Our language is certainly a mystery to me ... so many abuse it ... incorrect grammar, inadequate vocabularies and poor word choices are commonplace, increasingly so, methinks ... seemingly with most folks either not knowing or not caring.
I do abhor such abuse!!
The Shop's reminder that this is not a political place wasn't meant to suggest
that its barbers didn't have their own beliefs or that they were expected to refrain from expressing them ... far from it! Your beliefs define who you are ... they'll usually serve you well, even when you're wrong!
That's an awfully important notion ... beliefs ... that for which you're willing to kill and/or die!
I've always thought that them what make the loudest noise usually make the least sense. For me it's a catch 23, that is, something a little more than a catch 22. I do admire the passion of the zealot ... while deploring the oft accompanying closed-mindedness! Without passion, very little would ever get accomplished and apathy would no doubt reign supreme.
I've always had trouble with Tom Jefferson's posit that we're all created equal ... I knew better'n that when I was three and got a baby sister. Of course he did say men, I'll give him that! I guess all men do start out as little boys ... but God made them all different, not equal ... even identical twins are different! Mrs. Freeman, my kindergarten teacher, told me that Jefferson just wanted King George to know that we didn't believe in folks having special rank and privileges as a birthright ... folks have to prove themselves. That's what she said ... of course, I wasn't in kindergarten then.
I agree that everyone should be able to proffer their opinion, if they have one ... that is, if they accept the inherent responsibilities that go along with so doing. The Bard had this to say about about the profferings of them what don't ... "
tis a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury ... signifying nothing"!
Against that backdrop, let me say that I truly think that most of us share similar concerns ... while our priorities may be different, we want good things for ourselves, our children, and theirs ... we want our country to be safe and secure and to be both financially and morally solvent.
Every day it seems that we're confronted with one crisis or another ... and feelings are as strong as they are varied.
The tragedy at Fort Hood has certainly been in the news ... while other things may have occupied my attention here in the Shop, I've seen and heard enough to know it's causing quite a stir!
We can't help but know that there is a large contingent opposing our continued presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other places, since we began the "war against terrorism" following the events of 9/11/2001.
I sense that feelings among Jews and Christians currently run rather high against the Muslims ... though that could be a misconception. I've had some friends who are Muslim but know little of their faith ... my understanding being that it was laid down by Muhammad, their messenger of God, and that they recognize Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus as Prophets. My assumption and understanding has always been that its tenets serve its followers well ... certainly the three religions share the same God. If my understanding is correct, then I feel it is incumbent on the leaders within Islam to denounce terrorism and rid itself of those within its ranks who embrace it!
I don't believe that the Creator of all that we know did it without purpose ... it was done a long time ago, that's for sure! I don't know the purpose but it was certainly was not for the rewarding folks for killing or invoking harm to others in his name ... for any reason, but especially not because of differences in belief.
That applies to all religions, not just those three ...
From what we read and saw as the drama at Fort Hood unfolded, an Army Major ...
39 year old psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hassan, killed 13 people, injured 30 more; considered the worst ever such incident on a U.S. military base. He himself was shot four times and for sometime in a coma.
It's bound to be complex and as always, we're on the outside looking in ... and certainly it begs lots of questions as well stirring up many emotions, including fear, disgust, anger and hate. As expected, reaction was swift ... posits that it was a planned attack, long in the making, by some terrorist cell that had infiltrated the system were quickly followed by assertions that terrorism was not involved ... all well before anyone really knew ... or knows, methinks.
One thing I know for sure, it was terrifying ... the killing of 13 and injuring of 30 more ... no, as horrible as that is, far worse things happen most every day. What was terrifying to me was the thought that such a thing could happen inside a, thought to be safe, military sanctuary ... in Texas, of all places.
Interestingly but not surprisingly, there were conflicting reports concerning the Major ... reports from colleagues and personal acquaintances indicate that
he argued with soldiers who supported U.S. war policy and from what we saw in an interview, with a former classmate methinks, he viewed the war on terrorism as a "
war against Islam".
That would seem to suggest, and does to me, that perhaps the Major was somewhat of a religious zealot who didn't try to hide the fact. Other reports would seem to suggest that the Major's primary motivation for being in the military may well have been for the purposes of education and personal advancement ... commonplace today perhaps, but somewhat different, methinks, from those who spent a winter at Valley Forge or a day on the beaches of Normandy.
I well remember the interview of the mother of a young soldier that had been killed in Iraq ... bitterly deriding and debasing the President for placing her son in harm's way ... "It's totally unfair ... he only joined so that he could get an education!"
While I can perhaps see some supporting logic, it seems risky as well as ironic that a follower of Islam would be assigned to counsel servicemen returning from a battlezone where the enemy had been identified with that faith ... especially a major holding the views attributed to him. Ironic too if it turns out that the one what shot him was indeed a woman.
What happened at Fort Hood may or may not have been an act of a terrorist cell like those with which we've become familiar, but it's terroristic all the same ... most terrifying is the realization that the system allowed the incident to happen.
In a town with but two barbers, always select the one with worst haircut ... a psychiatrist is only as good as his last haircut ... old Polish Proverb!
I support our military and its presence wherever required to protect our long term best interests and those of our friends within the international community ... that's not meant to be political, evil knows no nationality and belongs to no religion. The world has become a small place, getting smaller all the time ... I believe we all share the same long term best interests; whether we realize it or not is another story.
Hopefully the incident at Fort Hood won't become another political football game ... current mentality seems to be that all games must have a winner but it simply isn't true ... some of the very best were ties.
I'm not a blogger, not in the usual sense ... but having missed much of the drama as it unfolded, I wanted to see what folks were thinking and saying ...
Like I said, assurances came quickly that it wasn't a terrorist attack but from what I saw, the political activists saw it differently ... from both sides of the aisle. Yes, it seemed they saw it same way ... well intending, good folks all, methinks ... we do seem to come together in such times, but certainly their quills were filled with different ink.
I was surprised to find some openly endorsing what amounted to an defensive isolationist policy ... I don't consider it political to suggest that totally unthinkable; for the world in which we live has become a very small place indeed and continues to shrink. What affects folks half way around the world affects us too and so we all have a vested interest in just about everything that goes on, whether we like it or not! Others sincerely suggested that the "War on Terrorism" was one that could not be won ... that we were attempting to impose our values and will on cultures steeped in traditions that doom all such attempts. That's a tough nut to crack and I won't even try ... we should respect all cultures, methinks, even those we find in petri dishes. However, cultures that endorse or tolerate terrorism must be changed ... no ifs, no ands, no buts!
It's true that the declaration of the "War on Terrorism" was the resultant of the events of 11 September, 2001 ... not totally unlike that which followed 1941's day of infamy ... it was a straw that placed a heavy burden upon the camel's back.
Regardless of how that "war" got birthed, it must be fought ...
by mankind ... and hopefully won. The problem is, as it's always been, that most everybody shares an "end justifies means" mentality ... there are individuals, groups and governments with perceived vested interests that cause them to sit down when they should be standing up. If we are to long survive, we must all join together and demand of the entire international community that terrorism is neither tolerated nor endorsed ... by anyone, for any reason!
As some know, I work off mind triggers ... it's easier of thinking up stuff all by yourself and I was prompted by some comments I saw regarding the spin being put on the incident to proffer the following ... it may seem off topic, taken out of context ... maybe even were it to be in context, but it was my reaction to what I had been reading, the comments there and perhaps elsewhere ...
I too am tired of all the spin ... but that's how it's always been, and how it will always be ... for we're on the outside looking in!
I don't know who it was what first expressed the notion "it's all about getting elected" ... for unless you do, you'll be on the outside looking in too ... and growing tired of all the spin. I think maybe folks long ago realized that they stood a better chance of getting elected if they told you what you wanted to hear ... rather than that which you did not ... spin!
Daddy told me ... "Son, you can't tell a lot about a man by listening to his well rehearsed spiel" ... that was long ago, back when farmers hand milked their cows and got their water from wells!
Of course, food cooked on a wood stove was hard to beat!
When I was growing up, the differences between a democracy and a democratic republic was taught, indeed emphasized and stressed in school! I could be wrong but somehow I sense that is no longer the case; that somewhere along the way it got lost between the cracks.
We like to call ours a democracy ... sounds good and makes us feel important, but thank goodness we're still not quite there ... democracies are doomed to failure, except in local settings ... for even were we all smart enough to understand all the complexities, we simply don't have the time to become and stay well enough informed to make the many decisions demanded of that form of government, at least not good ones, methinks.
Maybe it was somebody else, but I think it was old John Locke who first plagiarized Polonius ... when he said in effect that the first responsibility of the legislator was to vote his conscience. If folks did that, there would be less need for party strategy, methinks. If we just vote for and elect them folks we know and trust ... and entrust them to vote their conscience for what's best for us and our country, there would be no need for spin ... straight talk would be just fine.
It always bothered me ... when it came time for a big vote ... most all voted along party lines ... bah humbug!
Regardless of our politics, I think a majority of us recognize the need for government to be conservative and based on the needs of the people rather than their wants, at least if it is to endure ... what's popular today, ain't tomorrow.
Whether it's Sarah Palin or Practically Perfect Mary Poppins ... it matters not to me ... just elect folks you know ... forget about labels, and demand they vote their conscience for what's best for us and our country ...
Just make sure they have a conscience!
Dale Carnegie would have turned over in his grave had he read that ... it wasn't and isn't apt to win friends or influence people, that's for sure!
The Right Honorable
Edmund Burke too, for it was he to whom I meant to refer, and not John Locke! Guess I got lost or something ...
I had and have no agenda relative to the issue ... twas just my reaction to what I had been reading, comments and such. However, for purposes of writing this piece and apologizing for my John Lock faux pas, I wanted to refresh my memory regarding the mind triggering comments and searched for
my comment on sites I had recently visited ... I've yet to find it ... don't guess it matters much, I knew what I said ... and now you do too!
It's easy to endorse the freedom of speech and religion ... the right to express opinions and beliefs ... and have those rights respected. Indeed, it's what we call being politically correct. Yes, it's easy ... real easy, but make no mistake, practicing that sermon ain't! Not really.
No, I'm not talking about the preacher, I'm talking about his flock ... and no, I ain't talking about no religion neither ...
The head zealot, the one with all the passion ... I'm sure that he thought everything well through ... wrote out his doctrine more than
once, making sure it was danged near perfect, as best he could determine. Tom Jefferson and them boys sure did ... the "he" being replaced with "they," since they all signed up to hang together!
The head zealot, whether singular or plural, understood it ... practiced what he preached ... was a leader and an inspiration ... that's why he was the preacher and they the flock!
I visited some other sites too and their comments prompted my proffering ...
You fellows are far more knowledgeable about such things than am I but I don't think we yet know enough about the man to pass judgment.
No, not the fanatic who shot the folks at Fort Hood ... but rather, our president! I'm reserving judgment ... it's just my way, and my privilege to so do ... to me, everything's a privilege with accompanying responsibilities ... don't believe in entitlements.
Forget labels ... how can we, as a people, elect folks about whom we know so little? ... don't blame Obama, at least not yet!!
I was taught to respect the Office of the President ... Daddy said "be quiet, the President is speaking on the radio" ... I didn't know his name but I knew to be quiet! Then, when he went and died, we got a new one ... didn't need to know his name neither ... goodness, there's only one President!
Truth is, not many knew him ... but he gave 'em Hell and was a good President too!
We're the ones to blame ... not the President! I truly hope this young man does well and suggest it's in our best interests that we all pray for that!
And when we're finished praying ... we must figure out how to rid ourselves of media controlled popularity contests that determine who the candidates will be.
Until we do that, we'll continue to have folks in office about whom we know too little ... but we'll have two, four, six or eight years to find out for ourselves! After the fact just ain't the time to do it!!
We're a republic, or supposed be ... but it smells like a democracy ... my guess is that most now think that's what it is!
Our President had this to say ... "
it may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy but this much we do know - no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice -
in this world, and the next" ... I think most of us will buy into that.
Who is this Bob, really? Not quite the same as usual, huh?"
bob, journalist is genuine. picks bob journalist's friends, and is true to the friendship." ... another one of them mind triggered things ... don't even ask, cause I have no idea from whence it came. Perhaps
Jimmy Smith's perception isn't universal, but I sorta wish it was ...
"TheOldBarbershop" - created along the lines of the old barbershops, same but different, where folks would gather to visit with friends - share life experiences - tall tales - or maybe discuss politics, religion, sports, news, weather, current affairs or just about anything interesting or imaginable
We thought it might be good to tell folks a bit about the old barbershop, its history and its barbers ... somehow I got elected ... that's another way of saying that the Southern Jackass is a whole bunch bigger than me!Miss Carol says I'm an old rambling wreck from Georgia Tech ... and all four are true, but I ain't no engineer! It ain't by intent that I ramble but as you'll see, it takes me four pages to write what others do in less than one ... advance sincere apologies!
If you've read our story then 
That's right, Plato's Place was a barbering school ... that's why some folks called it 
Yes, I misuse and abuse this language I love ... 
... after the '
Nobody knows what Jimmy really looks like, at least until now ... he can say more with a couple of words and a picture than most of us can in two or three pages ... you'll find proof positive on the walls of the Shop and his frequent comments!
There you'll also find his ward and our favorite columnist, 
In the Shop, I talk a lot about mirrors and self-portraits ... the perception that others have is one thing, how we see ourselves is another. The notion of mirrors and self-portraits ... seemed rather easy to grasp ... but, when you try to grab hold of it, things just ain't as simple as they might seem, ... danged if some self-portraits aren't almost photographic in their reproduction while some mirrors give distorted renderings of reality. It's not enough to just use any old mirrors for reflection ... they must be of the right stuff and kind.
I talk a lot about things of which I know nothing too, but if I didn't, I wouldn't have anything to say ... it's another thing that differentiates SJA and JJS from most methinks ...
SJA's ability to reflect and look deep down inside ... and to be honest with himself ... is rare ... at least my experience has been that most either cannot or are unwilling to so do ... it is not just coincidence or happenstance that 
Mother knew Polonius ... and agreed with him too ... though she would loan anyone in need anything she had, without expectation of it being returned, including money. Like Houseman's wisdom ... Mama's words weren't truly appreciated until long after they were received .. though they were the topic of frequent discussion ...
Being true to yourself ... knowing yourself .. the individual behind the many masks ... it's a rare gift, perhaps the rarest of all .. the trick methinks, is knowing how to use it ...
Knowing who and what we are ... recognizing our limitations ... shortcomings ... and weaknesses ... that's power that the majority of humanity does not possess. Unfortunately, those few so gifted frequently turn it into a liability rather than an asset. They allow the realization of their limitations ... shortcomings ... weaknesses ... and past failures or rejections to give them fear of failure rather than confidence in success as it should ... and when adversity is encountered, they see history repeating itself ... oftentimes giving up in frustration rather than defining and addressing the problems ...
Those who confuse self-portraits with mirrors admire themselves and blindly go forth with total confidence, for they believe they possess all the answers, usually surrounding themselves with non-threatening, kindred spirits ... they are the truly enlightened! ...
Say it ain't so Joe! ...
and if you can't think geometrically, that's okay ... the three of us can't cut hair neither, were it not for them bowls, but as you can see ... it was that or jail for Jimmy, SJA and me! 
We've been truly blessed to add first 
inspired ... and it's one thing that won't ... "
How many different shoe sizes are there? Hard to say, what with all the different systems and variances by manufacturer... but, it doesn't really matter, I say if the shoe fits, ... wear it!
One thing's for sure, for every size there are a whole bunch of folks wearing 'em ... problem is, footprints, like fingerprints are rather unique and as a result, a whole bunch of folks have corns ... and bunions too. Jimmy will vouch for that! 
If the shoe fits, ... then wear it, but do try it on first.
That's especially true for custom shoes ... what looks to be a perfect fit for us or someone we know, may have been designed for someone else ...
Tables are like shoes, methinks ... when I say table, some folks see a black mahogany, Chinese Chippendale ... others, a walnut Sheraton ... or maybe a Hepplewhite, and no doubt some, a modern three legged thing, painted white with a glass top ... we see what we want to see, and sometimes what we don't. I once wrote a piece for the paper on Chippendale Furniture ... and, in order to meet the deadline, I called it in ... it caused quite a ruckus ... for everywhere I had said Chippendale, it read "Chip 'n Dale"
Modern Art is like shoes too ... lots of folks are quick to tell you what it means but 'bout the only one who really knows is the artist and they're usually dead ...
Shoes, tables, and art interpretation ... things with which one should not trifle ... unless you like corns and bunions.
I know,"there he goes again" ... more recondite musings ...
No, every onion has its layers but my musings are as plain as an old pair of shoes ... well, sometimes more like those custom Ferragamos, but most of the time I'm "more Chip 'n Dale" than Chippendale. While recondite may appear to be the rule rather than the exception, ... and though my name isn't Joe, I was just telling you that it ain't so! ... and in the few cases where the humor seems pointed, it may be, but I always use rubber arrows and they're usually aimed at folks other than imagined.
Enjoy!
It wasn't unusual for us just to throw some clothes in the car and start driving and then see where we wound up. In other words, we didn't research the trip before hand ... once, about this time of year, we took a day trip up to Oklahoma and wound up in Kansas. Mr. Bobby said he was looking for the "Grassy Knoll Mountains" ... never did find them but he didn't stop until we got to the Rockies.
Another time, we flew to Las Vegas and spent a couple of days, rented a SUV and drove to the Grand Canyon. After that, we just kept on driving south.
I don't remember the town we were in but realizing that we had to get back to 
Vegas, I was hard at work pouring over a not very detailed map and thought I saw an easy and quick way back ... through some small town we'd never heard of called Jerome, Arizona.
Trip planning is an under-rated art form. Thinking back, I'm still not quite sure how but we survived Jerome and I really think that we deserve a T-Shirt. And why not? ... we got one when we drove to Hana on Maui! A different time, a different place ... a drive to remember!
The road was just a narrow lane going up a mountain, sometimes wide enough for two cars I think. Too far to the right and you were off the mountain into the valley far, far below. Finally, finally we got to Jerome ... an old mining town 
precariously perched on the side of that mountain.
It was old hippieville. A few shops, some restaurants, etc. Mr. Bobby had had it. He pulled into a parking lot and demanded that I drive down the mountain. I was real hungry too! We got out of the car on a perfectly flat parking lot and both had attacks of vertigo ... something neither of us is prone to do. Well, I started trying to drive but wasn't doing well. I'll let Mr. Bobby finish telling the story ...
Miss Carol does have a good memory and a way with words too ... I don't remember no trip like that ... dang!
I do remember something of her finding a short cut to where we wanted to go ... then driving through residential areas in this town looking for little posted signs indicating the way to this Jerome place ... almost turned around twice, thinking 
we had missed the signs and were lost.
The danged road seemed to go straight up but it was so curvy, it almost seemed like a switchback ... had it not been for my outstanding skill and adroitness as a driver with nerves of steel, we would have never made it ... her having hysterics and beating me on the arm didn't help much neither!
Like she said, we finally, finally made it to the top ... I knew she was hungry and suggested we have a nice lunch at one of the many restaurants housed in the old mining shacks but she was having none of it!
Yes, I pulled into a parking lot just like she said ... but her memory is totally different from mine. She claims that parking lot was on a level but I suwannee, it was on at least a 45 degree incline probably more like 60. We could see the shacks, the shops, and the restaurants across the way ... and they were all on a slant too!
Like she said, we had taken this route in an effort to save time ... and as pretty and interesting as it was, we really did need to continue on. I was real tired and my arm was still sore from the trip up so I suggested that she might consider driving down the mountain, at least part way until I was a bit more rested. Surprisingly, my charm won the day ... she agreed, and we got out of the car so we could switch seats and she could drive.
A nickel fell out of my pocket ... I chased that sucker half way 'cross that "level" parking lot ... before giving up and watching it continue down the mountain, plum out of sight. I don't know what that "vertigo" stuff is ... but I was plum tuckered ... dizzy and couldn't keep my balance. It was time to go, and so we did!
Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea ... Miss Carol is an excellent driver, especially on level, straight, four lane roads in the daytime with no traffic ... she keeps even that exciting so there's no chance of becoming road hypnotized. Like I said, she's good!
It's all coming back to me now ... compared to the road we had traveled up the mountain to Jerome, the one going down was much easier ... wider and fewer curves too! But, boy, that baby was steep ...
That really didn't bother me much for the SUV had five gears ... just put it in "low" or "double low" then sit back and enjoy the ride ... right? Wrong!!!!
Our "Miss Know It All" is real smart, that's for sure ... but one thing about which she knows nothing is "gears," especially how to change them ... 40, 45, 50, 60 ... she was in a hurry, that's for sure.
As the smell of burning brake pads increased, I calmly suggested she put it in a lower gear ... then shouted, demanded too ... I explained exactly what to do and how, time and time again, to no avail. She was frightened ... and I don't mind telling you that I was too ... 65, 70 and finally I prayed!
She wouldn't listen but I think the good Lord did. She continued tightly gripping the steering wheel with both hands, but while she braked, 
I lowered the gears for her and we somehow survived ... set a new speed record to boot ... wound up on old route 66, methinks!
I agree that we deserved a T-Shirt (No doubt they now have some) ... needed one too ... had to change me clothes after that ride!
No doubt word of our adventure reached the authorities ... I understand the road is now safe and easy to travel ... and as a result, it's now a very, very popular place! No, we didn't file no report though I would have liked to get my nickel back, a 1937 buffalo. No, it was them hippies who saw us coming up the mountain ... seems they got all cleaned up and fixed a bunch of food ... raised such a ruckus when we didn't stay, the State had no choice but to fix things up!
She and I pulled salt water taffy in her old kitchen ... 
she blew the contents out of the egg, painted faces on them and made them costumes. 
