Tuck's Tales

This is not negative thought day its lets call it like ya see it day.  I’m not sure we will or can ever remove race and religion from politics.  With an agenda driven country seeking satisfaction based on a desire to advance themselves forsaking all others, we will never fix this.  How does the government of the people by the people remain unbiased while trying to appease every social agenda imaginable?

Race and Religion, mix in some politics in America and you have a recipe for disaster.  No sense in beating around the bush.  Lets try for a minute to look past what you have been conditioned to believe is fair and use the common sense God gave you.  Can we do that with an open mind?  Is it a prerequisite to attack an alternative thought than affects you even if the logic rings true? 

Anyone of color (I love that, isn’t white a color?) who lived in America from the 1700′s through about oh about 1970 has a right to bitch about despicable treatment. I will not downplay the horrible events that occurred before I was even in kindergarten.  So since I had squat to do with that why is anyone mad at me?  Seriously folks unless you are much older than me, shut the hell up! You are not trying to fight for equality you are trying to get more than you deserve because of your race.

Amongst those I am familiar with, exists not the true definition of racism but a growing irritation at the belief that different makes you special.  The entitlement clause as it were has gone awry. Does racism exists today? Yes and it benefits as well as hinders.  As long as there are close-minded idiots raising their kids to hate for no reason then there will be a fraction of the world f’d up, no other way to say it.

The flip side are the folks who knowingly fight for programs designed to pacify, as if no federal programs exist to protect all people from blatant unfair treatment.  It’s the crazy militants in the forefront pushing for advancement and special treatment, not equality, that goads every news organization in the world to jump all over purported acts of racism simply because conflict sells.  Aren’t we smart enough to see through this.  Both acts erode any possibility of civility.

Even within the hierarchy of races treatment is fickle. When can you remember a high level firing like Don Imus due to something he said about a Chinese basketball team?  How is it that Michael Vick goes to jail and everyone says, well he shouldn’t have killed those dogs, yet that crazy SOB OJ gets off with a wink and a nod.  Come on now, I love dogs but um damn folks.  Somewhere is someone crazy enough to think well that’s about 100,000 to two!  Should we even the score of past injustice to promote peaceful existence.  I know, I know how could I possibly understand, I’m Irish, my people no nothing of hardship and torment.

OK what about this doosey, lets collectively disregard law and allow an entire race of foreigners who some Americans are historically related to enjoy protection under a constitution designed for its legal citizens?  Is citizenship so watered down now that we mitigate their law breaking by changing their moniker?   Once again race loyalty overrides common sense and even seems to suggest that legal rights be earned based on relationship.

If you haven’t noticed because you were too busy being pissed off at the man, the man has changed.  Regardless of your race has your life changed?  It might in the future. According to Supreme Court Justice (the nomination is a given) Sonia SotoMayor, the richness of her experience will allow her to make better decisions than the white man. What does that say about the rest of us? Did she just say, I am a racist Puerto Rican and my intent is to advance only those that fall into a category that I feel strongly about?  No she did not, so why in this land of the free are there programs and people who are federally protected in their belief and promotion of separatism and divisiveness.

Those that benefit from these programs like SotoMayor know inside that fairness is being sidestepped.  IMHO She believes that ultimately the drive for diversity overrides all.

Why is there such uproar and name calling when a different class/race cries foul, are they not entitled to a dream also?  Talk to the firemen in New Haven, Conn.  It all comes down to agendas.  Still, makes you wonder about her statement if it were reversed.  She would be changing radio stations also.

If you believe in God good for you.  I do too, so what, does that make us better than someone who doesn’t.  No!  Now tell a Christian that there is no heaven and that when he or she dies there is no life after death or tell a Buddhist that there will be no reincarnation.  Then try to convince a Mormon not to go on a mission.  Good Luck with that, you will get an argument but you will not get blown up at a street side café.  Talk about an agenda. Oh peaceful Islam, good thing not everyone takes the whole “smite at the neck thing” seriously.

I don’t care if a statue or monument or tablet or pylon and obelisk throughout the land bears the name Moses or the Ten Commandments or Ben Hur.  Seriously, can you bitch about history?  Sure you can, but you don’t get to change it just because it offends you.  Get over yourself Atheist and the associations that drop a lawsuit in support of your craziness.  Jesus Christ people (oh no the Christians just stopped reading) then on the other hand…

Oh holiest of rollers – Stop trying to decide who’s more right, you won’t know for sure until your dead and then you don’t get to come back and say see asshole I told you.  Some religious organizations spend more time bashing each other.  Have they forgotten the big picture?  Isn’t it all about faith?  I believe this and it’s ok if you don’t.  Look around you are you seeking a stone to cast heathen?

So where is the tie-in?  Right here:  Jefferson whom I believe to be the smartest of our fore-fathers in a letter on Jan. 1, 1802, to an address from the Danbury (Conn.) Baptist Association contains a statement “a wall of separation between church and state.” This phrase has become well known because it is considered to explain (many would say, distort) the “religion clause” of the First Amendment to the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion …,” a clause whose meaning has been the subject of passionate dispute for the past 50 years. Did this mean that Jefferson did not believe in religion?  No I think he rightfully expected it to be separate but still play a role in the hearts and minds of men.

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation”.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men”.

This is in my opinion the meat of the agenda issue.  Let your heart and sole be lifted by the satisfaction you feel in support of what you consider important.  Do not expect me to do any more than respect your right to do so.  Do not think for a moment because you are somehow different entitles you to shite.  Americans are all different.  That’s what the country was founded on, separate states with equal interests.   Different ideals within a commonality of geographics.

Should the government splinter fairness today based on the reprehensible actions of the past?  Would we have the government pass judgement on people based on their own faith based beliefs.  Thank God for the Supreme Court (OH crap there’s a hearing coming up isn’t there?)   Never will I agree with any legislation that benefits one group more than another, unless of course its a veterans group.

Is is just me or does it make sense that we make trucks 75 feet long and roads to small to accommodate them.  My neighbors down the street are moving, I liked them they seemed like really nice people and now I hate them because their freaking transfer and storage truck just drove over half my yard, sidewalk and sprinkler system.  Why you ask?  because the F’n truck is too big.   I am screaming at the guy who just throws his hands in the air like what do you want me to do.  Who’s GD fault is it.  Well you can’t blame the people moving they just contracted the movers.  Can you blame the company for buying such a big truck, or the designers of the subdivision that built the road to the bare minimum requirements because of money.   Someone needs to be held accountable and there’s no one to blame.  So I will just be pissed off at all SOB’s that drive big rigs for a while.  So don’t flame me with comments about oh if it weren’t for the big trucks then the cost of goods would go up because more gas would be used and the trips would multiply, blah, blah, what-the-bloody-hell-ever!

Ok so we can all agree that Email is the greatest thing to ever happen.  You would probably agree that it has made life easier in some respects and more stressful at the same time.  While the ease at which we can whip out non-verbal communications and transmit to every imaginable device in the blink of an eye is awesome, the dread of spam and friends/relatives that don’t get the medium is driving me crazy.  Now my son and daughter will guffaw at oh knowledgeable one, me, and my thinking I’m in the know attitude, none-the-less I will attempt to share a humble opinion of what’s good and bad here.  This will be too much to do in one sitting so we will break this up and start with the ever popular “Forward”. 

 First and foremost, you don’t have to forward every freaking e-mail you receive.  Why do we do this?  This is by far the worst email faux pas, other than maybe typing in all capitals.  Compartmentalize your forwards to those you think would enjoy.  If you are convinced that you are the world’s best judge of humor and enlightenment then fine send across your group dividing line but never be a mass forwarder.  Also clean up your forwards for the love of Pete, please delete the previous addresses I don’t need to see the hierarchy of your life. 

I love people who have to be the first to send it along as if they actually created the email.  Fwd = you didn’t do it.  You don’t get credit for the forward even if you were first.  Sharing is ok, over-sharing is not.  Now this caveat does exist, something that makes you smile will probably make another friend of yours do the same.  That being said some sick shit makes me laugh, not all will appreciate all.  It’s ok to fwd if your intentions are pure.   Some photos fall into this category.   Remember never use reply to all…ever!  No way you know that many like-minded people, and for God’s sake check the TO and CC line before you forward to someone who already got it. 

 Now in keeping with the forward, if you send me an email that says please don’t delete, you will die a horrible death and fall off a cliff if you delete or god will smite you at the neck have the decency to put that at the beginning of the fwd so that I can delete immediately.  I will not be waiting for my blessing or for Bill Gates to give me money, or for oil producing nations to feel the pain of our boycotting certain gas stations. 

 Do us all a favor and think about your forward.  Realize that the email you casually send causes some of us anguish.  Do I reply to this dumb-ass friend of mine after I have Snoped it and found his/her email to be poppycock.  (Elderly parents get a pass on this one)  The only reason this bothers me so much is because I am on a twelve step program that is similar to Al-Anon called IWSF (I will SNOPES first)  Hi my name is Steve and I used to forward everything.  HI STEVE… I will not forward what I do not believe,   I will not believe every thing I receive, I will at least raise an eyebrow or cock my head to the side before I forward…..you get the picture.  My friend MB broke me of this and I feel the necessity to share it with you.   

 Secondly or thirdly whatever – Do not try and envelop me in your agenda.  The restrictions on Politics and religion still apply when it comes to Email.  Unless you were in the same line at the polls or have the same confederate flag in the back of your truck be careful what you forward.  God forbid we offend.  People get fired over email now days.  And while we are on that.  Who gets to decide what email is considered so offensive that you can lose your livelihood over it.  Jeez I say bring back Lenny Bruce.  If it offends him then it truly is offensive other than that lighten the hell up people.  I am easily offended by stupidity but you don’t see very many members of congress losing their position over that do ya?

  So stop trying to get me saved by hoping that I will feel the lord thru the keys and quit trying to enhance my male hood, and If there truly was a chance that I could have an erection for 4 hours I would not call the doctor I would tell my wife to pack a lunch. 

 If I didn’t laugh at Redneck Weddings and Ghetto Fabulous Prom’s I would say come up with something new.  I still want the pictures of puppies and sand/sidewalk art.  I don’t want the e-postcards that make me feel guilty if I don’t open the damn things up.  I do want the little Johnny jokes but stop sending the Blond jokes none and I mean none of them are funny. 

 Quit sending the lists of do you remember because even If I do I don’t want to admit it and I don’t care if I don’t pass the IQ tests (even if I try and cheat), I don’t want to Elf myself at Christmas and I spent 22 years in the Navy so I support the Damn troops quit sending me sentimental messages that say what I already know.    

 There now go out and forward this to at least 62 of your closest friends or you will get hit by a bus.

So I am in a local eatery… the server, waitress, what-ever their called these days is literally trapped in restaurant hell by a host of teenage kids who just came from a football game.  They are either being extremely rude or exuding an un-natural attitude of superiority while ordering, driving me and this server nuts.  The fat-assed and I ain’t talking a little, I am talking sweats when he walks fat, manager is completely oblivious or more likely, completely apathetic to this poor girls plight.

As I watch, my irritation level rises and my wife who used to be a server at Denny’s (oh my is right!) try’s to keep me calm and out of it.  This is just one of many instances where I have witnessed not just kids but down right bitchy adults contemptuously treat their fellow man or woman with distain simply due to their career choice.

Why do we do this?  Is this a god-given right to torment the waitress or waiter?  I would venture to say that we all have lost patience at some point with a bad server or a person in a customer service position, but does that give us the right to belittle these people?  Who the hell do we think we are Brad and Angelina? (Their probably cool)

I am sure some psycho-babbling “therapist” would say that people who do this are somehow unhappy in their own situation.  Because of their own weaknesses or insecurities these morons take out their frustrations on the defenseless smock or apron-wearer.  I would like to blame the parents but as one, I know too well that training and enlightenment only go so far.

Even I, yes the self-anointed right thinker, have felt my teeth grit on occasion when I receive poor service.  Do we all deserve the best service?  “Damn right you say”… really? Why do you think so? Because you’re the customer, big freakin deal Jimmy.  Seriously, because I am ordering two- “blue plate specials” or “grand slams” if you will, do I truly deserve the 5 star services I think I am entitled to?

I am reminded by my beautiful red-headed daughter that people just suck some times.  She slings pasta and is a photographer/web designer, both at the same time.  I guess most of us can be placed in the “suck” classification on any given day.  Yet I think we often don’t remember what mom and dad said about putting ourselves in the other person’s rubber soled shoes.

I recognize that it was their decision to work at your crappy home town restaurant or diner,  but for the love of Pete, can a sister just get a ridiculous tip every once in a while?  We are quick to make a statement with a 50c tip but have you ever given a ten dollar tip for a small meal and good service?  If your honest, probably not.  ”They don’t deserve it” you say “they just did their job”.  Think about that statement jack-hole.  Who needs the money more than a server?  Most of them are getting paid squat and are living off of those tips.  It’s ok to complain about poor service but many of us are truly uppity little shits when you dig into your pocket for a tip.

So when you lay that dollar down, think about the miserable little douche-bag who turns over the ketchup bottle without the top, or loosens the lids to the salt and pepper shakers.  Think about the punks who connect 75 straws together and sit at the table ordering water for 3 hours.  Much less the padded bra wearing micro-chicks who think they are Paris Hilton when ordering that double chocolate malted shake that you have to hand blend.

Don’t get pissed when you pile all YOUR kids into their own booth and they order the freaking expensive Italian soda because you weren’t watching!  You are their mother not the waitress,  pay attention and tip the girl for having to tolerate your brats.

When you are about to stiff the server look at the plate with the leftover pie you just put your cigarette out in and the milk glass you just stuffed your napkin in and remember that someone has to clean up your mess.  Jeez people I mean really…. ok now I am hungry, I wonder if Village Inn is still open?

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There exists in this world, groups of people that are protected species of sorts.  “Challenged” (buzzword) helpless, or incapacitated mentally or physically.  Sometimes they possess titles and or afflictions that differentiate them from others, making them off limits to the apathetic norm of society.   These people are protected under the law (concern by requirement) and it seems right not to take advantage of these less fortunate.

However, when someone parks in a handicap zone, don’t tell me you aren’t thinking “they better be limping” when they get out of that car.  When you get lapped in Wal-mart by someone on one of those damn scooters, I know your thinking “that SOB isn’t handicapped he’s just freaking fat”.  “Get up you lazy bastard you need to walk”.

If some grizzled old broad is breathing oxygen thru a hole in her neck, aren’t you thinking hey no one forced you to smoke 12 packs a day lady.   When you see a veteran with a sign that says “will work for food” are you as torn as I am.  “Dude can you really be this down?  Or are you pan-handling”?  “Stop embarrassing veterans everywhere”, or do you pull over and help him out?

If a group of Nuns were walking (no this isn’t a joke) down the sidewalk and one fell, would you help her up because she is a woman or because she is a servant of God.  Both you say, why?  Because that’s the way we were raised.  What about a blind atheist is it ok for that guy to cross the street on red because he doesn’t believe anyway? Or are we required to be concerned because were good Christians.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He taught His followers to go far beyond merely helping preserve the property of a friend or neighbor. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45).

I’m struggling with that love your enemies’ piece.  I need to compartmentalize my concern.  I am not good enough nor have the necessary energy to care for all.  Would it be ok if I just paid attention to my family, my friends, my neighbors and my co-workers?  I guess on a good day we could even extend that to my city and state.  Then again, I do care about the American people in general or I wouldn’t have spent 22 years serving them.  But that’s it.

I am sure that I don’t want to be concerned about the plight of Mexican people; I am positive that I don’t want to send trillions of dollars in tax money into IRAQ for people who think its ok to throw shoes at my president.  (I might want to but you don’t get to) Is it ok for my countrymen and women to die for a region that will never stop fighting amongst themselves much less appreciate one minute of what we have done for them.

Do I have to care about Darfur, and Somalia or any Arab country that teaches their children to hate America and all we stand for?  Is it necessary for us to love the French who have proven to be world class ass-holes no matter how many times we save their bacon?

What about PETA and NOW and spotted owls and United Auto workers and Wall Street and Whales.  What about the people who keep voting Ted Kennedy and Harry Reid into office.

Do I have to care about every different cultural nationality within our borders?  Am I required to wear a sombrero during Cinco-de-mayo and drink a beer on Oktoberfest (yes)?  Why do I have to include Happy Kwanzaa during Christmas when it is a self created holiday by a racist, kidnapping torturer and rapist who now is a california college professor.

What about Citibank, and seals, Enron and AIG.  Greenhouse gasses, global warming, starving children, charities, the homeless, the poor and afflicted and Al Gore.

I am afraid that I will for many reasons not be worthy in the eyes of the Lord, because I don’t care that Martha Steward went to jail.  I didn’t waste a minute of my time on Anna Nichole Smith, Paris Hilton, Brittany or Lindsey, and if I ever see Michael freaking Moore I will most likely be charged with assault.  Sorry, this will be my cross to bear.   Amen

The definition of truth is:  a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.  So the definition is easy, how about the application.  I read a line from Dr. Tom Osborne’s book “On Solid Ground“  about how thin the veil of common courtesy has become.  Is it ok to be rude when your being honest.  Does the truth transcend the delivery.  The older I get the less patience I have for those who don’t follow the rules.  So when someone cuts in line, shouldn’t they hear the truth.  When a motorist shows bad form wouldn’t a “sign” of my dissent be appropriate.

When 20 million illegal aliens don’t pay taxes should at least one elected official not suffering from lack-o-sack sound the call.  My mother told me that I was not put on earth to be the truth police.  I am not so sure.  I think that whether you want to hear it or whether you need to hear it can be subjective.   So when is it right.

If your wife asks you whether her jeans make her ass look big well, choose wisely, the consequences could be dire.   Do all women think they’re asses are too big.  Surely we can find one that thinks her butt is perfect and her drivers license photo is good.  I digress, but I do feel a tangent coming on.  So do all fat people need to hear that the diet coke isn’t working, and should we tell smokers that were tired of paying inflated health care premiums because they can’t stop spinning the chamber of the russian roulette pistol.

When I was a tad younger I used the slang term for a mouth-hug in the presence of a “lady”.  The appropriate response should have been to call myself a pig and beg forgiveness.  Appalled at my vernacular, she proceeded to bash my existence.  Truthfully I felt it necessary to remind her that I had only uttered the term and that surely she was more knowledgeable than I at the physics involved.  Once again recognition for me came too late and her attitude really sucked after that.

Is a vanilla lie ok and a chocolate city better (Ray)?  So size does matter and yes honey your mustache is thicker than mine.  You are not challenged, or have special needs, your retarded, ugly and stupid.  Can we really say those things?  Maybe, does your definition of the truth allow for days filled with kindness and benevolence and also give you a pass to be an ass.  I didn’t know but apparently you can be rude and use profanity if you don’t kiss your mother with that mouth.

I’m still confused, should I tell the truth or temper my remarks so as not to be rude.   Should I call Dr. Tom.  Some of us will  continue to struggle with the when and how, doling out truth and lies when necessary.  I wonder if Mom’s still up..