September 2023
Thanks, Brooks
27/09/23 07:36
September 27, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 39) - It is a measure of greatness when a famed artist like Norman Rockwell is compelled to paint your likeness. It is also a measure of Rockwell's greatness that his painting so successfully captures the essence of his subject, Brooks Robinson. Brooksie (as his legions of fans called him) was best known as the slick fielding third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. For 23 seasons, the Little Rock, Arkansas, native set the gold (glove) standard for all who played the position. However, Rockwell chose to depict Robinson as he was off the field, as a genuinely nice, kind and considerate man. That was my personal experience with my childhood hero. I met him once in 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was a reporter for WRAL-FM and Robinson had come into town as making a personal appearance for the Crown Oil Company. When I found out that he was in town, I threw journalistic integrity out the window and conjured an excuse to interview him. At the time, Robinson was a color commentator on Orioles telecasts. He had flown into Raleigh following a late night game in Kansas City. One could reasonably be grumpy and impatient when a guy with a microphone shows up on a late Friday afternoon. However, the opposite was true. He was a gracious as he could be. He probably knew from the outset of the interview that was a big fan of his. And when I broke a host of journalistic tenants by asking him to sign an Orioles Media Guide that featured his upcoming Hall of Fame induction. He signed it "David, Best Always. Enjoyed being with you. Brooks Robinson." My only other personal contact was a couple of years ago, when my wife and children arranged for Brooksie to send me a video birthday greeting. (It remains my favorite birthday present of all-time.) In the hours after Brooks Robinson's death yesterday at the age of 86, there's been one quotation credited to a Baltimore sportswriter that sums up the man. It goes something like this: "In New York, they name candy bars after Reggie Jackson. In Baltimore, they name their children after Brooks Robinson." I didn't name my daughter Brooks. But I named my first dog Brooksie. If my daughter had come before the dog, it might have been the other way around. The loss of a childhood hero is almost the same as the loss of a member of the family. I am sad he is gone, but grateful for the joy he brought me through the years. That's it for now. Thanks, Brooks. Fear the Turtle.Homeless in Lawrence
21/09/23 05:40
September 21, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 38) - Down by the Kansas River, just behind Johnny's Tavern, is a city-sanctioned 21st century Shanty Town. It is the City of Lawrence, Kansas's, attempt at addressing an issue that has plagued this country from its very beginnings, homelessness. There have always been a group of people who, by either the vagaries of a free-market economy, personal bad luck or (in some cases) by personal choices or actions, find themselves without a permanent domicile. They are forced to either fend for themselves in the elements or rely on the kindness of strangers. In Lawrence, the kindness and compassion in which we pride ourselves is being strained. In either a city-provided shelter or an outdoor encampment (such as that shown in the above Lawrence Times photo), the people of Lawrence have attempted a compassionate response to a human crisis. Unfortunately, there are forces at work that make such a response increasingly difficult. There is the conduct of some of the people the city has tried to assist, misdeeds such as theft, violence and public urination. There is also the cold, calculating and Un-Christian response of neighboring communities that have decided that it's better to give the homeless a bus pass to Lawrence than to deal with the issue in their own communities, much like how the immoral and godless governors of Texas and Florida have chosen to deal with immigrants. And there is the frustration among residents, such as myself, who want to do the right thing, but also realize that offering public shelter hearkens to that famous line from the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." I don't pretend to have a solution. But, as a historian, I believe that there is much to be learned from past experience. During the height of the Great Depression, the Roosevelt administration created public outlets for channeling the human energy and the power of free expression from those who society had seemed to forget. These efforts went by many names, such as the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. They gave the unfortunate an opportunity to live their lives in dignity and with purpose. In return, America was enriched by the creation of public works and cultural projects that still bring benefits nearly a century later. As I said, I can't provide you with any answers. All I can say is that we, as a people, will be remembered by how we chose to either live by or ignore our stated values. For me, I'd rather by known as someone who did not turn a blind eye to the homeless, refugees seeking asylum, the infirm or the mentally ill. Ignoring problems is always the easiest choice. But it is not a solution. We should also remember that America's greatness was not forged by taking the path of least resistance. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.How Old Is Too Old?
10/09/23 07:47
September 10, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 37) - How old is too old? To me, someone who will be 71 years old in a couple of months, this is more than an academic question. American voters apparently feel the same. President Joe Biden's approval ratings are historically low despite the fact that he has been - at least in terms of getting his agenda through Congress - the most successful president since Ronald Reagan. The reason is clear: Americans are nervous that their president is 80 years old. Republicans are beating that drum to death, ignoring the fact that their front runner is only two years younger than Biden and obesely out-of-shape. (Does anyone actually believe that our bloated former president is 6'3" and 215 pounds?) They also forget that many thought Reagan was too old when he was first elected president at age 69. (Of course, he may well have been in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease near the end of his second term.) This is not to suggest that concern about Biden is unfounded. After all, he is 80 years old and shows signs that he has slowed down physically - and possibly - mentally. Then there's Mitch McConnell, who has "frozen" in mid-speech twice in recent weeks. Does anyone really believe he's fit for office? Dianne Feinstein? When she actually shows up for work, it's everything her staff can do to keep her awake in meetings. Nancy Pelosi, 83, announced this week that she is running for her 19th term in Congress. While I think she is still physically and mentally capable of doing the job, I wish she wouldn't. It's time to infuse the Democratic Party with more youthful leadership. Of course, I have expressed this same opinion about Pelosi in this blog for more than a decade. As one who has a personal stake in this debate, no one can legitimately accuse me of ageism. Speaking for myself, I know that I have slowed down both physically and mentally as I grow older. I am also confident in my ability to take care of myself, drive a car, make important decisions and, yes, even write a blog post. However, there may come a time that my family will question my ability to these and other things. That's a moment of truth all families eventually face. And now it's the question that the United States of America must also face. To me, it is not a question of whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump should win the next election. Donald Trump is the most corrupt, morally deficient and dangerous politician America has known since Huey Long. The question is whether Joe Biden is up to the job. If one judges by the merits of his accomplishments and failures in office - in other words, judging him by his record - I believe the answer is still a resounding "yes." That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.800
02/09/23 10:28
September 2, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 36) - What started 17 years ago this month as a form of self-therapy following a deeply personal tragedy reaches a milestone with this post. Amazingly, this is the 800th Snapping Turtle post. Some may say this is a tribute to my perseverance. Others may suggest it is an exercise in ego based upon an overinflated sense of self importance. To be honest, there may be some truth in both interpretations. However, I'd like to believe that the primary motivation is nothing more than I fact that I like to write. Between the six books I have either written or co-written, the dozens of academic research papers I have had published, the scores of news stories and news releases I have crafted, and, of course, the creation of this blog, I have quite literally written millions of words over the past half-century. There is a certain self-satisfaction when it comes to turning a clever phrase, such I did in writing the headline for my most recent post about the former President's arrest, "The Smug Mug." (See below) There's also a lot of satisfaction in simplifying a complex story to increase the reader's understanding, such as I did back in 1986 when I wrote the media kit for the state of North Carolina's bid to host the Superconducting Supercollider. (As it turned out, the $6 billion atom smasher was awarded to Texas, only to have Congress pull the plug on funding after spending $2 billion to dig a big hole in the ground.) While subjects relating to politics and current events have been most prevalent in this series, a significant number have been testimonies about things going on in my own life or have expounded upon my personal philosophies. My personal favorite is a post on May 20, 2010, entitled "The Gold Dress," about an unexpected final gift from my late wife Jan. Another favorite is a more recent post from this past July 4, "An Aspirational America." It speaks of my love of our country, reverence for the principles on which it was founded, and my confidence in its future. I have no idea how many - if any - actually read this blog. However, Snapping Turtle has helped me remain sane in a sometimes insane world by giving me a creative outlet to say what's on my mind. So, for the 800th time, that's it for now. Fear the Turtle.