What the Nationals/Astros baseball game taught this 93 year oldster

There are so many things. I hardly know where to begin, but here (in some, hurried detail) let me begin with the first:

1. The importance of young and old working together!  The picture on the front page of the sports section of The Washington Post, shows the enthusiasm and vigor of America represented by Soto at 19 years of age. The underlying headline and tribute acknowledges the persistence and perseverance of Zimmerman, approaching 40 years of age!

And immediately I'm compelled to show my age and profession to use this first "teachers lesson" to apply what sports can teach a divided America today.  I'm tired of "Make America Great Again." I'm tired of hearing about the greatest generation. But most of all I'm tired of the divisiveness I see around me. Even the Democratic Party has fallen into divisive structure with young against old*. To me the true Spirit of America is found in cooperation of  young and old together. I'm embarrassed to use that term "Greatest Generation" as my age qualifies me. As I look back, I recall a generation that tolerated lynching, that condemned people for expressing love in ways the "majority disapproved."  I PERSONALLY FEEL I OWE THE FULLNESS OF MY 34  YEARS - and counting - TO THE LESSONS TAUGHT ME BY YOUNG PEOPLE. I truly believe that if we continue to move forward as young idealists point us and recognize our past (yes) sins and failures, we truly can approach greatness.

So that is the major lesson that "rang my bell."   And since I got it off my chest, I'll add a few more thoughts about the game, but hopefully get your responses of what YOU saw and learned

2. How easy it is to second guess a manager. Five months ago David Martinez would've been fired by many. Today he is a genius! How would you have used the relief staff yesterday.

3. Amazing how sports can bring the community together. Or is it simply superficial? How can wwe make it more than that?

4. I had feared that baseball, known to my generation as"America's Game" had lost it's appeal and was no longer that.   I know of few families who get up early on Sunday morning or go out late on school evenings to have their children play America's sport.  They almost all seem attracted to a "bigger round ball."

5. And what about a newspaper that  can have  at my doorstep seven hours after the game beautifully written essays about what occurred so recently. How casually we have discarded the printed page. As a closing reminiscence I recall that my lower middle-class family through the depression years subscribed to both the morning and evening local newspaper.

What a game - GO NATS

ALSO MAY BE SEEN {almost weekly) AT www.ronlehkersrants.blog spot.com

*I'd love to tell you of whom I think might be ELECTABLE meeting that young/old requirement, but feel this medium prevents my doing so.

Another lesson from an immigrant*

*I hesitate to use the word. Given the present president, it almost has a negative connotation in contrast with what our country has stood for in the past.

Sitting next to my Uber driver, Johnny, in the front seat of his Impala, I knew I would learn something about Africa. I of course failed his quiz about the location of Uganda, but I did learn a great deal about him, Green Cards and his view of America.

I was quick to learn that he came to the United States to attend college and continued to renew his Green Card as required every five years. He became a teacher of computer science at a local high school and has raised a family of four children all of whom are also going to college. Continuing our personal conversation, I commiserated by stating that I felt it a shame that it was necessary for him to have a second job. "On the contrary" he stated, "I do it because in my culture I feel a responsibility to make more money to take care of my extended family members. That's the way we do it in our culture."

I also ask about the citizenship process for him in our country and he stated that every five years he had to report for green Card renewal and if one's records were clean, one could apply for citizenship. When I ask why he would choose to have citizenship he stated that "anyone would be a fool not to do so.”

Having picked me up at my Unitarian church, he informed me that he was Christian. Upon returning home, I discovered that 87% of Uganda is Christian.

I was most appreciative of having Johnny reaffirm my belief in the basic tenets of our country, and I can only think of Frank Sinatra's rendition of The House I Live In, and its closing lines

And the people that I meet,

The faces that I see

All races, all religions,

That's America to me.

Something still to say at age 93!

I thought I had said it all when I turned 90, and I answered some thousand or so questions on Reddit's, Ask Me Anything! The Washington Post even called me an "Adorable Reddit Guru" (until they discovered the word “adorable really didn't apply to me! See:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/01/22/meet-the-adorable-90-year-old-who-has-become-a-reddit-guru/

Now at 93 years of age, I've noted three things that lead me to believe my work isn't done, that there is something I want to share with anyone who might be interested.

1. For the past two years I've been a weekly participant with 25 men approaching my age in my apartment complex considering topics ranging from world climate change to pondering the meaning and purpose of life. These DC retirees amaze me with their sensitivity and insight into the complex problems of a rapidly changing world. I'm more convinced than ever that we oldsters need to be in dialogue more with the “idealistic younger generation” that I see in world-wide demonstrations and causes.
2. I've had increased opportunity recently to converse with people with different political, ethnic, racial, religious orientations than I. and therefore I recognize more completely how important it is for each of us to seek more opportunities of this nature.
3. And quite personally, as I again begin to ponder the meaning of MY LIFE, I feel compelled to have my insights heard by anyone who might care to tune in.

Thus, in a few days in an unannounced Rant, I will tell the story of my recent conversation with a Uber driver who grew up in Uganda. I hope you will tune in regularly as I occasionally vent my views. You'll make my day if you will engage in “Comments” so we might dialogue.

Ron

So here's my blog - always available at www.ronlehkersrants.blogspot.com

If I were king!

I would have all America read:

Ted Koppel's editorial in today's Washington Post (July 30, 2019") " I know I'm right about America."

Just go to

www.washposttedkoppell

The fight for soul of our Nation. - as found on the sports page!

Insight into America from the sports section of the newspaper

I've long felt that some of our greatest lasting lessons have been provided from and through athletic competition. I feel the lessons are legion in today's extremely critical period when the moral fiber of our country is being tested. The following account from today's Washington Post, July 26, 2019 says so much. The story relates to Mariano Rivera who was recently inducted by unanimous vote into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rivera had been criticized in an editorial for his continuing support of the President in an appearance in "Fox & Friends."

Rivera: "He was a friend of mine before he became president so because he's president, I will not turn my back on him? No. I respect him. I respect what he does, and I believe he's doing the best for the United States."

Being told of the criticism Rivera, "as he did during his acceptance, cited his Christianity as the basis of his support.”

Rivera: "When it comes to Israel, as a Christian, if my Savior Jesus Christ, he's a Jew, okay? So how am I going to turn my back and say, 'Oh, I won't support Israel'?"

Of course everyone has the right to state their beliefs, but I believe it is extremely important that we learn to weigh statements from our "heroes" as well as the many valid and unsubstantiated statements found on the social media.

At 93 years of age I am more concerned than I have ever been about the future of our democratic republic. I know that I have felt and expressed that there comes a time that we seniors are past our prime and should pass the torch to future generations. However I fear that too often important lessons from the past have not been heard, and I feel an urgent drive to convey previous lessons for consideration in making critical decisions.

AND I FEEL THE URGENCY OF THE CHOICE WE WILL MAKE IN THE ELECTION OF 2020!

We pay for what we value

Why is it that some pay $1,000 per hour for a good lawyer and yet balk at paying $300 - $500 for a good psychiatrist or clinical psychologist?

Money and power!

I'm beginning to despair.

I'm confused! 

Am I really to believe that the conceiving of a child by rape or incest is really God's desire?