Posts Tagged ‘history’

…Americans in history: It stinks. 80% of the names of the top 23 have no business on that list and as is true with all such lists, too much attention is paid to contemporaries.

But lists generate hits, hey I clicked on it.

Unimpeachable logic

Posted: August 12, 2010 by datechguy in elections, oddities
Tags: , , , ,

The “official” story as to why Biden was chosen for VP was that Michelle Obama didn’t want Hillery Clinton on the ticket and thanks to John McCain’s implosion (despite Sarah Palin’s best efforts) it turns out she wasn’t needed.

Now the talk is again of putting Clinton on the ticket in 2012 and Glenn Reynolds gives three reasons against. Can anyone explain why #3 would have been any less valid in 2008.

3. If Hillary is going to be one heartbeat away from the Oval Office, would you want that to be your heartbeat?

I got no answer to that one.

There has been a lot talk about Illegal Immigration and opposition to Mosques in the US lately. There have been plenty of people who have for political reasons been throwing the word “Racist” around. What these people don’t understand (at least I HOPE they don’t understand) is the reason why we see this much anger over these issues is because Illegal Immigration and Radical Islam both violate the implied American Social Compact.

This social compact represent the genius of America, it is why both the best and brightest and the poor and oppressed have come here. It’s a very simple thing. It works as follows:

1. You can come to America and make a better life for your children and grandchildren.

2. While you are here you can worship as you believe, think what you believe, write what you believe and bring up your children with your values.

3. You can embrace and lovingly reflect your native culture as you assimilate into American Culture

4. You can even over time become a US Citizen and vote how you believe as well.

5. In return we expect you to become American, You will learn the language as best you can and transfer your loyalty to this country.

6. You will obey the laws of the country. You will not work for its defeat or destruction.

7. Regardless of how you feel you will not act on any ethnic or religious grudges you had in the old country.

8. And you will carry your own load, we will provide education for your children and some assistance but you will do your best.

9. If you follow all of these conditions America will help you become the best you can be! And by doing so you will make America a better place.

When Mosques breed Jihadists they are violating this compact. When Mosques do not they are embracing it.

When Muslims practice honor killings in America it violates the compact, when Muslims march with Jews and Christians in 4th of July parades they embrace it.

When you come to America legally you embrace the compact, when you come illegally you reject it.

When come here and work hard to put your children through college in America you embrace it, when you come here illegally and expect your children to get in state tuition you reject it.

Americans understand that we are very lucky to be born here. I understand that I owe what I have to the decision by my grandparents to leave everything and come here from Sicily just over 100 years ago. What the majority of the country objects are people not only ignoring the compact that their ancestors lived by, but claiming to be victimized by those who pay for their safety net and protect the freedoms they enjoy here.

I don’t blame any person from moving heaven and earth to come here, particularly if their own country is plagued by violence, but if you come here and violate the law don’t complain when it is enforced.

Hey I know times are hard I’m on unemployment myself, but I also know that the money that is currently sustaining me is the generosity of the taxpayer and the votes of their representatives. The moment I feel I am entitled to their largess I am no longer worthy of it.

Nellie King, born too early

Posted: August 11, 2010 by datechguy in baseball, oddities
Tags: ,

Baseball Musings announced the death of Pirates Announcer Nellie King. I wasn’t familiar with the man but something in the post on his death struck me.

He pitched two outstanding seasons in 1955 and 1956, and then was out of baseball after the 1957 season.

I looked at his stars from baseball reference.com and his stats looked ok.

What struck me was the 4 seasons and out. If he came up today he might have made enough to live pretty comfortably and with current sports medicine the injury (of which I have no details about) might have only shelved him for a season or less.

Then again the pirates would have been deprived of a fine announcer.

Pretty soon we will run out of players who played under the old reserve clause and there will be nobody with actual baseball experience to remind young ballplayers just how lucky they are to have been born after 1970.