Tarnished by a few...

In my lifetime I have been privileged to know some of the finest police officers you could ever find. Men and women who risked their lives to protect families from gun violence. Others who have kept whole apartment buildings safe when fire erupted, simply because they had the foresight to ask all officers to turn their sirens on- BEFORE they went into the burning building and before the fire department arrived on the scene. Last week my former neighbor, Steven Olson from Douglas County Wisconsin saved two families from the sorrow of loosing their twelve year old’s to drowning when for some reason he just choose to check out a certain bay with his jet ski. He pulled those children onto his jet ski and brought them safely to shore.

I am so very proud to have known the many men and women who wear the uniforms of law enforcement, they indeed serve us well.

I also am deeply disappointed by the militarization of our police departments, the use of swat teams to serve minor warrants where no threat is expected. Today I heard of a man in Missouri who was taken from his car by an assault weapon armed local police officer arrested “Because you didn’t listen” { He was sitting in his car to escape the tear gas which had been fired into a crowd.} News video showed police from Ferguson Missouri dismantling the video equipment of Al Jazeera American news then threatening to confiscate others news cameras because they recorded those actions. If you have done nothing wrong, why are you afraid for our country to see what it is that you have done?

There is a difference between civil disobedience and looting and rioting. The Supreme Court of this land protected peaceful protest including marches on streets and high ways back in the 60's- I have not heard of them over ruling themselves recently. I understand that here are those who seemingly attempt to ratchet up the rhetoric in Missouri, and the niece of Martin Luther King has asked they change their speech to healing rather than inciting. Our Constitution allows for public redress of grievances through peaceful protest. It is not the responsibility of Law Enforcement to arrest and threaten peaceful protesters- or lump them together with those who willingly break the law by looting and damaging property.

My two cents worth.

My word processor told me I wrote this three years ago. Its still relevant today.

A Real American hero

They are all around us, and come from all colors and occupations.
Today I would like to talk about those heroes I have actually met who served in the US Military, and focus on one in particular.

My cousins son is a medic in today’s military. Three or four years ago you may have watched as CNN showed helicopter being shot down in Afghanistan. Most of the crew were killed. Danny’s buddy landed on top of him, the rotor hit and killed him instead of Dan. After several months at Walter reed hospital, he told the Dr the only discharge he would take was back to his old outfit, where he eventually wound up.

Another Televised hero was on national news one night during the Iraqi war. It was during the time of the Abu Ghraib scandal, this young mans Humvee was patrolling the streets around the prison when an IED went off. You wouldn’t know he was disabled unless you were in a conversation and he told you he was retired with a traumatic brain injury.

I have met vets who were amongst the Chosun Frozen in the Korean war, as well as marines who watched their buddies die in the Dominican Republic in the early 60's. In the past month I have done funerals for Vietnam vets who served more than one tour of duty, when they returned, they were not the same young men who left Duluth. One dear friend spent nearly a year in a fetal position back in 1970, he watched as two buddies died trying to rescue him.

The list goes on and on, PT boat Captains. Paratroopers from 'Nam and WW2. Two men who flew with the Flying Tigers. Some were men who found faith easy until they lived one thing too much. Hero’s all.
I have had the opportunity to thank countless Native Americans who wear the Vietnam Service ribbon colors on their hats. They have the look of those who lived one day too many in the bush.

For a moment I want to focus on Joe, one of the nicest kindest men I have ever met. He was a customer of mine 20 years ago when I worked at Sears. I saw him again yesterday and took the time to thank him properly. Joe flew P 51 mustangs in the war, protecting Bombers as they flew into Germany. He was a Tuskegee Airman,one of the bravest squadrons of the war. If I recall correctly, his outfit never lost a plane under their protection. They were men of color, Black Men who as Joe said, fought a tougher battle here in the states to defend Our Country then they did in the skies over Europe. I told him how wrong that was, how sorry I felt about it happening. we continued to talk, I promised to pray as his name came to mind. He is a true gentleman, a real American hero.

I have another friend who was in the marines. We go to church together and infrequently get the chance to talk. A few months ago I asked him what It was like to live as a gay man raising a child here in Duluth. I have seen he and his partner with their son, they do such a great job as parents It has brought me to tears. They struggle with everyday family stuff like all parents. Plus the unkind looks of those who disapprove.

My friend Liz is a lesbian, she has been in a solid committed relationship for over ten years now. There has never been a time when she hasn’t supported me. I was a real shit when she came out to me six years ago. I made her tell me, instead of allowing me to guess and understand. I think it was because I wanted her to know how much I loved her for who she was, not a label someone may put on her.

One of my oldest best friends best friend died four years ago. He was stationed at the base here in Duluth, ran the flight line for the aircraft as they returned. He married a girl from Superior, and had two kids in addition to her one. He cried when he heard how his bi racial son was treated by some teachers at the elementary school. A real hero still fighting the battle.

When I worked at Sears  I worked with CC, a man whose home was South Central Los Angeles. Our conversations covered many areas, including racism and stereotypes. One day CC asked me what I would call 10 teenage boys who wore the same colors, walking down the street jumping shouting and laughing at unheard jokes. Well says I, "A Gang". "Did the words basketball team ever cross your mind? Sadly no, in fact it never came close.

It really hurt to acknowledge Joe's words they other day."The battle here was tougher than what we faced over there." I am still thinking about it nearly two days later. It is not just the fact of the color of a mans skin, the gender of ones partner or the type of job one does. Hatred is still alive and well here in America. I still stereotype others I done know, even tho I hope to be genuine in my Christianity. Too often I think "street gang" or "Punks" instead of kids just hanging together having fun. Being loud kids just as I was. When I am afraid of another, then I use whatever tools I can find to protect myself. Unfortunately too often it is a stereotype that demeans the other.

I don't like the fact that at times I am an opinionated ageist sexist dominant culture male with a need to be right. I am that sinner.

The Love Chapter, 1st Corinthians 13 convicts me each time I read it. Unless I have love, I am nothing at all. I, we need to get out of our box and touch another. Regardless of OUR race, color or creed. Perhaps then we all can join celebrating those real American heroes who live next door.

Thanks to my friend who challenged me to write again.  

Note: Joe Gomer passed away October 10, 2013. His lovely wife Liz passed away a year previous. tThey were wonderful folks, Duluth is better for their presence.

WOW, ITS BEEN THREE YEARS...

I actually think about lots of things, just hardly ever write them down for this page. Well, here's one now that we are approaching election campaign ad season 2014: The thought that corporations may be entitled to the benefits of citizens I guess could cause consternation for some, not so much for others. I see them as vehicles to present a "corporate" identity, which will in effect protect the founders or owners of said corps from legal repercussions. I think that's why many banks are incorporated in Delaware or the Dakotas, to have the advantage of those state laws on their behalf. Sometimes that is quite frustrating My thoughts are that if an individual is quite upset about corporate identity being defined as person hood, they should stop yapping about it and put their money where their mouths are and walk away from them. Of course, almost everyone would have to forgo pensions then, because that money was generally earned, managed, multiplied or paid out by corporations. You would also have to give up your home, because AIG, the monster insurance company was saved by the government because nearly every home mortgage in the United States is guaranteed by them. I don't like their wastefulness a few years back, but had they folded most mortgages would have defaulted because their was no mortgage insurance as required. Forget about your cell phones, Ibooks Iphones and most MP3 players,  made or maintained by large corporations. Bernie Sanders dislikes larger corporations, he is not evil as some might say. We need guys like him to prevent excess on the right. Though he doesn't like corporations, his re-election campaign makes fill use of PACS supported by unions, themselves incorporated. as evidenced  HERE

Senator Al Franken doesnt like coroporations, he posts regularly aboput on Facebook. He  likes lawyers though, he even has Massachusetts corporate law firms supporting him. More info here

OK, heres my thing. Its OK to support or work against any subject you may choose to. When you are being a cheerleader for your cause, and doing your best to smear or shake out others, please have the integrity to not quietly depend on that groups income or resources, unless you are willing to forgo them also. This goes for liberal or conservative.