I am tired of hearing how the poor Whites, Spanish and Blacks feel that they are so deprived. My Grandfather and Grandmother came here from Greece with little money, no furniture or a place to live. They settled in Mass because they had some friends with that they stayed until they could find work. They had to learn ENGLISH. My Grafather obtained a job working in shoe shops. Here there were no OSHA to provide safety, he worked in a very lousy atmosphere, leather straps above to run machinery. These leather straps could break anytime and kill someone instantly. In the summer it was hot and humid, winter cold, if you did not make your qouta for the day you were fired. This was slave labor, with low wages. No sick leave or vacation time. My Grandfather died during the depression, leaving my father to take care of his mother and two sisters. At 14 he had three jobs and still graduated from High School. They had no money or insurance to pay for my Grandfathers funeral, or medical costs. My father continued to work three jobs during the depression to pay off the funeral costs, and my Grandfather was laid to rest in a borrowed Grave Plot. When I was six years old, my father finally could afford a family plot, they exhumed my grandfather and reinterred him. We were not rich, we lived in a cold water flat, 3rd floor, as years went by both my father and mother worked in the shoe shops, They worked for one company, my father 19 years, and my mother 18 years. One day they went to work and the place was closed. No notice, no severence pay, we never had medical insurrance, however, they did have uninemployment money, but it was a small amount compared to what low wages they were earning. TV was just being invented, radio was our main souce of news, I had a three colored bike that my father put together from bikes he found at the dump. There no no computers, calculaters, we had steam heat, fired by a coal fired boiler, a keroseen cooking stove, a 6 party phone, no super highways. When we obtained our first TV, 3 inches in diameter, there were only three station in stunning black and white. My mother and father walked to work, rain, snow, sleet, heat, etc. Yes I walked to school. There was no money for my sister and I to go to College, I went to Trade School, and both my sister and I went into the workforce. My father supplemented food by hunting and fishing, and getting to know farmers who grew crops. My father would help anyone, did not matter who they were, he had many friends,his personality was amazing. I learned from him, I also have that trait, and I have many friends of race, color and nationalities.
Why all this info, because growing up during the shoe depression in the mid 50s, seeing and growing up in a core community were all knew one in other, yet culturaly stable not knowing living in Mass how are surrrounding towns and cities were practically issolated by old roads and traffic. You pretty much grew up and stayed in your community. I could go on about my youth, but my point is we have lost that core community, we have lost our identity because we have no permanent place that we have roots in. Because in todays world we are to mobile and the drive for that is jobs and economy. Our children do not have that family unity, uncles, aunts, gand fathers and mothers, `cousins, no memories of the family good times, a reunion once a year or whenever does not make it, we use to see famliy once or twice a month. So that is one thing on my mind.
Second, I am tired of hearing how the minorities can not get ahead. Hae I was poor, had to work for everything I have, obtained jobs, married, supported my family, I did not run from responsibility. I think it is time to go after the deadbeat fathers and mothers, place them in forced working invireoment and make them support what they bring into this world. I see on TV on in the paper all these women who have 6 to 12 children complain how the system don't take care of them, well if the gov't goes after these deadbeats, make them work, there is plenty of things we can make them do, why should I have to be responsible for someone elses child because they have no responsibility. I can use that money to live better myself, rather then see them sit arround drinking beer, getting free health, food, rent. I also think we should medically remove their reproductive organs, and if they can not take care of their children, lets bring back housing instiutions for those children, were they get fed, educated, and become productive citizens. It is time we have come full circle, if you can ot take care of them the government will, you will have to work, and the deadbeat fathers will also have to work to offset the costs of the institutions. These young children are out running arround causeing trouble, drugs, guns, etc, it is time to clen out the cancer in our country, let us bring back our troops and put them in the areas that are prone for trouble and get them cleaned up so that we can again walk our streets at 9 years old like I did and never have a problem,also we need to bring back the cop on the beat.
By the way, I have been diagnosed with ADHD, and I made a great life of it, even tho I was handicaped with it from birth, in those days you were just a troubled child that needed more discpline. If I can do it so can't anyone. My son has epelepsy and he has a full time job, my daughter has ADHD and she has her masters, and speaks 14 languages and works, her husband is in the service. I have no sympathy for those who do not take responsibilty for what they do or don't do!!!!!
OK enough for now, God Bless America, still a great place to live!!!!!!!!!
