Movie Week

FIRST THOUGH, A WORD ABOUT NAME CALLING

Doesn't matter what you are called. It matters what you answer to.

When someone projects their anguish at me, I usually let them. I feel that they may need to get it off their chest more than my ego needs to be stuck up for. Like the lady said in that song, "call me what you like".

I don't get into verbal spats too often because I have always been a 'sticks and stones' kind of guy. When I was young, and I would tell my Mom what the kids at school would say about her, she'd tell me things like, "Tell them, "Yeah, Mom was turning tricks like the Tigers turn double plays!" They'd lose some heart, since I was taking the fun out of their taunts.

Then, there are the 'the things we know that we don't know.' I know I have made some HUGE mistakes. Some I may have been aware of at the time, the possibility for making an error was huge. But what can you do?

'Man up' was first introduced to me earlier this decade by Judge Mathis, as he was a panelist on Tavis Smiley's 'State of the Black Family' on CNN one February. I thought to myself, "How are you to 'man up', when you don't know what being a man, is?"

I put my stuff out, because it is mine and I own it, I own ALL of it. I don't cry about things (at least too much!) not going my way, because I feel that it would shut off the favor that life has shown me, and INTENDS to show me.

Could try to make a case, but why? I am well aware that I have had things 'better' than many folks, but things have been thisclose at times as well, to being the worst of possible outcomes. That is why I am fond of saying, 'I will take what it is I have got,' and try to work with that.

One of the few things that I do feel confident in using a 'blanket' on, is that if you can say crap things, do crap to people for no other reason than to do crap to them, then you are no better (which means, they are 'less than') than whatever venom you spew out at someone.

Like I said, I am a 'sticks and stones' person. It really matters little what is said to or about me. Life has shown itself to consistently give favor to those who work on their goals tirelessly, and despite what is said or done against them. That isn't something that I made up, it is something that people find solace in, no matter what philosophy or faith they have.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

If Tom Hanks isn't my favourite actor, then he is in the top five. 'Ryan' came on the telly this past Sunday, and since State wasn't playing basketball on Sunday, it was easy to decide to watch!

But it wasn't easy watching it. It never is. The battle scene as they land on the beach at Normandy is way, way, intense. Don't know about you, but I have no problem with the moniker Tom Brokaw gave the men and women of that time ... they were indeed 'The Greatest Generation'.

That I was watching it after my Army Sister and I chatted thru an IM, added an extra dimension to my viewing. See, it isn't just that I have family who could be in harms way, or have had family in combat/military service before. It is more that I HAVE service in me, and have done what I had to do that makes it more significant.

Why yes Barbara, even though you won't go to the book store with me, I will still put my life on the line for you. And you won't have to ask twice. You won't have to ask once, to be honest.

Who is going to do it? I am going to do it.

That isn't an opinion or something clever to say, but a matter of fact, that is the way that is, kind of statement. It was something that I thought about when I went into the service myself.

I could remember my Army sister, graduating from High School, testing well enough to go to college, but simply tired of school. She had the grades, and a couple of small scholarship offers from the DAPCEP program here in Detroit. She just was done with school.

So I told her about the service.

Me, I never saw what was wrong with the service, if you could be a crap police officer, or a brave fireman, why not go off and 'defend the country'. I explained that dollar for dollar, you won't get paid the same on the civilian side, but when you start doing a 'total compensation' package, you could get a lot more out of it.

The disclaimer? That you are at the political will of the United States. When Washington wants y'all to go somewhere, that is where you are going to go. It isn't fun or easy. Though you are going to be a REMF, they train you with a rifle for a reason.

After Capt. Miller (Hanks) gets his new orders, he asks for someone who speaks French and German. There is a soldier in the rear who speaks some French and German. He gets told, 'to pick up your weapon and follow me.' That is a line from a cadence that is marched to... for me it went like this

101( repeat 101) ... Combat Soldier (repeat)
Pick up your weapon and follow me (repeat)
Air Mobile Infantry (repeat)

Being in the rear, did not mean you couldn't see combat. It wasn't 'quote, unquote' your 'job' to see it. But there are 'special orders' and saving Private Ryan was an example of this for that admin soldier.

I can say that I would not expect myself to be as cowardly as the cat in the movie ... I know that I wouldn't simply because I KNOW IT.

WHAT IT DID FOR ME

Again, it was a reminder that somewhere in my life and in my soul, is something special. Might not like who does the work to septic system up and functioning, but you are glad that there are folks who can do it, and that they do their job. Like it or no, if you are having some sort of trouble on a block or at a club, you will be glad to see someone like me showing up to 'do my voodoo' for you.

Maybe sometimes I've allowed my character to go weak, but I know beyond all doubt what kind of character is in me. What is surprising to me, is how people can go and live without knowing what is in them, or have the doubts that they aren't who they think THEY ARE.

It was fun chatting my Army Sis. I told her how proud I was for her and her beautiful family. I told her that I understand about what she is dealing with, and she was very appreciative of my support.

And that is more than the bottom line. It is how I roll. Nothing but love, nothing but love for anyone.

ON DECK: THE UNFORGIVEN