MUD

THE MUD SLIDE

The mud slide in Washinton State which took lives is so sad. Mud like this is like "quick sand." It reminded me of a "mud" experience that was more frightening after it was over than while it was going on. I was kayaking in the San Francisco Bay, paying no attention to the tide.  It went out in what seemed like milliseconds. I was about a hundred yards from Shore. It was an emerging experience without any awareness on my part of how dangerous it was. Here I am, surrounded by mud, the tide had gone out and I have two choices. Stay where I am and wait for it to return or try to walk make it out. Laborious is not even close to the task. Here I am in mud, sometimes up to my elbows, I am pulling my kayak. About two hours later I dragged myself onto the shore. As I reflected for days on exactly the experience and told others about it, I came to realize the potential for disaster. I was lucky. Those poor folks in Washington State, not so. God bless them. 

General F..ks Up

THE GENERAL AND THE CAPTAIN. This could be a movie. It is both a debacle and tragedy. They had a three year affair. Death threats, lying, and no telling what else. For my part, regardless of the circumstances, a "David which the General wasn't, escaping from Pharaoh's wife;" the general should be strung up and have his gonads cut off. The Captain was a subordinate and in the military, he violated the absolute code, in addition to a parcel of rules. He has to pay. His price was not as much as it could have been. There is much about the story and his sentencing that we don't know. Forget the f..ging politicians who are playing to the crowds. 

Keeping an affair of this nature secret is unheard of in modern theater. My suspicion is that the Captain was quite successful in helping do it, as well as the general. She probably fell "in" love with the f..ker which is the worst possible thing. Love is one thing but "in" love makes you crazy. I feel sorry for the "Captain." F..K the General. 

Consider recent history. Two examples:
Bill Clinton and Patraeus came close to making it but were discovered by the fact that the "affairee" talked. Bill was done in, not by Monica, but a witch, Linda Tripp, that Monica talked too. And Petraeus almost succeeded as he  engineered himself a job at the CIA. What he didn't count on was an egomaniac in FL who was playing "footsie" with his deputy when in the Army, which linked him to his "affair." 

The Captain and the General is a strange case in light of all the publicity. And, to say there was no command and polical imfluence is the height of bullshit, not to mention lying to themselves, at the highest level, even.

Yep,  my suspicion is that we have the "in" love element, they broke up: messy, threats, etc; but apparently what sunk the Captain's credibility was lying about dates--the General and the Captain got it on after she said it ended. Either the sex was that good or she was still trying or hoping (all speculation) to rekindle. But, at some point, it appears, it became,  "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." 

However, the f..ker (pardon the pun) was her superior and taking advantage, even though she was willing, is not only a flimsy excuse but totally unacceptable.

All the other stuff is interesting and it is hard to know. Death threats: I will kill your family. Clint Eastwood. Sinclair may be capable, having been to all these macho schools: airborne, ranger, no telling what else. He couldn't have been an Assistant Division Commander in the 82d Airborne if he had not been a mean "mother." (Use your imagination). 

Part of the issue is that we listen to media and they don't know "s..t" as well as Congress. 

The investigation of the General and the Captain is what we call an Article 32. Unbelievably through. They have minions fanning out all over the globe investigating, checking facts, you name it. They are so through that the concept of "bring the guilty bastard in" is about 110% true. The General, you can on it, even if he had not confessed, would have been uncovered by the Article 32. 

In addition to the cautionary tale, there are so many issues. Let's put aside the sordid details--a general who lost his way and a very sad victim who paid an unseen price for wanting love and who is victimized over and over. God bless her. But, there is an issue that may not be a greater one but still an issue. How in this world can we avoid this sort of blight on the military? We throw men and women together in crisis situations, they get involved. Plain and simple, it is going to continue to happen. The only way is to exclude women from combat. We are not going to do that, so what to do? We have to be prepared to accept it. 

The military is not a social organization and it is not a social experiment. It has one purpose: to fight and win wars. We have f..ked it up by eliminating the "draft." The soldiers that are in the military are good soldiers. They are all volunteers and at all levels of the military, they are trying to improve. There will inevitably be some "f..k ups. The General and the Captain f..ked up.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

THE PREZ GETS NO CREDIT
One of the stories I read recently was about the Obama factor which had to do with his lagging polls. This sort of bullshit becomes a type of self fulfilling prophesy. The best example I know are the vets I hang out with--Several receive various Vietnam benefits which they were only able to get because the President simplified the claims process. For instance for Vietnam vets or any veteran to file a claim for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), they had to have all this collaborating paperwork, the process was laborious and most Vietnam vets who needed the services of VA, plus the meager compensation, gave up. (I know because I was attempting to help them). 

I never filed a claim as I always figured it was just a price to pay for being in combat, plus I didn't need it. But, many of my fellow vets that I knew in Vietnam were suffering and desperately needed help that they couldn't get. The President changed all that with a signature. And, for some odd reason that escapes me, the Vets either don't get the fact of what the president did or refuse to accept it, The President made it possible for them to now easily file their claims. They only have to prove they were there, i.e. in Vietnam. Easy. And, yet they are really disparaging of the President. I don't get it. What is so hard about connecting the dots. 

Now, stretch this out to the country at large. The election in Florida won by the Republicans, for example. The vast majority of people voting for the Republicans are on social security, medicare, etc., yet decrying government intrusion. Where the f..k do they think these programs come from. That is just it. They don't think. 

FACE OF LOVE

"Face of Love." Very interesting movie even if a little thin. Two terrific actors,  Ed Harris and Annette Bening can do a lot, even with a thin plot. Annette Bening's husband drowns. Fast forward five years, she sees someone who looks exactly like her dead husband. She makes sure. Turns out, he is a gentle and sensitive college teacher/painter. They begin a relationship. He falls "in" love. She can't bring herself to tell him that he looks "exactly" like her dead husband. They have some "moments." Finally, unearthed mainly by the daughter and neighbor. The relationship ends as Ed discovers. Fast forward another year, Ed has died, probably from heart failure. However, for the last year, he had painted in a frenzy as for ten years he was locked up emotionally. 

I liked the movie. Annette Bening will forever be the doctor's sister in the cowboy movie, "Open Range." Ed Harris is always good. Great to see them work. Tolerable movie about grief and honesty. Playing the story line out, surmising. Could have been different if she had told him "early on" and prepared the daughter and Robbin Williams, the neighbor (this could have been another movie: neighbor who has bad marriage contrasted against neighbor with good marriage. Spouses dead, chance for neighbors to get together) But, maybe not. Annette and Ed had a "moment." Leave it there. 

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Sexual Assault in the military is a tough subject. It may not be for most in Congress. Discrimination, suppressing women, adinfinitum. And, if you are one of those who feel you've been sexually assaulted, it is a 100%. It is not so simple for the military. The military has only one mission. To fight and win wars. 

THE MILITARY IS NOT A SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. 

There's a vast difference in some guy like the General at Fort Bragg (NC) accused of sexual assault and some young soldier accused, possibly because in his unsophisticated way is "hitting" on her. The General should be strung up by his gonads. And, it looks like it will be just short of that. And then there are those who should know better. The two officers supposedly in charge of investigating sexual assault are now accused. If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable. 

With females in the ranks in such numbers and a bunch of stupid men, we will see more and more of it, I fear.  Answer? Probably none. Will readiness of our military be effected. Sure, it already is if we are honest. And, thinking about my old Unit, the 82d Airborne, I can only surmise--If I was a young male soldier, trying to avoid being stupid, I would avoid contact with female soldiers at all cost. 

Most, especially indignant female congress persons, only see the assault side of it and rightly so. However, in asking some retired military chaplains, who have seen all the transitions and changes of the military, they see a broader side. Here are comments...

 RETIRED MILITARY CHAPLAINS 

"I have not changed my mind since all this first came up in our emails long

ago. It is asking too much of "Testosterone High" young men to go into combat areas, to live in close proximity to to females and think that they will not be tempted beyond that which they can bare." CN

"I think that the chickens are coming home to roost!  The "grand experiment" of making everything "equal" in the name of 'political correctness' has demanded that we turn a blind eye to the realities that are inherent in gender differences. I don't want to imply that we should just  "let boys be boys with  uncontrollable hormones." But there has to be some systematic way to utilize the skills of males and females without having them essentially live together 24/7.  We need to get creative about that. Don

"If the problem does affect Military Readiness, and I believe, like you say, it already has, then the leaders need to bite the bullet and let the administration and society know.  However, the politically correctness influence is so strong that no one wants to take the chance."

HOW WE DIE

A friend sent this along. I felt the need to respond since I have read the book. 

To Dr. Nuland, "death was messy and frequently humiliating, and he believed that seeking the good death was pointless and an exercise in self-deception. He maintained that only an uncommon few, through a lucky confluence of circumstances, reached life’s end before the destructiveness of dying eroded their humanity."

“I have not seen much dignity in the process by which we die.” 

I am going to give this some thought. But, I don't think I totally agree with him. Death with dignity is possible with a belief that something comes after. (Doesn't make any real difference if it is true or not. Only the one believing it has to accept it). It can't be reasoned, only through one's faith (maybe). The end on this earth, free from pain, can be achieved while looking forward to the next life-- regardless of how it has been constructed. Amen

Plus, my experience does not bear out Dr Nuland's views, totally. I can name several that I have known who have left this earth in what I considered dignity. I think there is a process of shutting down which we are often reluctant to let happen and should be more amenable too. Our worst fault is to deny. 

TALKING TOUGH

Ukraine is a little like Afghanistan in our psyche. We had never heard of it or maybe never thought about it until we got mired in it up to our ass. (I personally thought Carter was off-base in canceling the Olympics when Russia took over Afghanistan. All his action did was penalize American athletes). It should give us pause now. But, it doesn't. It is as though our brains get soaked in formaldehyde. In fact, Ukraine should bring to mine invasions of Panama and Grenada. Do we run the risk of hypocrisy. Much of the rest of the world thinks so I bet. Think Iraq. F..k

It is hard to get your arms around what has happened in Ukraine. What we can get our arms around is that we have no part in what Russia does on its borders or anywhere for that matter; yet we are at the center of the potential conflict. What the hell? Our potential for stupidity is overwhelming. We have all these voices acting like, as usual, this is our battle. It ain't our fight. Putin is going to do what he is going to do. 

I just think we want the heck out of it. I hear voices like John McCain and John Kerry and I wonder what the Hell!!! Really. People who have known war don't want to even contemplate it but these two are "sisters under the skin:" maxed out hawks.  If not war, even the tough talk. McCain is really a mystery. This guy has suffered in war. POW/tortured. He surely knows about Vietnam--we could have stayed over there forever. We could not beat HO. 

And John Kerry is talking tough. What the hell. He is still battling the Swift Boat Vets who kept him from the presidency maybe. I have always thought they were "used." Who knows. But, Kerry's hawkish attitude bespeaks of unresolved issues along his time in Nam. Here is a guy who during Vietnam became a peacenik. Now, the ultimate hawk. What I don't get is something that is almost universal for combat vets. They hate war. If you have known it, the horrors of it, you sure as shit, hate it and want to avoid at all costs.  Maybe the Swift Boat vets knew something about Kerry that we don't. Kerry talking tough bullshit is a mystery.

What worries most people and it surely does me. Some little disagreements add up to big trouble. While the two vets like NcCain and Kerry ought to be tamping down the rhetoric, they are leading the chorus. Come on! 

Americans who care are weary of war. Our problems at home are enormous. Let's take a step backwards here. We are almost universally hated and blamed for meddling. 

Time to chart another course? I think so. Listening to some young State Dept issuing threats ain't helping the situation. Let's SHUT THE F..K UP!!!!!!

FIRING SOLDIERS

Downsizing the military is really called "firing." It happens after every conflict. As a country we are so stupid. With the present SecDef, Chuck Hegel, I had hoped for more. He is acting like an Alice in Wonderland character who just woke up in a new world. Hegel has been in the Army and should "get it" more. 

I saw it after Vietnam, we threw soldiers out of the Army who had given their life's blood for their country with barely an Elvis "thank you very much." Promises that were made were discarded. And worse still were those like Mel Laird who let economist Mort Friedman lead him down the prime rose path of ending the military draft. Suddenly youngsters in America didn't have to confront choices like serving their country. 

We've had a good military since the AVF (All Volunteer Force) but they've come from a socioeconomic pool, not representative of our country. A smaller military resulted in repetitive tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, handicapping soldiers both physically and emotionally--something we will be dealing with for years, PTSD/TBI. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury)

And, then there are "base closings." By the time Military Installations are turned over to civilians, the cost savings are negligible. Worse still is the "loss of presence" to the civilian community. The San Francisco Bay Area is a good example. Relatively speaking, they have seen all military go. The Presidio, Oakland Army base; others too numerous to mention. This is a great loss to our culture. The civilian community loses the sense that the military belongs to them. 

And, it isn't good for the military. They become cloistered, a subculture. They go to war and have an experience that defines them while less than one percent of Americans have any idea of who they are. And, they will go to war. After Vietnam, we thought, "lesson learned," we will never be this stupid again. Guess what? We were: Iraq/Afghanistan. And, we will be that stupid again. 

SHADOW DANCER

A church minister, dressed as Elvis Presley, has crossed a so-called peace line in Belfast in a bid to promote peace and reconciliation work.

The Reverend Andy Kelso fits in performances as a professional Elvis impersonator around his day job as a Church of England minister.

The movie, “Shadow Dancer” is one slice of the struggle in Northern Ireland. It is one of those odd movies that you are glad you found, mainly for history—the IRA in Ireland; a movie that keeps you on the edge. No real redeeming hero. Well, there was one but he was killed. The female lead was great. She looked the part: a terrorist who went over to the British to save her child. 

Movie did stress one thing that is reality in the world in which we live. When you have fanatics, they let nothing interfere with their ideology, least of all human life. Sorry MFers. 

And, now there is peace in Northern Ireland. As one who claims Irish kinship, (actually named for a distant relative, Gerry), I was in Vietnam with a guy who left the American Army to fight for the IRA. We had several conversations where I tried to reason with him. He was really a good guy and good soldier but he was at the stage, “don’t confuse me with facts, I have my mind made up.” 

Attempting to grasp the complexities, in this case, the 
movie, “Shadow Dancer—even who the players were, not easy. Good movie and helps with some hopefulness, peace can be achieved if people work hard enough at it.

Marion Bridge

MARION BRIDGE. Good pensive movie. Incredibly well acted. Movie is a good example of "everybody has a story." Three sisters. Alcoholic mom who is dying. Long suffering sister who can't let former husband go although he appears to be selfish p...k! Sister who returns home to look after mother is recovering alcoholic, sexually abused by father who gets her pregnant. Ellen Page is  the now teenage daughter of the sexual abuse. Youngest daughter is a lesbian coming out. Need I go on. Everybody has a story. Good movie with a dozen story lines. A truly sad one is the now dementia father who is "out of it" and the pain he caused goes on. To confront him is useless.

Movies are great for the fact that they can make happen exactly what they want to happen. In this case most all stories got resolved or at least "faced." Not a bad thing. Real life is not so easy. 

The Airborne Olympics

THE 82d AIRBORNE ON A PRACTICE JUMP

Watching the Olympics, I reflected on what it meant to be a soldier in an “elite” military unit, like the 82d Airborne, as compared to an Olympian. An example of a day or so in the life of a paratrooper: Sleep, what the hell is that? In the 82d Airborne, a soldier would be on his first jump at daybreak, about 6AM. He/she had to be at “Green Ramp” which was the assembly point, two hours ahead of time. That meant the paratrooper had to be there at four. In essence, he was up all night. Then by the time he “jumps,” (parachuting from a plane), it is noon. Then, more than likely after the jump, comes an exercise (called live fire) which would last all day. Then the paratroopers were loading up again from the “field” to go to the jumping off point, Green Ramp, to jump again. The soldier would repeat the process. Part of the training is to see how fighting men can function without sleep. They were up about two days and nights by this time—Sleepless. The paratroopers hardly knew their names, so tired and sleep deprived. This is pretty much a soldier’s life in the 82d Airborne. I think I had rather be an Olympian.

DOWNTON ABBEY

Downton Abbey is a soap opera, season 4, set in England just prior to WWll. (Not even sure I have all this right) I am more amazed that we are fixated on the English life of Earls and Dukes, big land owners, titles which is all bullshit and an anathema to all we believe and stand for. I AM GUILTY: HOOKED ON DOWNTON ABBEY. 

Consequently, what is it that make Americans like me who love America and our way of life watch DA? Could I get back to you on that? Well, the characters are compelling, acting is good and it is a way of life none of us know much about. We do have "class" in America but we deny it. We are not bound to it because there is the over riding concept of freedom. Even the poorest can say to a government official, the rich, the powerful, go f..k yourself. He might get fired, evicted, whatever but he can still do it and nobody blinks am eye. In San Fran, you can stand on any street corner and hear five languages. And, most everybody gets along. 

I don't know why we love this particular soap. To be honest, I often thought the same with my mom. She watched all the soaps, "As The World Turns, Shining Light, whatever." When I was in college, she would call me up with a guilt trip, "you never come home." (Not True) I would pile in my old 49 Ford and head out. She hugged and kissed me and resumed watching her soaps She would often talk about the characters like they were real. Hope it is not in my genes. 

Downton Abby has its detractors but not many that I see. Weird with servants, waited on,  hand and foot, as my Mom would say. None of them would know work if it ran over them. Well hell, the Brits still have a Queen. I don't get it. LOL. But I am not going to quit watching. Like many "Mericans," I am hooked. I want Bates to kill the man who raped his wife. He knows who it is. My favorite character is Carson, the head servant and the keeper of tradition. See what I mean. Mary is coming around. Matthew, her deceased husband, was a favorite. Issues are not lightweight: abortion, race; almost worth watching for Maggie Smith. I am looking for me a Downton Abbey hero. I'll get back to you. 

GRIEF

THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN Talk about a heavy movie. My wife and  I ran across it on "On Demand" which is our cable system. In a sense, we really didn't know what we were getting. It is a study in "grief." Sad is not even close to the concept. Two highly "edgy" people discover each other. One a tattoo artist and the other a farmer/musician. An unplanned pregnancy and the birth of an adorable child but as she grows up, "cancer." The movie shows treatment, losing hair, all the things that this insidious disease forces victims to deal with. Sad beyond belief. The child goes to the "next life." (heaven, a concept that is comforting to me). 

The movie deals with how this couple handles or doesn't handle their grief. The film touches the depth of someone's loss. The director cleverly uses flashbacks to fill in crevices of the overwhelming grief. Even proofing this, makes my heart heavy. 

As a Vietnam vet who lives with a touch of permanent grief, I was moved bigtime. The choice of music: "bluegrass" was so great. I bought the album which is a first for me. The interspersing of gospel music was genius. 

I love movies that tackle the most difficult of experiences and this one does in spades. I hope it will be seen by many. You almost think it is an American movie, based on songs and dialogue but not: the couple lives in Belgium and the movie is from the Netherlands. 

I really don't even know who should see this movie. After watching, I was emotionally spent. How did they handle their grief? How do we handle our grief? Suck it up and see this movie. 

THE DRAFT

ELVIS IN THE MILITARY. DRAFTED. 

 I am still thinking of the young soldier severely wounded in action, showcased at the State of the Union speech. It made even the greatest skeptic like me pause. Very inspiring. Ten minutes of ovation. And, rightly so. The “talking heads” have basically said, “this is the thing the president’s speech will be remembered for.” I hope so but doubt it. Politics has a short attention span. 

Here is where the rub comes for me, an old soldier. Applauding at a televised media event with a smidgen of politics thrown in is one thing. Serving your country by being in the military is another story. I would like to know how many congressmen/women have served or if their children have. 

This isn’t a hit on those not serving. With a volunteer Army, they can choose. What we have now is a military made up of only an extremely small segment of the American society. Most affluent parents don’t want them to be in the military, in potentially harms way. I certainly wouldn’t if I had boys. 

When my generation came along, we had to deal with the draft. It was part of our culture. The draft ain’t going to ever happen again. That train has left the station. And, we are the worst for it. We were sold a bill of goods by economist Milt Friedman and then Secretary of Defense, Melvin Laird. Friedman actually said something like, “in a democracy having compulsory service is unAmerica.” We were duped. We now know from collateral damage that it is the opposite. 

We will continue to applaud Army Ranger, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg who almost paid the ultimate sacrifice. Soldiers like SFC Remsburg bare the brunt while other young men and women, his age, sit on the sidelines. 

The flip side of the coin is to acknowledge that our f..k ups contributed to his being put in harms way in the first place. It doesn’t take anything away from his sacrifice, just hi-lites our stupidity. Americans who care should be incensed, if not ashamed, that we have played a part in SFC Remsburg’s sacrifice and no amount of applause will make up for his loss. 

10 tours in Iraq/Afghanistan? How the f..k did that happen? I can tell you: a small military necessitating repetitive tours, senior commanders on the ground being stupid—strategies that have little or no chance of working. I could go on and on. Yes, we can applaud but any way you slice it, we all are complicit in the tragedy of SFC Remsburg’s story. God bless him.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

The subject of late (no pun intended) is Phillip Seymour Hoffman and drugs. He overdosed on heroin. I've heard past interviews with him (Terry Gross on NPR and Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes)--you could tell he was pretty guarded and maybe high. No judgement just opinion. His life belongs to him. If he wants to f..k it up, up to him. I don't have any sense of personal loss other than what the f..k would cause a talented actor to be so stupid. Addiction, I guess. 

Maybe we'll be awakened from our stupor about the danger of drugs. Here's what I think has happened with us. With the legalizing of pot in CO and Washington State, Americans who give a s..t, have kind of said, "drugs are OK."  F..K NO. Wake up and smell the roses. Come out from underneath the ether. What have you been smoking?

(Marijuana)

Maybe Hoffman's death will spur us on to realize what dope can do. And,  pot is dope. Let's face it, it is the primary gateway drug to other drugs. And, trust me on this: I have beaucoup data. 

I have never known an addict who didn't start with pot. I am not some evangelist for recognizing that there aren't pot smokers who use it recreationally. But, let's get away from this bullshit that marijuana

 is a harmless drug. It ain't! And, if I had my way, I would be enforcing the drug laws and be all over CO and Washington State like white on rice. Medical pot I would go for. Even as much a sham as that is, anyone who wants to legally smoke pot, has to go to some trouble. 

Already Hoffman's death has sparked lots of talk as to where we are in America with drugs. From what I've heard, there seems to be a pattern with heroin addiction of the Hoffman kind. Prescription drugs, then the addicts reach a point where they either can't get them any longer or they become too expensive. They go to a much cheaper heroin--a complicated transition. Some get hooked, others don't; differences in drugs, alcohol, on and on. 

What is the answer? There is no answer. I feel so sorry for loved ones who have to live with this. One kid said this, "I hurt my parents with my lying, alcoholism, eating disorder, drug addiction and suicide attempts."  What can you do about this? Nothing but the very best we can.

In my experience of counseling soldiers, I had very little success and the Army didn't help. With the Volunteer Army which has now produced a recruitment scandal, they gave soldiers a "piss" (sorry to be so crude, I am trying to make a point) test and if they tested positive, threw them out of the military. That was about as helpful in facing the problem as telling an obese person, "just eat a carrot." Stupid. 

To me, the only thing us drugstore cowboys (meaning those of us standing on the sidelines), can offer: for goodness sakes, don't fall into "denial." Face it. If your son or daughter or whoever has a drug problem, own up. The late Carroll O'Conner, my good Irish buddy, known as Archie Bunker, said about his son who committed suicide, something like this, "get between your children and drugs any way you can." In other words, don't deny. Face it and get help. There is help out there and don't give up till you find it. 

Phillip Seymour Hoffman telegraphed his intentions and somebody should have taken him, as my brother use to say, by the knap of the neck and kicked his ass until he woke up. 

One of my favorite patients died today, she was only 48 years old, she has a 10 years old daughter. 

An Infusion Center Nurse sent this to me. My friend was somewhat impatient of those like Phillip Seymour Hoffman. "They waste their lives. They have everything and waste it. Here we have our patients, everyone fighting for their lives. They have families, children, ambitions and often they are dying. So, yes, I am somewhat less tolerant of these drug addicts like Phillip Seymour 

Hoffman. Sorry.

UNSEEMLY

Unseemly. (Inappropriate) This was a word my dad used all the time if he saw something that he thought was wrong or if questionable. Michelle Obama coming to San Fran for money seems "unseemly." She fired up the women who showed. If you forked over 30 grand you could maybe shake her hand. Hell, I don't know. If you went to the Michelle event and were a lowly "serf", you could see her from a distance for a hundred bucks. 

I am a good Democrat. I guess I am the only person in America who feels this way as I am a white boy from NC and have no credibility. But, Michelle's visit sure as hell would fit in the category of "unseemly," to me.  

As one who thinks that women would do a better job than men in running the world, I am not backing away from the  "unseemly" view, however. I don't care much for politicians anyway. We elect them, their behavior is often "unseemly" and we put them right back in office.  It is our fault. Two examples: Senator Diane Finestein that I basically like--Her husband gaining financially from a competitive contract to sell government properties. It is legal and all appears to be in order but it is "unseemly" to me. My Rep., Pelosi, had an entire law created because she made millions from insider trading which at the time was legal for Congress. "Unseemly." F..K!!!!!

PREZ SPEECH

The president inspired me, relatively speaking, in his State of the Union speech. He is a politician, after all. But, as politicians go, he is one of the best in my opinion. His speech writers did some clever things but the president can also turn a phrase on his own. I have always liked him, not agreeing on everything but think he is the smartest president we've  had in awhile. Maybe not as calculating as some but not afraid to tackle hard issues. He can laugh, joke, think on his feet. But mostly I judge him with, "would I like to hang out with him over a beer."  I WOULD. 

KEEPING MEMORY ALIVE

KEEPING HIS MEMORY ALIVE. 

Every three months or so, the Autry cousins convene for a great barbecue luncheon and to be together. The luncheon is always dedicated to our older brother, Raz. He was the brother to die for. Always on top of every family crisis or perceived crises and for sure, family drama. Keeping his memory alive is a big thing to all of us. We know he's checking us out. A few of our stories about Raz are included in his book, "Brothers." He passed from this life to the next, as we say in NC, going on two years.       jda. 

"In one sense there is no death.  The life of a soul on earth lasts beyond their departure.  You will always feel that life touching yours, that voice speaking to you, that spirit looking out of other eyes, talking to you in the familiar things they touched, worked with, loved as familiar friends.  They live on in your life and in the lives of others that knew them."        Angelo Patri

12 Years a Slave

"12 years a slave" is one of those movies that will stay with you for awhile. And it should. The most disturbing film I've seen, maybe ever. For Southerners like myself, makes me utterly ashamed that the slave owners are my possible ancestors. Although mine, as far as I know, didn't own slaves. We were poor and if you are poor, everybody is in a relative same situation. Still plenty of "white" people prejudice. 

Slavery was particularly brutal. Much basic violence in the movie: beatings, hangings. I think it will get the Academy Award and it should. I thought "Dallas Buyers Club" was good but no real comparison. Plus, I don't think anyone could beat the Chiwetel Ejiofor, the "lead" in "12 Years a Slave." With his eyes you could see the hurt. In fact, this film is a masterpiece and every actor fantastic. 

In a sense, 12 Years A Slave, should force us to reexamine our history and asked, "Are we doing enough with African Americans to make up for our history of slavery. I don't think so. I think this film should inspire us to figure out some way to lift blacks that are in poverty, out. How to do it? 

Maybe pay reparations. (We know how far that would get). If we can pay the Japanese for interning them, (And we should have) why not blacks. Maybe in the case of African Americans, figure out a formula: money for college, education, whatever it takes. 

Am I whistling Dixie or what! Here's the rub and I got this from my wife who is pretty much open to things. People make choices/decisions. An example. A single mother with three small children would like to get out of poverty, get an education, get a future. She can't do it. My wife's view: she made choices to have three children, maybe with different fathers. She has to live with it. She is probably taking politically a Republican view, although she would never admit it. My approach would be that an AA mother shouldn't be denied an opportunity just because she make stupid decisions possibly at one point in her life. Now she is at another point. 

We could solve many if this type of problems with the wealth of the 1% if they would help with individuals. And, I am convinced they would if we had a way to match them up with the single mother with three kids. It is worth discussing.