Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Ollie is Moving to NYC
Our Son Ollie Bauer is moving to New York City. It is a dream come true to do graphic design and play music -He is a precussionist- is such a great center for both. Follow his drive out to NYC by checking out his trip blog on drop.io. I've got it listed on my favorite links.
Think Before You Pass It On
The other day someone sent me one of those emails that seem to burn through the Internet regularly advocating a position or belief. This one looked like a nice little promo for John McCain with a story about his POW experience; how one of his compatriots sewed an American Flag on a tee-shirt and how they used it to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each afternoon. It was a nice story and one McCain has repeated many times in speeches. But as I read further it turned out that it wasn’t so much McCain fan mail as it was a set up to bash Barack Obama.
The email ended with a photograph of Barack Obama at a campaign event. In the photograph all of the other candidates held their hand over their heart, while Obama had his hands folded in front of him. The email presented the photo as “proof” that Obama did not respect his country and asserted he was refusing to cover his heart during the pledge of allegiance, with the following quote; “oh......and then you have this clown, who refuses to place his hand on his heart and say the pledge...... " (To get more details and the facts check www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp)
These kinds of things are ubiquitous on the Internet and the so called “right” and so called “left” are guilty of publishing misinformation to "prove" to others what they already believe. I had one recently quoting a Ronald Reagan diary entry in which Reagan reported that George H W Bush, his VEEP at the time, ask him to find a job for his "neer do well son, not the one from Florida." I wanted to believe it but a little research revealed that it was misinformation too like so much of what drops into our email boxes.
But what about the photo of Obama and the claim that he was “refusing” to cover his heart? What is that really about? It wasn’t a difference of opinion on the issues. The writer complemented Hillary Clinton, whose views on most issues and particularly a commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq parallel Obama’s. But the writer said; “I don't care for Hillary, but at least she shows respect for the country she lives in!”
I believe the charge of disrespect had nothing to do with covering his heart. A little research quickly revealed that the moment captured was a rendering of the national anthem, not the pledge of allegiance. Go to any professional sporting event in the United States and observe how many people are holding a beer in the hand that should be covering their heart.
So what is really behind this? Could the real purpose be that the writer and his compatriots are suggesting that Obama is not really an American? The writer makes a point of stating; “Barack Hussein Obama that’s his middle name.” It is difficult for me to accept and follow the logic but I think there are people who believe that sharing a middle name with thousands of Arab and Muslim men makes him dangerous and not loyal to the United States. I wonder if the writer is also suggesting that Obama, because his father was African, black and Muslim, is less worthy of our trust.
Why give more attention to this? People who believe these things are a minority and are themselves inconsistent with American and basic human values, aren’t they? After all, what is more underhanded then guilt by association? What is more un-American then religious intolerance? What is more inconsistent with our American heritage the bashing the success of someone born of the “melting pot” of diverse cultures and nations that have created United States.
I am sure there are plenty of people who don’t support Obama because they hold different views on the issues or because they think he doesn’t have as much experience in government as McCain. But to say he doesn’t respect the country he lives in based on a photograph with no documentation of the event and suggest a disloyalty based on a name or a parent’s religious affiliation is at a minimum disrespectful and perhaps hateful.
If, God forbid, we ever do have a candidate for president that is in league with interests that want to destroy us the one thing we can count on is that he or she will never be caught without their hand over their heart during our pledge of allegiance and our National Anthem.
The email ended with a photograph of Barack Obama at a campaign event. In the photograph all of the other candidates held their hand over their heart, while Obama had his hands folded in front of him. The email presented the photo as “proof” that Obama did not respect his country and asserted he was refusing to cover his heart during the pledge of allegiance, with the following quote; “oh......and then you have this clown, who refuses to place his hand on his heart and say the pledge...... " (To get more details and the facts check www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp)
These kinds of things are ubiquitous on the Internet and the so called “right” and so called “left” are guilty of publishing misinformation to "prove" to others what they already believe. I had one recently quoting a Ronald Reagan diary entry in which Reagan reported that George H W Bush, his VEEP at the time, ask him to find a job for his "neer do well son, not the one from Florida." I wanted to believe it but a little research revealed that it was misinformation too like so much of what drops into our email boxes.
But what about the photo of Obama and the claim that he was “refusing” to cover his heart? What is that really about? It wasn’t a difference of opinion on the issues. The writer complemented Hillary Clinton, whose views on most issues and particularly a commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq parallel Obama’s. But the writer said; “I don't care for Hillary, but at least she shows respect for the country she lives in!”
I believe the charge of disrespect had nothing to do with covering his heart. A little research quickly revealed that the moment captured was a rendering of the national anthem, not the pledge of allegiance. Go to any professional sporting event in the United States and observe how many people are holding a beer in the hand that should be covering their heart.
So what is really behind this? Could the real purpose be that the writer and his compatriots are suggesting that Obama is not really an American? The writer makes a point of stating; “Barack Hussein Obama that’s his middle name.” It is difficult for me to accept and follow the logic but I think there are people who believe that sharing a middle name with thousands of Arab and Muslim men makes him dangerous and not loyal to the United States. I wonder if the writer is also suggesting that Obama, because his father was African, black and Muslim, is less worthy of our trust.
Why give more attention to this? People who believe these things are a minority and are themselves inconsistent with American and basic human values, aren’t they? After all, what is more underhanded then guilt by association? What is more un-American then religious intolerance? What is more inconsistent with our American heritage the bashing the success of someone born of the “melting pot” of diverse cultures and nations that have created United States.
I am sure there are plenty of people who don’t support Obama because they hold different views on the issues or because they think he doesn’t have as much experience in government as McCain. But to say he doesn’t respect the country he lives in based on a photograph with no documentation of the event and suggest a disloyalty based on a name or a parent’s religious affiliation is at a minimum disrespectful and perhaps hateful.
If, God forbid, we ever do have a candidate for president that is in league with interests that want to destroy us the one thing we can count on is that he or she will never be caught without their hand over their heart during our pledge of allegiance and our National Anthem.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Joey Schwartz and Will Yetts
When we were kids growing up in St. Paul in the 1950's, my brothers and sister were lucky because we were among a small group of kids who got to go to work with our Dad. He owned a beer and glassware distributorship at 226 University Avenue just a few blocks from the state capitol. There was a Standard Oil Station on the corner and Dad's business, Lux Distributing Company, was next door. Ron Saxon Ford was located across the street. The other day my sister Maribeth sent me an email recalling that place and some of the characters who dropped by:
"I turned off the news this a.m. and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and thought about the price of gas and where the price may be going to. I had this sudden clear vision of Dad, Joe Schwartz, Will Yetts (sp) and a few other fellows, I can’t recall their names, standing at the corner of the counter at Lux on a Saturday afternoon. All smoking, a bottle of Blatz and blah blah blah about the price of gas and who’s fault it is ; I can even see the dice unit on the counter between them."
Have you ever had that happen? Where does it come from so suddenly and clear? Loved it. Good memory.
Maribeth's memory brings back a vivid picture of that warehouse near the intersection of University Avenue and Marion St. It was a place of business where our dad sold beer and glassware to bars and liquor stores in St. Paul and the emerging suburbs. But like Maribeth I also remember Lux as a place for fellowship and a cold beer at the end of a work day or on Saturday when dad did his bookwork.
Joe Schwartz worked at Eagle laundry on the other side of Marion street. Joey and his brother Lenny -who also worked at the laundry- would come over on hot summer days wearing sweat soaked tee shirts and big smiles, to banter with dad and our grandma -who helped with office work- ready to shake dice to determine who paid for a cold bottle of beer. I think dad charged $.15 for a bottle of beer. (I suspect technically he didn't charge anything since he didn't have a license to sell off sale) It was probably 100 degrees inside the laundry on a hot summer days and I can imagine how that ice cold beer must have tasted. It was a real bargain.
What did they talk about? What would they talk about today? To me, not yet a teenager at the time, these men were big and strong and authorities on life and current events; this small business owner who was my father, the laundry workers like Joe and Lenny Schwartz, insurance men like Will Yetts, policemen like the motorcycle cop that came by, or mechanics like Milt who ran the Standard Oil station next door and of course, Len and Ernie, the drivers who delivered the beer. They were variously sweaty, dirty, smudged with grease, calloused hands and they complained plenty about their aches and pains. It is hard to remember specifics but topics included; Eisenhower, they called him Ike, and seemed to love him; Kids, who had it easier then they did; Politicians, who were mostly crooked; unions, are they good of bad for busines; it's hard to make a living but glad to have a job; The St. Paul Saints; things they wanted, a new car, fishing boat, or a lake cabin; Del Flanagan, a boxer who contended for welterweight champ; boxing;was it fixed or on the level. They probably got a little noisy and argued but to me they seemed to enjoy the banter, and rolling the dice for beer in this dusty hot warehouse where the walls were formed by stacks of beer cases and glassware containers that led you to the dice board and the refrigerator.
What would they talk about today? I think they'd be surprised that people call them part of the greatest generation. Most all were veterans but they never talked, in front of me, about war experiences, except for crabby sargants, brawls they witnessed or were in, practical jokes and characters they met. I suspect if the price of gas came up today they'd argue abit, reminisce about gas wars and fifteen cent a gallon gas and end up agreeing that we wouldn't be in this mess if we had a man like Ike in the White House.
If you have a memory, or a meditation on life, politics, the meaning of life, A big, small or medium truth etc please share it. You can share it through a comment on any entry you wish. Or you can send it to me by email at pjmblog@gmail.com.
"I turned off the news this a.m. and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and thought about the price of gas and where the price may be going to. I had this sudden clear vision of Dad, Joe Schwartz, Will Yetts (sp) and a few other fellows, I can’t recall their names, standing at the corner of the counter at Lux on a Saturday afternoon. All smoking, a bottle of Blatz and blah blah blah about the price of gas and who’s fault it is ; I can even see the dice unit on the counter between them."
Have you ever had that happen? Where does it come from so suddenly and clear? Loved it. Good memory.
Maribeth's memory brings back a vivid picture of that warehouse near the intersection of University Avenue and Marion St. It was a place of business where our dad sold beer and glassware to bars and liquor stores in St. Paul and the emerging suburbs. But like Maribeth I also remember Lux as a place for fellowship and a cold beer at the end of a work day or on Saturday when dad did his bookwork.
Joe Schwartz worked at Eagle laundry on the other side of Marion street. Joey and his brother Lenny -who also worked at the laundry- would come over on hot summer days wearing sweat soaked tee shirts and big smiles, to banter with dad and our grandma -who helped with office work- ready to shake dice to determine who paid for a cold bottle of beer. I think dad charged $.15 for a bottle of beer. (I suspect technically he didn't charge anything since he didn't have a license to sell off sale) It was probably 100 degrees inside the laundry on a hot summer days and I can imagine how that ice cold beer must have tasted. It was a real bargain.
What did they talk about? What would they talk about today? To me, not yet a teenager at the time, these men were big and strong and authorities on life and current events; this small business owner who was my father, the laundry workers like Joe and Lenny Schwartz, insurance men like Will Yetts, policemen like the motorcycle cop that came by, or mechanics like Milt who ran the Standard Oil station next door and of course, Len and Ernie, the drivers who delivered the beer. They were variously sweaty, dirty, smudged with grease, calloused hands and they complained plenty about their aches and pains. It is hard to remember specifics but topics included; Eisenhower, they called him Ike, and seemed to love him; Kids, who had it easier then they did; Politicians, who were mostly crooked; unions, are they good of bad for busines; it's hard to make a living but glad to have a job; The St. Paul Saints; things they wanted, a new car, fishing boat, or a lake cabin; Del Flanagan, a boxer who contended for welterweight champ; boxing;was it fixed or on the level. They probably got a little noisy and argued but to me they seemed to enjoy the banter, and rolling the dice for beer in this dusty hot warehouse where the walls were formed by stacks of beer cases and glassware containers that led you to the dice board and the refrigerator.
What would they talk about today? I think they'd be surprised that people call them part of the greatest generation. Most all were veterans but they never talked, in front of me, about war experiences, except for crabby sargants, brawls they witnessed or were in, practical jokes and characters they met. I suspect if the price of gas came up today they'd argue abit, reminisce about gas wars and fifteen cent a gallon gas and end up agreeing that we wouldn't be in this mess if we had a man like Ike in the White House.
If you have a memory, or a meditation on life, politics, the meaning of life, A big, small or medium truth etc please share it. You can share it through a comment on any entry you wish. Or you can send it to me by email at pjmblog@gmail.com.
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