DEMOCRACY

VETS

Just returned from the infamous pheasant hunt. And, as usual, the pheasants of North Dakota had nothing to fear from me. 

At one point I thought it couldn't get worse when it actually did. And here a few of us were joining our hunting buds like we do every year but this time it was Into the "jaws of  the right wing" Republicans. I liked them as we had been together once a year for maybe 10 years plus. But, to be honest, I was expecting the worst; at best some good natured ribbing, and at worst, they would be intolerable. They weren't. What happened was a lot of ribbing more from us than them. And, when we laid into them about views, they just smiled. I figured that since they had secured the victory who gives a flying fig, as my dad would say. Kind of weird. 

One of my fellow Democrats and a super patriot, Wayne, some of you have met hassled them about now they would have to govern, etc. It got me to thinking as we got more into hunting. Who were these guys, our good friends, our hunting buddies, who represented the very conservative? I always wonder that, not only politically but the signs of the economy, among many things. Seeing all these people in the "stands" at ballgames, who are they? 

With these who, from my perspective, literally disliked the President almost to hatred. He gets no credit for having inherited two ill conceived wars, the worst economy since the Great Depression. 

And, our buddies mostly spouted the Republican mantra: no taxes, strong defense, hate Obama Care. Arguments with reason seem to elude them. 

In our group, we had a lawyer, Gav, a doctor, a couple of young bucks,

mid to late thirties; a financial services guy, a manager of an international business dealing in hardware types of things. They were all well educated, well read and had decided opinions. 

We all knew each other mostly from hunting and got along well. My nephew, who is as close to a standup comic, a Robin Williams. He had a lot of one liners. I loved this one, "We ain't gay. We just like to hug," attributed to Williams.  Funny. 

I was bemoaning the election when Wayne said, "think about it. We got up on the day after the election. Many disappointed, bitching and moaning but when we got up this morning, there were no revolutions, nobody tried to incite a riot. This is 'Merica.' " We changed who is running the government, no big deal. We throw one group out, put another one in. No sweat. Peace and harmony mostly. People are a lot more upset on who won what ballgame. 

This is pretty fabulous if you asked me. In our group we have some extremist views. One disliked the  president, hates most everything, thinks the President is a Muslim plant and Obama is out to destroy the Christians. We laughed like mad. He also believes that having too many  African American (he actually used the word, African Americans) playing football is eventually going to hurt the teams. More laughter. Now this is really forward thinking. But, he was so good natured that we just shook our heads. 

Our lawyer was incredibly articulate, a "true independent."  He says moderation in everything but Texas A&M football. Big time Aggie. 

We have  one guy, a self avowed true expert on various subjects and as my  brother Raz would say, just shy of a bale of cotton. The sweetest guy. We constantly have tried over the years to find him a wife. He had much rather talk about getting a wife than pursuing one. 

We are walking in these fields of tall grass that was like walking through barbed wire. These right winged guys are from Texas. Why are we not surprised. Then "ultra right wing John (not his real name), as we called him handled everything we threw at him with good nature and aplomb. For two days, being together. suffering through those obstacles to blast away at a few pheasants, everything was fun. No arguments, nobody miffed when someone verbally jabbed. Laughter, pheasants, eating everything unhealthy, drinking too much. A good time. I sat back a couple of times and thought to myself. "God bless our 'Democracy,' " it couldn't get any better even if the Dems had won.