MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE

My participation in the civic life of my country is pretty minimal.

I do my part.

That’s me and Abe doing our part together.

He does his oversight from his seat, me from mine.

Only one of us writes about it.

I’ve been to Washington D.C . a few times, most recently with my wife.

The first time I took the train from Philadelphia by myself out of 30th Street Station.

This was back in 1975, a year before the big Bi-Centennial when everything was ripped up and getting ready.

Later I took the bus down, then drove down with a buddy. (Hey Ron)

Back then you could walk up to the front door of the White House for a tour.

 

Different Times, Same White House

Since then, then being 1975, things have changed for everyone.

I’m pretty certain I’m not the only person from the 1970’s who was fifteen when they started, twenty-five when they ended, who was different going out than they were coming in.

By fifteen I was already a washed-up baseball player, a former basketball player, had stood in the rain waiting for a ride that didn’t show.

I watched an older brother blossom on the football field and listened to his recruiting stories.

Things were looking good, except for a scoundrel president who would later resign, and the draft for a war that wouldn’t end for five more years.

From 1970 to 1979, I was still a washed up baseball player, had started my last game after three years of varsity high school football, and wrestled my last Greco-Roman match that mattered.

I got better at basketball from playing pick-up games in Brooklyn gyms against kids who smoked cigarettes on the floor during time-outs.

Call me sporty.

 

Not Always The Expected

I knew something was up after watching this at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

Two guys representing my country took one for the team.

Did they change things? 

 

Their gesture is considered one of the most political in the history of the modern Olympic Games. But Smith remarked in the HBO documentary Fists of Freedom: The Story of the ’68 Summer Games that the act did not symbolize a hatred for the U.S. flag but an acknowledgement of it.

For his part, Smith has described the raised fists as “a cry for freedom and for human rights,” adding, “We had to be seen because we couldn’t be heard.”

 

Can You Hear Me Now?

This is my fist of freedom delivering a handful of ballots to a vote collection box.

It’s near the local police station so it’s got to be safe and sound with no monkey business?

I raise this fist for those who refuse to follow illegal orders, but I’ll go one better.

This is the fist raised in support of those who refuse to GIVE illegal orders.

How does that work? From a recent conversation:

 

Them: What is a Republican?

Me: Traditionally it’s been people drawn together with the message of lower taxes, stronger law enforcement, and letting the market place guide the economy.

Them: That doesn’t sound bad. Why don’t we hear more about that? I’d vote for that.

Me: In a perfect world everything works out. Those who can give back, give. Those in need, people in a rough patch of life, receive.

Them: That sounds good.

Me: It is until officials designate who must give and regulate those who receive, and send out a skinhead to explain the difference.

Them: The difference?

Me: We need to know the mega-rich have worked themselves to the bone for their fortunes, while the needy have been slacking and need to get busy.

Them: I’ve heard the tycoons make money from government contracts, and that policy works against the needy getting a hand up.

Me: I’ve read the same. That’s why we vote for people who know the difference, who read the news. Like you.

Them: I could run for office as a republican, a small government, less regulation, business friendly, law and order, kind of republican.

Me: Yes, you could run. You could file.

The lesser of either 1,000 signatures or 2% of the number of votes cast for the candidates of that major political party for presidential electors at the last presidential election. Must include signatures from at least 100 electors registered in each congressional district.

Them: What’s that?

Me: These are the conditions you need to meet to get on the ballot for U.S. Senator. I’d vote for you, but you’d never win as a republican.

Them: I might.

Me: Here’s what would happen: You’d run a strong race and go neck and neck down the line. Then some skeevy fuck in a backroom offers you the key to victory, enough money to close the deal, and shows you how. If you take it, you win, but you’re in their pocket and have to vote on issues they way they tell you to vote.

Them: Like what?

Me: Like important republican issues.

Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans, protecting constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and maintaining our national security.

Them: Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms?

Me: And the integrity of our elections.

Them: Maintaining national security.

Me: Good luck.

(Abraham Lincoln approves of this baby boomer blog post. I asked.)

 

A Conversation With Lincoln

Me: Abe, I’m a boomer blogger.

Abe: A blooming logger? I was a rail splitter.

Me: A writer.

Abe: Good for you. Have you read my work?

Me: Come on, man. Everyone has read your work:

 

“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure.

We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live.

It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

 

Abe: I’ve heard it said.

Me: You said it.

Abe: What is that you’re carrying?

Me: Oh, nothing, really. Just the Magna Carta. I keep one handy to settle any disputes.

Abe: I’ve read it.

Me: I’m sure you have.

Abe: We can do better.

Me: Yes, we can.

 

PS: When you lie down with dogs, you might wake up with fleas and a virus.

 

PSS: If you stand up for others, you lift all hopes and dreams.