We put a small storage shed in the back of our little wooded area "Sherwood Forest." It's a quaint little building with nice windows, a skylight and a small flower box that hangs below one of the windows. So I put some flowers in there and completed the magical "Leave it to Beaver" homesite - the perfect world.
So one day I'm walking around the backyard of the new house and went to water the flowers in the windowbox of the shed when a little bird comes flying out into my face from the box. I look a little closer and darn'd if there isn't a nest in there with three eggs hatched. I thought that was so cool. Momma bird had just left so I could see the little guys - blind and hungry - still straining their necks and beaks upward to get more food from momma...I took a picture and was able to get one of the little guys doing what he does best...mouth open, neck extended, head upward, unable to fly or even leave the nest for that matter, waiting for momma to bring him something to keep him alive.
Then I thought about some present day Americans. Necks extended, mouths wide open, head up, waiting for momma government to give them something they think will help them stay alive. But then I had a crushing thought and saw a huge difference between these little birds and most 'gimme-gimme, hate the rich who give them their jobs, class envy' Americans; the birds will eventually leave the nest - usually as soon as possible - while Americans repressed by an increasingly socialistic government whose main goal is to stay in power and buy votes of the underclass through government handouts, making these poor people think that government is actually helping them.
I can't help but go back to the Civil War and the "question," that brought it about. African Americans were set free by a Republican. A member of the new "whig" party - none other than Abraham Lincoln. Then I fly forward to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. You think Democrat Kennedy is the Champion of Civil Rights? John F. Kennedy's civil rights record before 1963 was neither a clear endorsement nor rejection of civil rights legislation. (Excerpted from the Congressional Record) "As a presidential campaigner in 1960, Kennedy largely avoided the civil rights issue for basically political reasons. Although he endorsed some kind of federal action, he could not afford to antagonize southern Democrats whose support he desperately needed to defeat Republican candidate Richard M. Nixon. In outlining the most important issues for the campaign early in 1960, Kennedy ignored civil rights rather than jeopardize his political support.
After his election in November 1960, the new President failed to suggest any new civil rights proposals in 1961 or 1962, again for political reasons. He needed southern (Democrat) support in Congress for his other foreign and domestic programs. The House of Representatives debated the bill for nine days and rejected nearly one hundred amendments designed to weaken the bill before passing H.R .7152 on February 10, 1964. Of the 420 members who voted, 290 supported the civil rights bill and 130 opposed it. Republicans favored the bill 138 to 34; Democrats supported it 152-96. It is interesting to note that Democrats from northern states voted overwhelmingly for the bill, 141 to 4, while Democrats from southern states voted overwhelmingly against the bill, 92 to 11. A bipartisan coalition of Republicans and northern Democrats was the key to the bill's success. This same arrangement would prove crucial later to the Senate's approval of the bill." And last but not least - "The Republican Party was not so badly split as the Democrats by the civil rights issue. Only one Republican senator participated in the filibuster against the bill. In fact, since 1933, Republicans had a more positive record on civil rights than the Democrats. In the twenty-six major civil rights votes since 1933, a majority of Democrats opposed civil rights legislation in over 80 % of the votes. By contrast, the Republican majority favored civil rights in over 96 % of the votes."
After his election in November 1960, the new President failed to suggest any new civil rights proposals in 1961 or 1962, again for political reasons. He needed southern (Democrat) support in Congress for his other foreign and domestic programs. The House of Representatives debated the bill for nine days and rejected nearly one hundred amendments designed to weaken the bill before passing H.R .7152 on February 10, 1964. Of the 420 members who voted, 290 supported the civil rights bill and 130 opposed it. Republicans favored the bill 138 to 34; Democrats supported it 152-96. It is interesting to note that Democrats from northern states voted overwhelmingly for the bill, 141 to 4, while Democrats from southern states voted overwhelmingly against the bill, 92 to 11. A bipartisan coalition of Republicans and northern Democrats was the key to the bill's success. This same arrangement would prove crucial later to the Senate's approval of the bill." And last but not least - "The Republican Party was not so badly split as the Democrats by the civil rights issue. Only one Republican senator participated in the filibuster against the bill. In fact, since 1933, Republicans had a more positive record on civil rights than the Democrats. In the twenty-six major civil rights votes since 1933, a majority of Democrats opposed civil rights legislation in over 80 % of the votes. By contrast, the Republican majority favored civil rights in over 96 % of the votes."
So what happened? I don't know except to say that alot of people have been mislead to believe that being arrested, going to jail, and the denigration of women through songs is cool.
Oh well - back to the porch in PA.
Here's my jerk younger brother Joe already beginning his tormenting of me. Leon Sr. with the beard and Mobil Gas shirt looks on...+Kircher+Jr.+&+Joe+in1st+fight-Clarks+Summit+PA.jpg)
