America's best days are behind us.
Sez who?
Watch this
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/05/the-road-home-intro.html?gt1=43002
then read this if you have 02:35 minutes to spare from your extremely busy day.
Dear Pals,
We just had our financial Halloween when the spooks and hobgoblins of gloom and doom tried to scare us. BOO! BOO! BOO WHO! BOO ME? BOO YOU?
America is going broke. Your 401(k) will be worth 30% less. Unemployment will stay high because everybody's sitting on the sideline waiting for the govenrment to tell us what to do. Do you really beieve in "government direction" or I'm from the government, "I'm here to help."
Or what about your friendly community banker who can see numbers and miss a person's character? Mr. Birkenmeier, your financial statement looks weak, perhaps you should look to your own resources first and, then call us when you don't need the TARP money, which we're not lending because we're using it to fireproof our own asses in "LOAN LOSS RESERVES."
Obama and professional "Lenders" know what's best for you and the rest of "We the Dummies."
Really, and maybe they do, come to think of it. After all the U.S. Dollar is just "printed faith in each other." It's not on the GOLD STANDARD - it's backed by the HUMAN STANDARD.
I think that I might have been too hasty and harsh on our once inspiring new President. That is a distinct possibility. One which I'm going to embrace and ponder. Maybe he's just like me...maybe he just moves too fast and doesn't listen too well. DOH!
In recent days, I've been guilty of doing the same thing I've accused him of doing...I think I'll take some chill pills and Jamieson's Irish Whiskey and listen to the advice of my long-suffering wife, my at-home-son and daughter.
So, I'm going to "Fly into a great calm!" Or as my late Father-in-law used to say, "Serenity now." Or like the old ad jingle sang, "Take Sominex tonight for safe and restful sleep, sleep...sleep.
Ahhh...much better after a good night's sleep, safe and snug at home with the people and cats who truly love me!
At last I'm beginning to get it. I am a quick thinker, but a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slow learner.
Let's go back in the Birk Tme Machine to yesterday, Veteran's Day 2010.
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Now today is Armistice Day (aka Veteran's Day) the 11th., hour of the 11th. Day of the 11th. month. The "War to End All Wars" - The Great War ended on this date in 1918 in a railroad car in France.
Let the celebration begin!! Pop the corks! Pour out the all-American Korbel and French Moet Champagnes. It's time for wine, women and song!
American veteran's came home to the tune, "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm, after they've seen Paree." And we couldn't even buy 'em a drink because the do-gooders had been very busy while our brave lads had been away.
Welcome home to Prohibition and Temperence and scolding and judging and a lot of here's how to run your life BS from really smart people who knew what was best for our Veterans.
Jobs were scarce and shuttering the "evil" distilleriiess and breweries really helped. Closing them down meant ending jobs for teamsters, barrel makers, harness makers like Hermann Oak Leather, wort tank makers, millers and timeclock makers had to shift gears fast. Demon Rum was demonized! ( NOTE: Beware of Demonizers.)
Sweeper-uppers, had a lot less to sweep up. Thank God for Adolphus and Gussie!!!
The very govenment that our lads had been defending was now here to help them by telling them how to run their lives.
What utter hubris. Hubris is not just a disease of the left alone! The right is just as bad.
Where were these do-gooders when brave men were dying and limbs were flying in the air. They were in the same place they are today. Sitting smugly in the seat of the scornful, telling us how to run our lives. Liquor would never cross their lips...nor would kisses from AEF boys with "family-starting" on their minds! Those returning heroes had a bellyfull of dying and killing...they were looking for LOVE!! And, the women of Paris had already shown many of them the portal to the "Tunnel of Love" if you get my drift. Amusement parks used to have "Tunnels of Love" and many a young couple first dicovered the sweetness of a kiss and amused themselves in a floating swan.
Many veterans poured into the urban centers with a thirst for an exciting life, liberty, Flapper girls and of course, Packards, Pierce-Arrows and beer and whiskey - thoughtfully provided by happy people called, "The Micks." Or "Pug Uglies." My own family were Pug Uglies - one of the five Gangs Of New York. We're and attractive breed with no necks and slighty bugged-out eyes...like a Pug or Boston Bull Terrier.
The Irish were also sometimes cleverly disguised as Dagos, Wops and Jews. Entrepreneurs one and all in this "emerging" GREEN industry! There was plenty of GREEN to go around. It was America's original entrepreneurial GREEN industry. GREEN money and even GREEN BEER on St. Patrick's Day.
But, there were also so some real attractions "down on the farm" - a city girl named Kate Birkenmeier fell in love with the shyest, quietest country boy our family ever knew and Aunt Kate left the bright lights of St. Louis to marry and move down to the farm to be with the love of her life Uncle Jerome Lutz in Weingarten, MO.
"The Lutz's were dirt poor, but rich in kids," Grandma Birkenmeier used to point out.
Today, I'll drink a toast to my Dad - who was with Patton's 3rd Army, my Grandpa, who was in the Bois de le Brigade Marine with his Negros and Filipinos; to Uncle Art who went to the South Pacific to "kill Japs" and Uncle Irwin who hung onto in the remains of a tailgunner position on a wild ride back to Tinian or Siapan.
I salute my first father-in-law Capt. Eugene "Bud" Hartrich who flew over "The Hump" and under wires out in West Texas in a B-17. To Capt. Ellis J. Van Slyck, MD, who answered the Korean call. To Dave Summers, Sergeant of Infantry, United States Army (ret) who fought in a battle in Viet Nam that most people never heard of - The Battle of the Michilien Plantation.
Today I'll pour a round of shots on the bar at OB Clarks at 11:11.10 - and I'll propose to The Lost Planet Airmen, and all the other clowns, who hang out there that we plan for a 100th Anniversary Celebration in 11.11.11. (11.12.11 note: Actually I got there late, because of stupidity and not following directions.)
Today it looks all dark and dreary, but I'm not afraid at all because America has always been willing to sacrifice and spend our real "National Treasure" - we have fallen sons and daughters all around the world mostly beneath the white crosses and Mogen Davids of our Judeo-Christian land.
I don't think we built a U.S. National cemetary in Korea or Viet Nam - and I don't think the "offensive" Cross and Star Of David will adorn any hallowed ground in the lands where the Crescent Moon hangs.
Today we bring our boys and girls bodies home quietly in the dead of night, we hide the price of freedom. And, when there is a public ceremony, the grieving family has to endure the vomit-enducing insults of so-called Christian fundamentlists, who are neither Christian or fundamentally kind and decent. I think even Jesus might have cast the first stone at these scornful judges. (NOTE: Remember, Jesus was The Prince of Peace, but even he had limits...ask the money changers, who felt the sting of his rage. Some behavior is beyond thr pale of fundamental human decency and PC-tolerance.)
Now, let me ask you a question?
Why worry about your stupid 401(k) - our ancestor veterans never had one. Yet they showed us all how to live and die. Not for oil or gold or spice from Zanzibar.
They died to protect the real treasure of America, the pearl of great price. To have it you have to give it all away...including your life. All around the world the soil has been watered and seeded with young Americans - our best and bravest.
If they could invest their lives for me...I can at least invest my life savings to save the America they died for. The currency speculator and left-funding George Soros can have all the money in the world and he'll still be an impoverished and soulless man.
Hey George "Soreass" Soros, here's a big "UP YOURS!
From me and my ancestors and from very liberty loving American that ever has or will ever live.
On this day my Grandfather used to drink the simple toast, "To the Lost."
And in my dream, he'd rub my little head and say, "and the Found."
One day I asked him what that meant.
He said, "It's like The Lost and Found at The Grand Leader, you might think you've lost something but it's really waiting for you if you only know where to look for it. Hence the old saying, "What's lost is found - the war-weary and world-battered Prodigal Son returns to His Father's house. You'll understand someday."
He was not a formally educated man and I'm no college grad either. But, I heard or imagined this in Collinish English, "College can make the rich and dumb even more stupider."
Will I see you at OB Clark's? I'm buying a round for "The Lost and Found." (NOTE: If you we'ren't able to make it on Thursday, it's a standing offer that will only expire when I do - or when the Irish stop making Jamieson's. I'll always take one half shot to the Lost and one to the Found.
I heard a man say, "50% of happiness is from the people you have in your life. And 50% is from the people you don't have in your life." Psychic vampires can drain your energy...I'm sticking with the energy and health infusers from now on!
Ahhh...it's good to be home here in St. Louis...which is heaven on earth. If you know it is!
Birk, Commonsensetarian, Citizen of the Republic and a Mob of One
PS: Ironically, try as I might I was never smart enough to get into West Point, Annapolis or the Air Force Academy. I always wanted to be a soldier. But that's wasn't to be - instead I got to spend my wonderful life like Harry Baily creating advertising campaigns using Strategy and Tactics and Logistics - I'm getting ready to do that again. Only this time I have to balance my output with my income - I finally figured out what a consultant with my level of experience and expertise and energy level should charge.
I am a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slow learner...maybe I need to hurry more slowly.
SO I'm unleashing the power of my own money and some cash borrowed with interest from The Bank of Pals. Our national currency is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America and our real national treasure...our Reluctant Warriors...brave and tall who are always willing to answer the call and give their all.
My personal currency is backed by my energy and the good ideas that flow into my brain as a gift from God and by the love, kindness, encoragement and oh yes, never-ending patience of my Pals.
i am rich beyond measure - like Harry Baily, In it's A Wonderful Life, I found heaven on earth right here in the Heart Of America...the land of the big rivers and the big people of The Lion Of The Valley. My home town, St. Louis, Missouri.
ONE Last thought - about our Reluctant Warriors who come home with broken bodies, minds and spirits. What can you do to help heal them??
Maybe it's just little things that can mean a lot.
Greet them!
Thank 'em every day!
Buy 'em breakfast...buy 'em a beer!
Let them know that every town is their town.
That every home is their home.
That every family is their family.
Every dinner table is their dinner table.
Tell 'em THE WELCOME MAT is out at your home.
Put 'em - cook 'em a homecooked meal.
Love 'em like your own sons and daughters - because they are!
Reach out an touch their prosthesis.
Shake it. It is the hand we gave them for the hand they gave the world.
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LEGAL NOTICE: This message Is sponsored by Spotted Dog Books a publishing unit of Capstone Publications and T. J. Birkenmeier, Inc., DBA The ORCA Partnership, St. Louis, MO 63144. 314-918-7500 All rights are unreserved and be used without the permission of the author T. J. "Birk" Birkenmeier on every day of the year on which America's Reluctant Warriors are revered and honored. Especaially in Irish Bars and places like the St. Louis Irish Institute of Talmudic-Jesuitical-Augustinian Philosophical Studies - aka. O.B. Clarks.
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SHAMELESS COMMERCIAL MESSAGE: Because we've grown accustomed to eating.
I wrote SHOE TOWN as an homage to Tom, Joe, Harry and Frank - it's about a St. Louis past in 1931 and St. Louis future in 2031.
My first novel, SHOE TWON is a St. Louis PSI-story about "soles and souls and heals and heels" - some Lost and some Found.
Order today! ISBN 978-143926500 In soft cover and on KINDLE.
Special autographed editions of SHOE TOWN are available upon request from my literary agents Michelle and Karen and Ed "what's his name." ( It's not Clark...and it doesn't really matter because O'Brien, the genial proprieter prefers complete anonomity.)
FYI: All books purchased with a shot of Jamieson's will have 100% of the proceeds going to St. Louis Childrens, Cardinal Glennon and Shriners Hospitals. And Ed will give you a FREE manly hug!