Part II: Unsung Heroes

Editor's Note: This is the second installation of a three-part series on Heroes.

The following story is my favorite example of an unsung hero.

In October 1962, the world teetered on the brink of a nuclear war. The Cuban Missile crisis between the USSR and the USA could have led to World War III.

Store shelves were being emptied by panic-buying Americans looking to store up on food and other necessary items in the event there was an attack.

Thanks to one man - and we all should know his name - Vasili Arkhipov, a nuclear holocaust was narrowly avoided.

Arkhipov was a Soviet Naval Officer in charge of one of the four submarines secretly tasked by a handful of Communist party officials with launching nukes if necessary.

Each commander had permission to act without direct orders from Moscow if they believed they were under threat. As commander of the entire submarine fleet only Arkhipov could veto a launch command.

Fortunately for the world he defied orders and rejected firing the powerful missiles when he had the opportunity to do it.

Find out why he didn't fire in this great PBS Series - The Man Who Saved the World |

Unlikely Heroes

What makes an unlikely hero? It's the compulsion to do "something" in the face of danger. 

Reacting instantly can be as much of a moral reaction as a chemical one. It's our fight - as in "fight, flight, or freeze" - response in action, a counter to stressful and dangerous stimuli that has been key to the survival of the species since the beginning.

You don't have to risk your life to be an unsung hero. Your actions can also result in saving lives of others or exposing government corruption.

Folks in Lawrenceville, Georgia couldn't believe their eyes as Angela Cavallo lifted a '64 Chevy Impala off of her teenage son!

Summoning up super strength Angela picked the car up 4-inches and held it until an 11-year-old neighbor got help and put the jack back up that had given away while her son was working on the vehicle.

Miraculously, despite a serious head injury, there was no brain damage.

On June 17, 1972, security guard Frank Wills was making his midnight rounds at the Watergate office building in Washington, D.C. when he noticed tape over the lock of a basement door. 

Thinking another worker had left it there accidentally, he removed it. Wills later found tape again in the same place. He called the police, and the rest is history. 

Two years later, President Nixon resigned in disgrace over his involvement in the coverup of the Watergate break-in. The Watergate scandal was one of the biggest lies that made history.

Five-year-old Zavi Achmed came to the rescue when a baby was accidently trapped in her grandmother's Volkswagen.

British police broke the back window but were too large to get inside. That's when Zavi who was nearby with his mom, volunteered to crawl in and unlock the door. For the record, Zavi was dressed up as his favorite superhero Batman, a common occurrence according to mom.

Throughout my life I've seen people who qualify as unsung heroes like the janitor that opened a school gym in off hours to let me and my buddy's play basketball instead of roaming the streets getting in trouble.

I've witnessed people literally give the shirt off their back to homeless people in need. I visited Mom & Pop restaurants in small towns that feed people too poor to buy a meal.

People who do good deeds in the community seldom get recognized for their generous help, both mentally and financially. But they don't care.

That's why we call them unsung heroes.

Part I: The Deep Disappointment of Finding Out Your Childhood Heroes Were Racists

Today's post is Part I of a Three-Part series on Heroes. 

We all have - or had - heroes in our lives at one time or another.

Sometimes I regret my drive to research everything in life. It's been a good, bad, and ugly relationship with reality.

In the end however, the subject of heroes is timeless and intertwined with societies since the dawn of time. My attempt at examining the subject involves looking at every aspect of being a "hero," as defined by Merrium Webster.

Like lot of boys in the 1950s and 1960s I was a big fan of John Wayne (aka The Duke). 

His westerns and war movies kept me glued to the boob tube for endless hours. I think I went to nearly every movie he ever made.

After getting out of the Army I worked as a security guard at a gated community in Newport Beach for a spell. I used to see him daily as he usually stopped long enough to briefly chat before driving his American made station wagon (No sissy Mercedes Benz for the Duke!) into the complex.

Long story short. He seemed like a regular guy to me. No outward pretense.

But time caught up to Wayne and by 2019 (long after his death) his legacy took a major hit that still hurts his legendary career today. 

The Washington Post had an article with snippets of his 1971 interview with Playboy where he expressed racist and homophobic sentiments. 

"I believe in white supremacy," he said, and spoke harshly about African Americans, saying "We can't get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks." 

I remember feeling stunned when I read that. Someone took the time to expose an American icon and more importantly to me, one of my childhood heroes.

My memories of him were forever captured on the Silver Screen and my personal conversations with the man. I never followed his politics and knew little about his personal life - other than he was going through a nasty divorce with wife Pilar at the time I met him in 1974.

To this day I'm conflicted about my feelings towards him.

As the years have gone by, I've discovered a lot of my heroes in the entertainment world of movies and music are rife with racists.

A Short List

James Steward - "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "What a Wonderful World" James (more commonly known as Jimmy) had a dark side. He was an informer for the FBI (remember the Red Scare going after actors thought to be communist sympathizers?), and a card-carrying John Birch member who believed blacks had no place in American society.     

William Fraley (I Love Lucy - he played Fred) was drunk most of the time and threw around racial slurs publicly and privately... never showing any remorse for his outward hatred of blacks and women.

Walter Brennen - Known for winning three Best Supporting Actor awards in the Oscars. "Come and Get It" (1936), Kentucky (1938), and The Westerner (1940).

I grew up watching him play the kind but grumpy grandpa on the popular TV series The Real McCoys." 

In fact, he was friends with members of the infamous John Birch Society (who hated blacks, jews, homosexuals and communists.) Off screen he wasn't shy about sharing his believes that blacks were an inferior race.

My deep disappointment at discovering Brennen's personal history still haunts me today. My grandpa hero was actually a mean old man full of hateful beliefs. 

Eric Clapton was without a doubt one of my favorite male vocalists. I only recently discovered - while researching this post - that he was a racist.

His moment of infamy took place during a British concert in 1976 when he went full blown racist. In fairness he was drunk. I know that's not a good excuse. It's more like an observation.

"Stop Britain from becoming a black colony. Get the foreigners out," he said to his captive audience. "Keep Britain white! Get the coons out!" 

He still has social problems today because he's become an outspoken critic of vaccines and a conspiracy theorist.

I could go on, but I don't want to burn you out.

Next...

Part II:  Unsung Heroes in our Lives and Unlikely Heroes in History and Today.

Part III:  Superheroes

Check it Out: I Came Up with a Winning Team for the Lakers Next Season

I'm going to assume you're a Laker fan because you're reading this post.

Welcome fellow sufferer!

Last season was the worst in Laker history! There's no candy-coating that fact. Fans are going to expect a real rebound this time around.

After intense research and combining my 60-years of following the Lakers, I've come up with a winning roster for the 2022-23 Season.

This isn't exactly a dream team. It's more like this is a team that actually could be put together based upon availability of players and the fact that the Lakers don't have a 1st or 2nd round draft choice. 

I'll start with the players the Lakers need to keep.

LaBron James (they need to extend his contract in August) He's still the King.

Anthony Davis (still under contract). When he does play, he's unstoppable. Some concern of him being injury prone, but I don't want to see him playing against the Lakers!

Carmelo Anthony (resign veteran minimum and only play him in a limited role - 10-15 minutes a game for example.)

Mac McClung (keep him on his 2-way contract. He was last year's scoring champion and MVP in the B League (big fan favorite) and only got a couple of quick appearances with the starters. He's a real upside player who could break out in the next couple of seasons.)

Kai Soto (keep him on a 2-way contract. He's 7 ft. 2 inches tall and only 20 years old. Oh yeah! He can actually dribble and shoot. Another upside player.)

Wenyen Gabrial (Keep him. Exercise option. He came up late in the season from the B League and looked really good. He's 6 ft. 9 inches and plays taller in offense and defense. High energy guy.)

Stanley Johnson (Keep him. Exercise option. His defense was decent, and he could hit a three.

Austin Reeves (keep him. Exercise option. He was a real bright spot coming off the bench last season and did well as a starter. He surprised a lot of people. I expect to see more from this playa!

Three Big Trades

Out with Russell Westbrook! If Indiana still wants to trade Malcome Brogdon and Buddy Heild for him plus $4.5 million... do it! Both bring energy on both sides of the court. Heild can light opponents up with his sure shot from the outside.)

If the Rockets agree to trade Christian Wood for Talen Horton Tucker and Kendrick Nunn then do it!) Nunn didn't even play last season.

The Lakers need a versatile big and Otto Porter Jr. will be a free agent next season. Check out his play in this season's NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. As much as I like Malik Monk, he's the only player Golden State would consider trading for the big man.)

Under Free Agents

Pick up Wesley Mathews for veterans minimum. He's played with Lakers before and more importantly has played under the Lakers new coach Darvin Hamm. Good mojo there and Mathews can play premier defense.

Pick up Javon Carter who played point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks for the veteran minimum. He's a three-and-D player who excels when given the minutes.

Pick up Bryn Forbes from the Spurs. He can be plugged in for some quick points and has a reputation of being a good team player with a positive locker room influence.

Pick up Josh Jackson for the veteran minimum. He's young and can play guard or forward. Lots of hop. He has a strong defensive game - he's 6.8 - and is a good passer. Should be effective coming off the bench.

Last but not least pick up Damian Jones. He played for the Sacramento Kings and is an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers are looking for centers who play off the lob pass, and few do it better than Jones.

So that's it.

The team I assembled here is more of a wish list than a 100% possibility. Obviously, there's a lot of factors that could come into play ruining my reckoning.

Bottom line. This would be a Laker team that could earn back some respectability in the league after last year's meltdown. 

Good News for Coffee Devotees and Other Interesting News Bytes

Sitting outside on our patio this morning my wife Shirley and I were discussing living in this chaotic world.

"Another day in paradise," I lightly quipped over our first cup of coffee.

"Is our day a full cup of Joe?" she inquired after her first sip.

"Let's take a look at what's happening in the news to decide that" I suggested.

Headline: Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro indicted and arrested on contempt of Congress charges.

"That's good," we agreed. It was time for some accountability for trying to overthrow the government.

Headline: After compromise, San Francisco mayor and police will march in city's Pride parade.

This article was easy to identify as something positive, so we both gave it a thumbs up.

Headline: If you drink these types of coffee, you could have a lower death risk

Drinking either sweetened or unsweetened coffee is associated with a lower death risk compared with not drinking the beverage, according to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Another no-brainer... we both loved this informative article as we slurped our morning brew.

Headline: Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts says 'these are the good old days'

Oh, hell no! Get real. We quickly agreed these are not the good old days regardless of what a Republican lawmaker thinks. Thumbs down.

Headline: Virtual learning apps tracked and shared kids' data and online activities with advertisers, report says

This is really a bad thing. As parents and grandparents, we were both appalled at kids being subjected to greedy assholes tracking them when they are supposed to be safe at school - or online classes. A super downer.

Headline: The California desert could hold the key to powering all of America's electric cars

Fascinating information that affects us all. We were both cheered up by seeing a possible solution to the transformation woes we currently have. Getting away from using fossil fuels would really be a step in the right direction.

Obviously, we both gave it a thumbs up.

Everything considered we came to the conclusion that our cup was full today. Despite all of the chaos in the world - and our personal challenges - it's still possible to be happy.

I'M BACK with a Post About Premature Babies Who Were Sideshow Attractions in America

Thanks for stopping by today.

It's taken me 36 days to get my shit together and return to the Blogosphere. I was burnt out trying to make sense of the chaos in America and abroad. 

The sheer negativity of the news cycle overwhelmed me. I was also contending with my PTSD and understood it was time to stand down.

I'm back. 

Hopefully I've learned how to keep my mojo going despite this angry country and world. 

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                       Baby Incubator Exhibit at 1019 Seattle World's Fair. 

Today. 

I have a story about American history that you may not have heard when you were in school. 

In 1897 a con man who called himself Dr. Martin Couney put on his first incubatory baby show in London.

Around that time a Frenchman named Alexandre Lion designed the world's first human incubator. It was simply a warm box, heated by a hot water tank below.

This box was the humble origin of baby incubators that are still used today. 

Back to the carnival showman. Dr. Couney bought some knock off-machines based on Lion's design. He took the incubators and made them a surprising attraction in the United States at the Omaha World's Fair.

Dr. Couney refined his presentation in 1901 in the World's Fair in Buffalo, New York. Most people remember that fair because President William McKinley was shot there and died of gangrene 8 days later.

Aside from that, it was a breakthrough attraction on the midway where it competed with carnival rides and sideshows like the "House Upside Down" and "Jerusalem on the Morning of the Crucifixion."  

Thousands of people paid a dime each to see Dr. Couney's Baby Incubator Exhibit. There were nurses who breast fed the infants standing silently on guard by each incubator.

The Baby Incubator was a top draw for decades in every US city with at least 20,000 people and their own amusement park.

Why was the exhibit so popular?

There were several reasons, among them were babies born prematurely in those days usually died. It was a sad fact that was more or less accepted by the medical community.

For mothers with struggling preemies the incubators were a miracle. To his credit, Dr. Couney didn't charge the mothers and relied on exhibit receipts to cover operating costs and still make a profit.

Americans love inventions. The Incubators spurred many imaginations. The novelty of seeing tiny babies in a heated box went alongside other sideshows featuring freaks and "ethnological villages" where Native Americans or people from faraway nations would live on-site in a stereotyped caricature of their homes.

Sadly, there was a despicable willingness to exploit human life for the entertainment of others in those days.

For the record Couney wasn't a doctor. Yet young doctors and nurses didn't seem to mind because they followed his instructions, the babies lived, and he worked magic with the media.

Even though Couney was basically a fraud it doesn't mean his contribution to medicine should be overlooked. 

He took in babies of all races and classes and never charged the parents. The fact was that babies in his care were more than four times as likely to survive into childhood.

Think about that. Money couldn't buy better care - because there really wasn't better care available.

Think about his legacy.

Over 7,000 amusement park babies survived his 45-year tenure as a sideshow doctor. 

When Couney teamed up with Dr. Julius Hess history was made. With the support of Chicago's health commissioner, the incubators were eventually introduced into hospitals making Chicago the first city in America to create a public health policy specifically for premature infants.

I wish I could say his departure from this world was more dignified, but he was penniless and sick at the end.

Still, the con man with a heart made the world a better place to live.   

Blog Break: Stress Has Me on The Ropes

I'm not going to be posting anything for a while.

I've had this blog for nearly 20 years, through thick and thin times. But I really hit the wall this time.

What's happening in our country - the ongoing coup attempt and no accountability for traitors - is hitting me hard. I see democracy slip-sliding away every day.

To add to that my PTSD is flared up. It happens once a year - my anniversary date of being ambushed in Cambodia (while serving in the Army in 1970) and watching my best friend die next to me is here.

Some years are better than others. This is a bad one.

Needless to say, it's been difficult writing lately.

I've been doing my readers an injustice by turning out increasingly negative posts in recent days. The fact that I'm under a dark cloud tells me I need time to mentally heal.

Thank you for reading this. I'll be back again someday. I'm just not sure when.

Let's Cut Through All of the Bulls**t: There's 3 Groups of People 'Above the Law' in America

If there's one worn-out trope that bugs me it's the claim that "No one is above the law."

I don't know how anyone with eyes, ears and a functioning brain can claim such an absurd assumption.

The statement comes from a mythical past in America where all men were equal... despite the contrary reality of each generation.

Who is Above the Law in America?

Let's start with Supreme Court justices. They're appointed for life and accountable to no one. It baffles me why we ever gave them such unstoppable power.

The biggest ethical offender on today's court is Clarence Thomas, the senior associate justice who has ruled from his extreme conservative post for 30 years.

The House held a hearing on Supreme Court Ethics yesterday where they explored the relationship of his wife Ginni who worked with Trump and his minions to overthrow the duly elected president, Joe Biden.

Members examined Clarence Thomas's refusal to recuse himself from cases surrounding Jan. 6th, despite his wife's involvement in the attack. 

Ginni Thomas has been a regular presence in conservative circles for decades, but Clarence never recused himself if she was involved in a case brought before his court.

I'll cut to the chase.

Don't bet on new ethical standards for corrupt judges, and don't think for a moment Clarence will be held accountable and impeached.

He is truly above the law.

Next.

The second group of Americans above the law are Congressional politicians. Over 100 Republicans participated (in one way or another) in the Jan. 6 riot, and still follow the Big Lie - Trump's alternative reality for his attempt to steal the election.

How many do you think will be held accountable for their treasonous attempt against the very foundation of our democracy? Nothing short of a miracle will make them accountable.

The Third group of Americans above the law are the wealthy. Americans have suspected as much since the Constitution was signed, but each generation likes to pretend the uber wealthy are all good Samaritans. 

In fact, the super-rich still pull the strings of political power today. Billionaires and millionaires openly tout their political agendas with impunity. Kingmakers are a dime a dozen.

The scary part of this new generation of ultra-rich activists is they support sedition. It's so popular they pour their money into the coffers of the most extreme politicians and political activist groups actively seeking to overthrow our government.

Let's be real. Laws in this land are a guidepost to inequality. They only apply to someone outside of the three groups I mentioned here.

DeSantis Got His Election Police: His Political Opponents Better Beware

Prologue:

Prior to starting W.W. II Hitler appointed a special group to intimidate his political opponents.

They were called the SA, or Sturmabteilung, meaning "assault division." The group was also known as the Brownshirts or Storm Troopers. They paved the way for Hitler's takeover of Germany.

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It appears Florida governor Ron DeSantis has taken an historical approach similar to Hitler's Storm Troopers in 1935 Germany.

DeSantis has crowned himself the Ruler of Florida and is running roughshod over non-Republicans in the state. He even bullies his fellow Republicans that hold the legislative majorities in both houses.

The man who would be the next president of the United States in 2024 stands unopposed in his unconstitutional assaults on the Sunshine State.

His specialty has been cultivating cultural myths and conspiracies to please Trump's base. His new police force will be the next step towards voter suppression. He's already passed a redistricting bill to disenfranchise Black voters.

Having his own Brownshirts to harass Democrats, Independent voters, and politicians who run against him will give DeSantis another advantage beyond holding on to his current job. 

With two more years of absolute authoritarian rule, he'll be in a better position to run for president in 2024. 

No other state has created its own election police. However, Texas and Georgia may get inspired by DeSantis and try to get their own Storm Troopers.

It's no exaggeration to say America is moving toward becoming a Fascist government thanks to Trump, and his minions like Ron DeSantis.

I'm a baby boomer who's never seen a bigger threat to our Republic. It's no wonder that I have trouble sleeping at night. I don't know what I'm going to wake up to someday.

I'll close with this short story:

Philadelphia, 1787. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are just leaving Independence Hall, having decided on the general structure for the new United States.

A crowd gathered on the steps of Independence Hall, eager to hear the news. A sturdy old woman (sometimes referred to as "an anxious lady"), wearing a shawl approached Benjamin Franklin and asked him, "Well, Doctor, what do we have, a republic or a monarchy?"

Franklin sagely replied, "a republic, if you can keep it." 

What do you think America? Can we keep it?

The Jan. 6 Committee Members Are Afraid of GOP Lawmakers

So much for going after the top-level coup plotters when it comes to uncovering the Jan. 6 attempt to overthrow a valid election.

What has become apparent in the last few months is the committee has a ton of evidence against GOP lawmakers participating in Trump's insurrection efforts, and it isn't going to charge them. Period. 

I doubt they will recommend Trump be charged despite the fact he was the number one (and still is) instigator of the attempt to cripple our democracy.

The reason for this display of craven cowardice is political.

The Democrats are afraid they're going to lose in the midterms and the Republicans are going to take a terrible revenge by going after House members and Senate members that dared to speak truth about what happened on Jan. 6.

Just a thought, but do the Democrats really believe the GOP will have any legitimate grounds for charging their colleagues for any crimes? 

The Democrats worry about setting a president for seeking justice when lawmakers go bad.

My reply to that weak narrative is if they don't, we can expect another (perhaps successful) assault on Democracy if the Republicans don't win the 2024 presidential election.

The thought of no real accountability for the biggest threat in the nation's history is simply disgusting.

It's disheartening to know millions of Americans are aware of how big a threat Trump and his minions are, and that no justice will come as they openly push the Big Lie.

There's only one path that may change this.

When the committee turns over their findings to the Department of Justice's Attorney General Merrick Garland, he sets up a special prosecutor to pursue the traitorous lawmakers who participated in trying to steal the 2020 election.

This tactic would take some of the pressure off the craven Democrats who could claim they only shared their findings and weren't responsible for penalizing their colleagues.

There's only one flaw that I can see.

Garland doesn't appoint a special investigator(s) to pursue those corrupt Congressmen, or he just decides the political fallout would be disastrous and let's Trump and his cronies off the hook.

Politics over our democratic government? That's a hell of a choice.

If that happens it'll be a fatal blow to our Republic. No consequences, no hope. Democracy will be so damaged that we'll sink into an authoritarian state in the next couple of years.

I'm Not Sure Biden Should Go for a Second Term

To be clear, I like President Joe Biden and I voted for him in 2020.

Setting that aside, I think Biden, at 78 years-old (and 80 in 2024) should consider stepping down and supporting a new Democratic candidate for president in 2024.

It's not that I think Biden is doing a bad job, it's his age that concerns me. He could be opposed by someone half his age. Make no mistake, he's accomplished a lot in just under two years. 

*Biden signed the biggest infrastructure bill in American history.

*He appointed the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. 

*He signed 17 executive orders in his first 100 days. 

*He supported the CDC in the battle to get all Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 and relied on science (unlike the previous administration) to fight the deadly virus.

*He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement after Trump dumped it.

*He got America out of the endless war in Afghanistan.

*By the end of 2021, 40 of Biden's appointed judges to the federal judiciary had been confirmed, more than any president in their first year in office since Ronald Regan.

He's united NATO for the first time in years to stand against a common enemy - Russia.

I could go on, but I think I made my point. Joe Biden is a good man whose done good things for America. 

However, age is slowing him down. It's only natural. He's a low-key guy who'll never appear on The Masked Singer. But I suspect he'll do well enough in the next two years. Beyond that and it's a stretch.

I know the Democratic Party has already said Joe is going to run in 2024. They kind of had too. There is no other Democratic presidential candidate that currently looks like potential presidential material.

That is going to have to change soon. FYI - I don't believe vice president Kamala Harris is the answer. It's going to have to be someone with a lot of charisma to motivate younger voters and still entice the older generation.

Keep in mind Americans are increasingly voting for the most entertaining candidates and aren't too concerned about the fine details of running a government or understanding the Constitution. 

Maybe voters ought to consider electing a comedian. Ukraine hasn't done too badly with their guy Zelenskyy who told jokes until he was elected to lead the country. Democrats better find someone soon... time is running out.

The Losers Guide to a Shadow Government

There is a shadow government in America. 

It's located in Palm Beach, Florida. 

It's run by the loser of the 2020 presidential election. He thinks he can defy reality. 

Donald Trump, aka Don the Con, the Grifter-in-Chief, and Putin's lapdog, is the head of the newly created shadow government lodged in the bridal suite of his Mar-a-Lago resort.

News agencies and visitors have described Donny's special room as a mock Oval Office, right down to a duplicate Resolute desk. This elite seat of his quasi government/Republican Party is where an extremist goes to advance their career.

Be advised. It's not easy seeing his Highness. The first layer involves bribing some Trump associate for the pleasure of personally seeing the self-appointed kingmaker.

Then there's a matter of extreme credentials and proof of undying loyalty to Trump. Next what are you there for? Money? An endorsement? Both?

Once these layers are peeled away the supplicant gets to prostrate themselves in front of Stump's desk. 

Then they're allowed to ask for money (whatever) while flattering the hell out of Thump and saying they've always been a bigly fan. The longer the asker stays on the ground the chance of having their request granted increases.

No one knows for sure how long this bridal suite was the center of Lump's make- believe presidency, but some suggest it was just before Kevin McCarthy flipped from telling the truth about the coup attempt to suddenly defending Trump and minions who tried to steal the election after he was summoned to appear before His Orangeness a week later.

I would warn morons going to see Hump for an endorsement that it'll be the kiss of death for their campaign.

Take a moment and check out this article that ran in The Atlantic titled, Trump's Endorsements Might Be the GOP's Kryptonite 

One more reminder for the lost souls going to get cash from Donny; it's not going to turn out well for you based upon his history of throwing people under buses. You'd do better if you made a deal with the devil.