soluch but running out of fuel, the crew had bailed out. The bomber continued along in a gentle glide for about 26 more miles before reaching earth for the last time. The Calanshio Sand Sea, as timeless and unforgiving as the Sahara itself, had become the resting place for the "Lady Be Good" and her gallant crew.
     What happened over the next eight days as the survivors headed northwest...and home...was noted in 2nd Lt. Robert F. Toner's diary, the lone record of the tragic end of the "Lady Be Good."
     Written in a steady hand, the lieutenant's sparse notes of the trek painfully foretold what the final outcome would be. His words are as heart breaking today as when written in 1943. Time has not diminished the sadness nor anguish they convey.
     With only a half canteen of water and a few rations to start of with, five of the party could go no further after five days travel and eventually perished, Toner among them. The other three struggled on, in hopes of bringing back help. However, their remains too would eventually dot the bleak landscape along an unmarked path several miles long.
     Presumably killed after bailing out, the bombardier was never part of the group. In time, though, his remains would be found but not those of gunner S/Sgt. Vernon L. Moore, one of the three who had pushed on.
     The eight surviving members of the "Lady Be Good", S/N 41-24301, with high hopes but little water, had traveled 75 miles before fate and the desert swallowed them up in their quest of reaching home and safety.It wasn't until 17 years later that those eight men finally reached their destination.

Stereotyping: The Favorite American Pastime

STEREOTYPING: THE FAVORITE AMERICAN PASTIME

     The Muslim community has been viewed as "suspicious" ever since 9/11. Now, since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, they are even more the subject of outrage, scorn and defamation in the court of public opinion. Some "patriots" in this nation are not above wanting to line up the entire Muslim community in the sights of one kind of gun or another, one-by-one. Too many feel that is the simple solution to American security. Thus, Muslims have become the latest in a long line of "undesirables" breathing and taking up space in the land of "America for Americans."  But...

...it didn’t happen overnight, maybe settling here in 1607. But with time and great effort, millions of people, from all walks of  life and education, living in white and blue collar neighborhoods with national, ethnic and religious backgrounds too numerous to count, finally succeeded.  Unfazed by a history scarred with names like Wounded Knee, Manzanar, Little Rock…Guantanamo, “We the people…” , a proud and fortuitous nation, have become a land of bigots based on politics, race, religion, gender, you name it. And it's not getting any better.
     Black skin became a target for words, bullets, bombs….ropes. Even now, slanted eyes gets you slurred as a Chink or a Jap. Many have suffered with vile terms like spick, kike, nigger, dago, Polack, rag-head or mick. A Croation or a Serb is a dumb Hunky. If you’re Catholic, you’re labeled; be a fundamentalist Protestant, you get tagged; ditto for Jews and Muslims. Hispanics, Native Americans, people of the Middle East, fall under the all-too-familiar catchphrase, “You know, they’re all alike.” Republicans were often seen as “Birchers” (now Tea Partiers) and Democrats as Reds, Commies but now they’ve been reduced to mere Socialists. We’re Red and Blue. Once, we were Blue and Gray… but obviously we didn‘t learn from that. Thus, a shameless, collective effort has created millions of extremists from all sectors, favoring persons of a similar mentality, with the “leaders” of  America being molded, cast in our own image. And it's not getting any better.
     Numerous experts, spawned by political extremism, are no better than carnival fortune-tellers. Needing little prodding, these fractious naysayers, including toilet-tongued comics and religious "leaders", spout cleverly deceptive advice from their pulpits. With no real insight, understanding or conscience of their own, they continue to fan the flames of discontent and suspicion, gaining an unhealthy sway over our society. A cheap, tawdry approach to politics and our social structure has managed to escalate divisiveness to intolerable heights. And it's not getting any better.
     Politicians and voters alike are cocooned within groups of self-serving interests. Fueled by fear, mistrust,ignorance and hatred, they never budge from their beliefs; never flinch from half-baked notions, dogmas or corrosive ideologies. Neither will they concede one millimeter when it comes to a self-righteous adherence in believing they have a monopoly on the truth, regardless of the subject. This arrogance is intensified by bureaucrats who represent us but who rarely speak to one another unless absolutely necessary. The Democrats and the GOP have declared themselves to be…at our expense… mortal enemies. And it's not getting any better.
     In past years, however, Senate and House members, cabinet heads… the president…occupied the same air space, socializing on a regular basis, rubbing elbows at state dinners, the opera, charity affairs, garden and cocktail parties. Opposite sides of the aisle often shared an informal meal before resuming adversarial roles on the Senate or House floor. A round of golf , a bridge game or a handball match helped elected officials get to know and better understand their friends, their allies and even their bitterest political foes.
       But the ensuing years have seen relentless stereotyping that characterizes the general populace and, like a cancer, that same attitude has reached abysmal levels within the "hallowed" walls of the White House and on Capitol Hill. And it's not getting any better.

     Behaving in a petulant, unforgiving and self-centered manner, those seated in the Legislative and Executive branches have forgotten a critical principle, one eloquently stated by Atticus Finch, the fatherly lawyer from “To Kill a Mockingbird":  “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” The late Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States,  perhaps stated it best when he said, “If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.”

Fast Food Industry excludes Millions of Americans

     America's development was founded on the building blocks of diversity. Peoples of different languages, cultures, ideologies, races, ethnicities and religions, have blended into a mosaic of oneness. Inclusiveness hasn't been perfect but E pluribus unum for the populace has been the goal. But in the process, about 4 million Jews and a like number of Muslims currently living in the United States have been excluded by an industry that represents a large portion of our society and economy..."fast food". How so, you may ask? By the industry's use of pork products, most notably in its hamburgers, pizzas and breakfast sandwiches.
     So how about substituting turkey-based sausage and bacon? While the National Pork Producers Council might panic at this suggestion, the National Turkey Federation should love it.
     Turkey-based is as good, if not better, and it would permit several million citizens to patronize familiar names like McDonald's, Hardee's, Wendy's, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Burger King, along with many others.
     For a great many, simply not ordering pork products isn't enough since the pork is cooked right on the same grill as a cheeseburger. In addition, pork products are touched by employees who come in contact with other areas of preparation, thus making the entire kitchen area taboo. Kosher (halakha) and halal are critical factors here. So, while there are some secular Jews who do eat pork, I'm quite certain there are few Muslims, even secular, who violate the food restriction.
     By eliminating pork usage, there is also a chance for increased employment among those of these two faiths. Perhaps there are those who would like to open a franchise in their own cities, towns, communities and neighborhoods. The presence of pork makes such an enterprise virtually impossible.
     There is also the corporate bottom line to this proposal. Nearly 8 million potential customers (about 2.5% of the US population) are out there, ready to boost sales and profits. 'Barring' these people because of their religion simply is not good business. Here's further illustration, in dollars and cents (sense?).
     Americans support the fast food industry to the tune of nearly $120 billion per year. With over 300 million people in the US, that works out to about $390 a year per person or nearly $33 per month. And recent surveys show that Americans eat out almost 5 times a week with some families spending as much as $300 PER WEEK. So while that 2.5% of the population might seem small, the $3.2 billion dollars in increased revenue isn't. That reflects a 2.5% increase. That's not small potatoes.
     Over the years fast food has suffered through a bad reputation regarding low wages. Perhaps increasing  access to the industry by millions of people could help remedy the problem. More customers equates to more sales and more sales means more profits. Yes, corporate moguls and shareholders will profit too but increased profits will also be shared by those working in the trenches.
      CEOs, CFOs and COOs don't make Wendy's, A&W and all the rest profitable. They don't make the stock valuable.They don't work behind the counter or at the drive-thru window. It's the owners, managers, cooks, cashiers and, very importantly the customers, who are primarily responsible for the success or failure of these bastions of Wall Street.  By changing something that is changeable, thereby increasing the number of people who eat out, there can only be winners.
     Food is the common denominator to all people. Race, religion, politics and countless other sources of division are subordinate to eating. Food, like water and air, is neutral.  Thus, with more people standing in line together, sitting across from one another,  rubbing elbows in more restaurants across this land, perhaps a greater understanding of one another is possible. And today, more understanding is definitely needed. Right?
   

Have You Ever Gone Back In Time?

     I did once...well sort of, along time ago and the memory of that journey, short as it was, has rushed back to me. Thoughts of that day have never really left me but watching reruns of an old television show have stirred up a lot of nostalgic feelings.
     My folks and I had been out a Sunday afternoon drive (yes, those did really exist back then) when we approached an old and apparently abandoned airport. My dad and I were crazy about airplanes. Persuading my mom, we entered through the gate and back into time.
     Old single-story military barracks and assorted other low building were nearby, some with large white signs with black lettering bearing such titles as OPERATIONS and HOSPITAL attached to their fronts. I remember feeling odd or peculiar at seeing these stark, silent remnants of distant history. It was quiet and, except for the breeze, very still. The three of us were the only ones present.
     We kept driving and came upon a few old army vehicles neatly parked in a row. All were wearing the standard livery of olive drab. Among them was an ambulance with the large crosses painted in bright red against a white background plus a staff car and I think a couple of canvas-covered supply trucks. Getting out of the Rambler station wagon, we walked around the vehicles for a while, then returned to the car and continued our modest adventure.
     Portions of some of the low barracks were in use at the time by a few small local  businesses. Signs for a Drapery Shop and I think for an Upholstery Shop were nailed to the drab wooden exteriors at the rear of the buildings. There may have been others.
     As we left the airport, the discussion centered on the idea that, as odd as it seemed, the buildings and antique vehicles had been left behind at the close of WWII. We had missed the obvious clue that the military signs and vehicle markings were anything but WWII vintage! The paint was as fresh as any that would have been found on a new car or truck or house.
     It wasn't until a short time later when the new fall TV season premiered for 1964 and local television listings described ABC's new WWII-era program that we realized we had been on the location set for "12 O'Clock High", nestled quietly at Chino Airport in San Bernardino County.
     The airport, formerly the Cal Aero Field and home to a private flying school, had been contracted as a primary and basic training base for the Army Air Force during WWII, retaining many of its original buildings following the war. The airport now served as the 918th Bomb Group's fictional home, Archbury. Chino Airport had been chosen for its vintage WWII look and remoteness. In 1964, the unspoiled, surrounding countryside was a real plus because it bore an  uncanny resemblance to the pastoral landscape of  war-torn England, tall eucalyptus trees and all.
     While the mystery concerning a secluded and supposedly abandoned airport with its specter-like remains had been solved with the appearance of  new TV show, that feeling of stepping back in time, even for just a few minutes, has always been a part of me.

Why is The Make-A-Wish 200 Club So Small?

     The Make-A-Wish Foundation got its start in 1980. Many celebrities have contributed their time and money to this organization's worthwhile efforts in helping children with life-threatening medical conditions. However, I suspect that for far too many, maybe their interest is more for their own benefit (meaning ego) than the children involved. They get a gold star because they have their name on a list but do little to pursue any real involvement. He or she gets a "done good" but exerts little or no effort. That can't be said for six...count 'em, six... very noteworthy celebrities.
     Hulk Hogan, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and John Cena were the first of the celebrity world to reach the 200 Club, making possible a tremendous dream for these children. Mr Cena has since surpassed the 400 mark while Justin Bieber became a member of that elite club on August 15, 2013 when he achieved granting his 200th Wish. Mr. Bieber is also the first recording artist to join that heady club... and he didn't begin until 2009! Michael Jordan joined this distinguished group in November of 2013. That a grand total of six celebrity members, to date, who have granted at least 200 wishes to children clinging to life..
     I'm sure these men (notice no women at this writing) are very busy attending to their careers and everyday lives but they obviously have found the necessary time for these children in their desperate struggles for life. It is not only sad but it is pathetic that so many other "famous" people can't do the same.
     With so many "famous" individuals in movies, television, sports and so on who have traveled the road to stardom of one sort or another since 1980, why only 6 and not 600 or 6000? The answer is patently simple. Literally hundreds (if not thousands) of "famous" people are just too busy being "famous", too busy being wrapped up in their own petty little lives and worlds to think much about someone else far less fortunate.
     Sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, cowboy star William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd (for those who remember 'Hoppy'), was dining with a friend. Several children wanted to meet their hero but in so doing, Mr. Boyd became irritated and annoyed. Noticing this, his dining companion leaned over and reminded Mr. Boyd that it was those kids who, virtually overnight, had made him a millionaire. From that moment on 'Hoppy' never lost sight of that fact and embraced his diminutive but exuberant  audience without fail.
      At the height of his career, Paul Newman, too, was also dining with friends with the usual attention being paid to him by loyal fans. One of Mr. Newman's friends asked if having his meals interrupted annoyed him. While admitting it did at times, he also said it was those very same people who had made him the success that he was. That was paramount.
     Too many "famous" people forget that it is often the children who are responsible for their attaining fame and fortune. Without that diminutive and often exuberant audience, they would be nothing, just another face in the crowd.
     Mr. Cena is looking forward to claiming the 500 mark and I'm sure he'll achieve it because he wants to. And I'll bet he gets there before a great many other celebrities or "famous" people even reach one.

   

Is It Patriotism or Parsimony?

 Is It Patriotism or Parsimony?

     Over the years "patriots" have displayed the American flag year 'round, hot or cold, rain or shine, wind and dust, snow and ice, the end result being a national ensign that looks like it was on the bloody battlefield of Gettysburg, had gone up San Juan Hill or was at Pearl Harbor that fateful day.
     I've seen American flags displayed in yards and on homes so faded that from a distance you couldn't make out what flag it was, American or otherwise. Others have been so ratty and dirty, often hanging by one grommet, it's amazing they were still waving in the breeze.
     Seen virtually everywhere-schools, hospitals, shopping centers, gas stations, parks , fire trucks...sweat bands...the list is endless-perhaps we take our national ensign for granted so much that it has become as ubiquitous as graffiti on railroad freight cars. Or worse yet, we've rendered it little more than colorful, "patriotic" window dressing.
     The American flag has gone through numerous star and stripe configurations throughout its history, some derived from the British Jack. At least since August 16, 1777, at the Battle of Bennington, the stars, stripes and blue canton began to make their appearance in one form or another. Those flown above Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and Fort Sumpter at the beginning of the Civil War were mammoth, with dimensions of 30 by 40 feet! Designs and sizes evolved into what we display today. Therefore, if by chance Americans have become so shallow as to develop a 'boredom' for Old Glory, historical variations do exist. Yours truly purchased a Bennington Flag in 1976 in honor of our Bicentennial.
     Sadly, a contributing factor to the disgraceful appearance of so many flags may well be that we live in a nation where respect and manners are rapidly disappearing, if not already gone. A politically-correct facade shields our society, cloaking our indifference, rudeness, vulgarity, sloppiness. Even in Seneca's day, the Roman philosopher took note by observing, "What once were vices are now the manners of the day."
     Far too many Americans today believe that merely flying the Stars and Stripes, regardless of condition, represents "patriotism". Friends, neighbors and family are easily impressed by that overt expression of "love for one's country". It's quite the contrary though. The visible symbol of this nation, on public view and in poor and embarrassing condition, fully illustrates the owner's true heart and soul in the matter. That person characterizes himself not only as unthinking but also tightfisted, stingy...a parsimonious hypocrite.
     It takes only 1-2 years for a flag to show wear and tear when it has been outside every day of the year. But aside from these flag wavers exhibiting a miserly or cavalier attitude, more importantly, they are also displaying a repugnant level of respect...not just for the emblem of the United States but for the men and women who have served that national beacon...for those men and women who have DIED for that national beacon.
     So, if any "patriots" reading this blog say they can't afford maybe $10 bucks or so to replace their tattered Old Glory, maybe it's time to pass on a few packs of coffin nails, a cheap case of brewskies for the weekend or a handful of Powerball tickets. Our men and women in uniform deserve at least that much...don't they?

Who Gets Nuclear Weapons and Who Doesn't?

     Ever since the US and the Soviet Union began the arms race, starting in the late 1940s, it was a race to the top (or bottom, depending on the view) in amassing enough lethal weaponry to eliminate virtually every living thing on earth. It was the "good guys" versus the "bad guys". In time, the UK and France, being "friendlies", got their own and China, not a "friendly", began developing and storing world-ending munitions. But there was no one to tell those parties they weren't allowed such destructive power. A Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was implemented in 1970, a kind of word-of-honor but not a law. Eventually, dirt-poor nations like India, and Pakistan ("friendlies) began nuclear testing. Pakistan's argument for such an arsenal was that India was engaged in developing them. Though there was some condemnation of India's and Pakistan's decision, it was not critical enough to stop them with Pakistan becoming a nuclear player. And remember, they are "friendlies".
     But now Iran and, to a lesser degree, North Korea, have entered into the fray. A hypocritical global community parades its indignation, throws up its hands in fear and anger and demands...demands!, that these two nations cease and desist in their attempts to achieve nuclear weapons. They are, after all, part of the "bad guy" league and to have the temerity to want WMDs is unthinkable. Economic sanctions  have been heaped on Tehran and Pyongyang. But a self-righteous world, and the US in particular, neglects one very important point...Iran and North Korea, not part of the NPT, are sovereign nations and answer to nobody in wanting what they believe benefits them the most. The international outcry is based on the view that these nations can't be trusted to possess WMD. Whether they are trustworthy or not is irrelevant. They have as much right as the next guy to endanger every man, woman and child on this planet. Israel is reputed to have many nuclear devices, and in its paranoia, last year threatened unilateral action (nuclear?) if Tehran did not 'cease and desist'. Now who can't be trusted? Israel's cavalier and "damn the rest of the world" mentality is far more dangerous than Iran's moronic threats and potential development of nuclear weapons.
     All concerned, including Israel, must be warned by the three world powers in no uncertain terms that ANY use of nuclear weapons will result in swift and devastating retribution. It must be made clear to that nation that if it takes a nuclear shot, it had better make it a good one because it won't get another.
     Virtually every member of the United Nations through the decades shoulders some responsibility for the predicament mankind faces with regards to nuclear devastation. Picking and choosing who can now have them won't resolve the dilemma. We had better get used to it.

What Makes a Humble Hero?

     We first met in 1983 at the pharmacy. With his rank on the prescription, the address showed we lived only a few streets apart. Noting that, we struck up a brief conversation with him saying he had served on submarines in WWII. That explained the unusual name on the ranch fence in front of his home.
     Not long after, he invited my wife and me to his home where we were treated to freshly sliced tomatoes, just picked from his garden, seasoned with salt and pepper. We washed them down with whiskey and water. It was a wonderful meal!
     With a faint smile, he said he was in Arizona because he had always wanted to retire there. His naval career had begun in 1923. A man had driven down a dusty road in an rickety old Model T, stopped where the young Texan was toiling in a field, and told him he was going to Annapolis.
     His yard, running along a dusty road, could be likened to Paradise with no stretch of the imagination. Several truckloads of rich topsoil had provided everything needed for fruit trees, a country club-like lawn plus colorful and lush gardens, expertly maintained by a service. A Lincoln was parked in the drive. The double wide mobile home he shared with his wife of 53 years was modest but comfortable. On a den wall was a panoramic photo of the sub pens at Pearl Harbor with him standing casually with CINCPAC (Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet) himself, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. A satellite dish, the current novelty, stood in a corner of the park-like yard; the man of the house enjoyed television programs in languages he didn't even understand. He was indeed a man of simple pleasures.
     Everyday the American flag ruffled in the Arizona breeze from a flagpole that stood at the entrance to the area's own Garden of Eden. Dutifully, the flag was brought in every evening.
     With thinning hair and sporting a stylish grey mustache, he was of slight stature, the norm for a submariner of WWII. Since retiring in 1967, he'd kept fit but his feet hurt. He was affable, with the presence of a banker or successful businessman but he dressed in grey jeans, sports shirts and Velcro sneakers. He spoke, not with a drawl but with the soft, pleasant accent of a Southern gentleman.
     As to his feet, they'd been looked at for years but to no avail. My wife recommended the purchase of an expensive pair of sneakers. The suggestion was heeded and the problem resolved. Not being too proud to accept advice, Adidas had a new customer.
     Forty years of service had given our neighbor, a man from dirt-poor, humble beginnings, a unique set of values. He reasoned it was wrong that the military's civilian employees didn't have free access to the PX or commissary. He felt he didn't deserve the special parking spaces set aside for officers of his rank. The MPs had mildly 'reprimanded' him, saying that if he used a regular space, he would in fact be taking up two spaces since only a privileged few could use the reserved ones. Reluctantly, he conceded. At the pharmacy, he was always courteous with a "Thank you, sir". He called me, a civilian, "Sir"! His show of respect was that of an officer and a gentleman.
     Vice Admiral Glynn R. Donaho, USN (Ret.), died May 26, 1986. If you'd met the master of Dolphin's Cove on the street, you'd have never guessed he was a hero. Not until after his death did we learn of his exploits: four Navy Crosses (our nation's second highest decoration) on five war patrols, one of which was earned when he and his crew attacked a heavily protected battleship. The admiral had also earned two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars.
     The admiral was private, honest and humble. His illustrious career had begun while toiling beside a dry, dusty road...it had concluded with him living comfortably beside a dry, dusty road.
     Admiral Donaho had requested cremation, his ashes dispersed over the Pacific Ocean off the fantail of a United States nuclear submarine. His ashes joined the remains and spirit of those lost when 52 submarines failed to return from their war patrols during WWII. Veterans of the Silent Service say submariners are never lost at sea but are forever entombed...they are on "Eternal Patrol".