SIMPLE TRUTH
Posted by ~ REVOLT PRO MEDIA ~Sep 8
Robert Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.
This man makes so much sense that it is hard to believe he has served as a politician from Massachusetts. Never, ever have I heard anyone from that state speak with such lucid common sense and a grasp of what exactly is going on in today’s world.
“I’m Tired” by Robert A. Hall
I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18 Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it. I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help But if they bought Mansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
I’m tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros, and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Christian people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won’t multiculturalism be beautiful?
I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers” ; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to. I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois.
I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation.. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. I Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to FoxNews ? Get a clue.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue, or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three -bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough for me.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs.
And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military… Those are the citizens we need.
I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years-and still are?
Not even close.So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers-bums are bipartisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet as well.
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers, and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught..
I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. Speaking of poor, I’ m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that
in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my grandchildren.
5 comments
Comment by Robert A. Hall on September 9, 2009 at 7:05 am
Thanks for posting my piece, “I’m Tired” Readers may comment on it at my blog: http://www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com. It’s under February. They may also be interested in “This I believe” posted in March and “Economic Facts of Life,” posted in August.
~Bob Hall
Comment by sandra407 on September 9, 2009 at 8:52 am
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Comment by admin on September 9, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Hi Bob,
We added a link to your blog. Thank you for such a great piece.
Marie Gilman
Revolt Pro Media
Comment by admin on September 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hi Sandra,
Glad you like it, we’ll keep posting, so comeback soon!
Marie@Revolt
Comment by Pearl Ramsey on September 13, 2009 at 12:18 am
“I TOO AM ALSO TIRED.” Thank you for fighting for OUR Country! GOD BLESS YOU! My brother will be enlisting as a Marine this year. I just read the blog and was stirred. I’m only 35 and have been tired far longer than you will ever understand. This is not a “Give me my 40 acres and a mule” response. Your words cut in a way that I don’t quite think you understand. Not uncommon are the deep wounds of misunderstanding. Please let me share. Please hear me for the sake of dialogue. I felt and heard the disgust in your tone and while I won’t address everything. I must address something. Let me explain an unfortunate misconception. There is an exhaustion and fatigue that lingers without permission in the souls of the “Minority”/African American community that have never asked for your (White America’s) approval, sympathy or help, just an EQUAL and FAIR chance to build and express our GOD Given creativity and be lucrative for our individual contributions to the world. All we have ever wanted was the opportunity to advance and reach our full potential without the microscope of scrutiny surveying our every movement, not as an individual, but as a race. It seems that everything that African-Americans do is weighed on the scales of worthiness. There is an invisible obligatory contract that binds our progression or digression on each person’s act, conduct or opionion. An invisible point system, not seen, but felt. However, it appears each White Person is allowed the room and time to expand or fail with grace to mature, based on their own individual merit. “TIRED”… You don’t know the half it and I am certain you never will, of carrying an elephant, in addition to the trials of just being human. My response is to the perpetual ignorance that I hear from SOME White Americans that have the audacity to be annoyed by their perceived understanding of a person or people’s efforts or lack thereof. It is such an arrogant and prideful position to assume you know what a person’s response should be in any situation when you are ABSOLUTELY ignorant of their available resources or who they are.
(I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone…)
“HARMING “THEM” THE MOST?” How would you know? When was the last time you spoke to the “HARMED”, you know “THEM”, with an empathetic ear for their proposed plight? When was the last time you took the time to understand without statistics? Having an educated view of both sides yields more peaceable understanding and growth for both parties. Please understand that your views are shared by Some Americans, but certainly not by ALL. I, too am America and if we can civilly disagreee then we have fully comprehended the privilege and honor that both our people have fought for to secure our rights as AMERICANS. I am an intelligent, BLACK/African-AMERICAN, woman, not a stereotype. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get to a place where we could begin to see and respect people as they are and not as you perceive them to be? If we throw hateful remarks back and forth and defame one another who benefits? I am grateful for your valuable insight, but I hope that in your maturity you will not leave this world believing that your views are Absolutely Right and represent the entirety of All AMERICA and certainly not GOD who is much more wise, patient, understanding and compassionate than we will ever be. I do pray to be more like HIS SON. However, your blog, though poetically fluid was extremely biased and gave no credit to your “Opponents or Advesaries’” positive contributions to our country and world. As well as recognizing the error in those you deem as heroes. They are all humans, natural and super. I believe it is so important in our world of opportunist seeking a moment of vulnerability to prey upon people’s fears that we make sure that we don’t place emphasis on people or individuals in an extreme fashion because there are those that lack the discretion to use restraint to respond with acts of hate and violence. I think perhaps your naiveity of race relations in this country is distorted. I experience it even today. My exhaustion is not attributed to the atrocities of slavery, lynchings and the injustices and humiliations of Jim Crow Law but to the intentional employment gridlocks, disappointments, direct racial actions and words I have experienced in my present life and audacious, repugnant and ludicrous “You are so articulate for a………” For a what?” Is my inward disgust. Remarks that flow without reservation or censorship. Scanning me over with eyes of approval that “I don’ good.” Or even earlier this year being called a “F*#@%*% Nigger!”, as a group of comfortably ignorant people rode by, or working with students at a school where students blatantly write “DEATH TO ALL NIGGERS! THE SOUTH WILL RISE!” on lockers and notes. Just to name a few incidentals. And watching a community blush with cordial embarrassment as if to oblige me and us for our inconvenience. This is not even the surface and it’s not just one community. I see the boil and hear the murmurs and watch the pressure cooker as Black and White America smile while watching the animosities simmer. This time the world is watching and so much more is at stake and we must willfully choose to deal and heal one person and ideal at a time. I am not being cynical but you have no idea of the frustration that often is provoked, not from slavery, but by the callous demeanor displayed by “Some” White Americans who act, react, speak and establish ideologies and systems with a notion that you know what’s best for “EVERYONE”. And then if some disagrees with your views of the world, politics or religion, we are labled “unAmerican”. I cringe everytime I hear a White person speak of how hard they work as if you are the only one working. Satirically analyzed or not but if African-Americans alone are the the highest consumer driven demographic, then someone has to be working. Let us not forget the source of our country’s economical strength, our financial fidelity built on slavery. Innately I believe that there are those in White America who believe that we as Blacks are looking for an apology. No……..But RESPECT for the contribution given would be nice. Mutual RESPECT. I think that’s all anyone of us as humans desire. Respect the past and everyday present contributions we give not to make history but to make “OUR COUNTRY” BETTER. Please note while the rest of the world was in trade agreements and embargoes, building financial institutions and schools we were told we weren’t human and not worth teaching, and it’s not as if we were emancipated without restrictions and allowed to broaden our horizons according to the Constitution without unjust and inhumane laws, intimidations, threats and fatal consequences/massacres imposed. I have relatives that are still alive who were apart of such systems. It hasn’t been that long ago and we are psychologically still recovering from the traumas. I would also like to clarify that an African American that doesn’t have integrity is simply a “PERSON” without integrity. A person. There is an obvious guilt that “Some” White Americans have attributed to our painful past and strained relationship, but perhaps healing can begin if each one takes the time re-evaluate their true agitation. I can guarantee that it’s not from without, it’s from within. To thine own self be true. Maybe your being “TIRED” will give you a light comparison of the weight that so many have suffered silently, and were crushed to death by in obscurity. Pain ultimately should produce Compassion. I am sharing not to spew anger but to provide another perspective. Nor am I diminishing the source of your exasperation. But, your judgments from a limited perspective hurt, because it is a vain and narrow perception. “I’m Tired”, I want to thank you for all your hard work because I am an advocate of “DON’T WISH FOR IT! WORK FOR IT!” I too, resent individuals, no matter the color of their skin, ethnicity, gender or religion that bleed our economy. I come from a proud, AMAZING family of educated BLACK people, a loving community and have family and friends who have been stellar in their contributions to “AMERICA” in their chosen occupation. My grandfather fought in WWII. WE ARE AMERICANS too, although our American Experience has been different, it is still Ours. I respect your journey and it only strengthens the reality that this is truly “ONE NATION UNDER GOD”, because one day we will actually believe that “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.” Also, I believe in CHRIST as my faith and do not agree with extreme Muslamic terrorists’ views, but Christianity has had its share of bloodshed as well. It’s not the Faith of Man that defines him, it is how one carries out their faith that demonstrates their GOD. What we believe is demonstrated by how we live. Any extreme is dangerous and only fuels fear and our need to be right. As humans, is it possible to transform and evolve where we will first have a meeting with our own hearts to expose its contents, fears, anxieties and motives before we demand that others adhere to notions that Will change? IF we choose to grow. Perhaps then we won’t have to count the casualties and carnage to determine the victor.
Hope you can hear with an ear to really listen.
“O’ SAY CAN YOU SEE?”
Pearl Ramsey
“Change is the Essence of LIFE; Be willing to Surrender What You Are For Who YOU Could Become”