Friday, July 04, 2014

Baseball, hotdogs, and double time



Today is Independence Day for the United States of America, or sadly what it has become known as – the 4th of July.  To be honest, I don’t know what it was like to live under British rule and taxation without representation…oops!  Maybe I should leave that one alone.
 
I am thrilled that our Congress, which satisfactorily represents us doesn’t mess with my religious rights by telling preachers what they can or can’t say, or strong-arm and manipulate the press and newspapers to skew the truth.  I am especially giddy how our government addresses the will of the people over global and Capitalistic goals.   

I’m rolling my eyes so much as I write this that I’m getting as dippy as Nancy Pelosi.

Our forefathers gave us law-abiding citizens the right to own firearms and to form militias for one reason and one reason alone.  Because under British rule, the citizens had been abused and they knew our right to bear arms was so we could rise up, if need be, and expel our leaders – read: overlords.  Thankfully, our elected officials know this and wholeheartedly agree with the 2nd amendment of the Bill of Rights.  Right?  Help me here.

Way back there when the Bill of Rights was enacted, people had the right to a speedy and public trial.  The public part is still there for the most part, but the speedy has left the building.  Lawyers.  Rules.  Laws.  Anything and everything to stall going to trial is the rule of the day; then there is the sentencing and if a person is actually sentenced to death row, wait another 14 years and maybe they will get a stay of execution to prolong their sentence.

Back in the Bible days, lawyers were called scribes.  Weren’t scribes one of the three vocations Jesus was always condemning?  Scribes, Pharisees, and publicans – yup.  Nothing has changed there.  Lawyers, self-righteous religious leaders, and tax-collectors are still a bone of contention to most.

Sorry Judge Don Coffey; there’s bound to be a hotdog, or a baseball in this column somewhere, I swear.  No personal offense intended.  Don is a friend and a major fact contributor to BaytownTalks.net and much appreciated.  He is just one of a number of city officials and experts who make the new forum a wonderful source of information.

And I’ve voted for Stephen DonCarlos for mayor of Baytown... 6 times when I was a Democrat.

Now we get to this danged 10th amendment. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”  Geeze, is it me, or should we just go ahead and bury this one?  I mean, come on.  Does our Federal government still have a copy of this amendment?  Can I call the White House and talk to the president and ask him?

“Hello, this is Grover Cleveland, the President of the United States.  May I help you?”

“Mr. President, are your people still using the Bill of Rights to make sure they don’t violate the will of the people?”

“Yuppers, we sure are.  Gotta go; got another call coming in.”

I remember growing up playing baseball and eating hotdogs in and around Independence Day.  It was very happy times.  I was blissfully ignorant about the Middle East and our dependence on fossil fuels, which by the way is about the only real reason we are fighting over there.  Folks like to believe it is about our support for Israel, but it’s not.  It’s about global selfish interests and the bottom line.

As a kid, I lived the life of the boys in the movie, “Sandlot” to the tee.  Fireworks, sunshine, the shaky grill with burgers and dogs, corn on the cob, and lots of soda waters, which at the time we called Pop, was what the 4th of July was to me.  This was before I learned about double time, or double time and a half, or the US military and being stationed in a far away country on holidays.

Independence Day became a work holiday for me and just another day where my hourly wage was doubled or more and for many years, this was all it was – like Christmas, sadly.  Sure, we flew our flag at home, but most of the time, it was flown without me, as I was always working. 

For the first time in my life, the 4th of July will truly be Independence Day, as I am now my own boss and happily retired.  Today will not pay me anything extra except the satisfaction of knowing I am blessed to live in this wonderful country.  A country whose independence was bought with blood and sacrifice of those who went before me into battle to secure those rights I am writing about.  I am also happy to say I contributed to our freedom in the U.S. Air Force.

No longer blissfully ignorant and like you I watch our Federal government and wonder if the 2nd amendment isn’t more relevant than ever.  I would love to return to the days of hotdogs and baseball, but unless things begin to change, I’m afraid that is about as likely as Barry answering the White House phone.
.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Good Job Bert. A little Tom Brokaw and Ann Curry mixed with broken glass and gargled. Yes I figured it out your soft voice myself with my eyes closed. The Voice of Baytown. Great Job and Great subject matter as always. I left the plant at 17:00 Thursday as one of my managers having to work asked if I would be here Friday. His name is Pankaj Shah. I said no sir it's the 4th. He asked so what, the plant doesn't stop for a Holiday. I told him, sir for us Americans it's slipped away from some, just not me. I want my hot dog, my RV is ready to go, fishing poles on standby, 200 flags to plant in Crosby and Huffman, TX and fireworks. So if you want me I will see you Monday. He appeared stunned. I felt abused as I know his thoughts. “Under my breath I wanted to ask did he miss his kinfolk in that story, Lone Survivor, did you know America allowed you to come live here, be educated here, raise your family here and then to slap my face by showing your daughters three day wedding in Clear Lake using your Braham and the associated Gods from your country as a large picture in your office. Still under my breath but a fact”. I believe while I'm gone I will add to my 2nd Amendment clock on my wall and go ahead and display the Constitution and a Biblical picture of my God, the God of America and God of all Americans. In your Sandlot as mine, we all have ways to calm the Hercules. Yes I will rest on the 238th anniversary of our country's independence from Britain. - Steve Liles

Unknown said...

Good Job Bert. A little Tom Brokaw and Ann Curry mixed with broken glass and gargled. Yes I figured it out your soft voice myself with my eyes closed. The Voice of Baytown. Great Job and Great subject matter as always. I left the plant at 17:00 Thursday as one of my managers having to work asked if I would be here Friday. His name is Pankaj Shah. I said no sir it's the 4th. He asked so what, the plant doesn't stop for a Holiday. I told him, sir for us Americans it's slipped away from some, just not me. I want my hot dog, my RV is ready to go, fishing poles on standby, 200 flags to plant in Crosby and Huffman, TX and fireworks. So if you want me I will see you Monday. He appeared stunned. I felt abused as I know his thoughts. “Under my breath I wanted to ask did he miss his kinfolk in that story, Lone Survivor, did you know America allowed you to come live here, be educated here, raise your family here and then to slap my face by showing your daughters three day wedding in Clear Lake using your Braham and the associated Gods from your country as a large picture in your office. Still under my breath but a fact”. I believe while I'm gone I will add to my 2nd Amendment clock on my wall and go ahead and display the Constitution and a Biblical picture of my God, the God of America and God of all Americans. In your Sandlot as mine, we all have ways to calm the Hercules. Yes I will rest on the 238th anniversary of our country's independence from Britain. - Steve Liles

Anonymous said...

Hi Bert, I just listened to your blog via podcast! I sat here, closed my eyes, and I felt like we were once again sitting in the same room. Happy Independence Day! TW

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post. My government has disappointed me many times in the past. It hasn't always done as I wished to see happen. There are times when I simply cannot see how the majority ruled on some issues. But above and beyond all hair-splitting, micro-managing, and divisive tactics by whiners, atheists and those who simply can't leave a good thing alone with out putting boot in it, I am Proud to be an American. This is the Land that I love. I pledge my Allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. Those who have never stepped beyond the borders of our Country can't visualize the wealth and riches we were born with. I am not talking about material wealth. I speak of Freedom, Justice and Liberty, those Ideals men and women have always cherished and gave their lives to preserve. SW

Anonymous said...

That was super. Spot on truth. SL

Anonymous said...

I'm at Lake Houston and must say 50% fireworks and 50% firearms. Wearing a obit. Most I ever seen in a 50 square mile area. My fearless dog is scared. I'm writing her obit. The British are coming. SL

Anonymous said...

How do you find the time Bert?
My internet is as slow as our government and I'm not so sure that either is worth the wait! JWK

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