Hurry Spring
We have entered the doldrums of winter, a time in between the misery of the cold and the anticipation of the impending spring. One will not leave fast enough and the other is slow to arrive.
With hunting season behind me, I am having trouble trying to remember my routine before I gave up my weekends to the wilderness. I think I used to spend a lot of time searching for corner cafes and succulent fried chicken but the high cost of fuel has all but grounded me.
I have tried spending a little time inside the house but I naturally gravitate toward the news channels on TV only to have far too much political news bombard me.
Of course, spring will bring my “rebate” check. I love the way the government calls it a “rebate” as if we simply clip off a coupon, send it in, and get free money. No, this is a loan. Somebody will have to pay it back. Nothing in government is free.
I need to find something to write about. I fear I will waste my time and ink on fretting over the government and the sometimes stupid things it does. I will wind up on a rant of no return and offend someone. Spring is in the air and the time is near for rebirth but old habits die hard and so do attitudes.
It is not, still, a season to question anyone’s political ideology? Some people hold to their beliefs like winter to the cold and no amount of logic will change their mind.
There are people I respect and admire that staunchly defend their political perspectives with the same obsession of rooting for their college football team. It makes no difference how bad the team plays; they will always root for them. Heck, their team could be caught red handed stealing Nikes from the Foot Locker but come Saturday, they still cheer them on, stolen shoes and all.
I call these people “cheer leaders.” They will never change their political views even if they know deep inside that they are wrong. If their team is on the field, they will always cheer for the touchdown.
For some, such convictions are hardened by a steady diet of radio rhetoric that spins the team message. These cheer leaders get their political information from entertainment programs parading as news sources and only present information that is palatable to their chosen audience. Both sides do it. As a journalist, it offends me.
Challenge a cheer leader’s political perspective and you will instantly get hurt feelings or a rampant report for even suggesting an alternative point of view.
A presidential election is not a game. Would someone please tell the cheer leaders?
My father and his father were cheer leaders. They were democrats and never changed their political views. They blamed Republican president Herbert Hoover for the economic crisis of their time. He took office in 1929 and within months, many Americans were starving. History clearly questions if it was his fault. Regardless, he got the blame.
My father referred to gravy made from flour and water as “Hoover gravy” because people were so poor during the depression, they couldn’t make it with milk. I suspect the term was thrown around a lot in his child hood home.
Depression era gravy was not some French influenced sauce to compliment an entrée. It stretched the family meal and filled empty bellies.
Hunger forms powerful political ideology.
Hoover did not want his presidency to be defined by watered down gravy. He had high hopes; just like our candidates today. In fact, when he ran for office his slogan was: “A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” But, politicians try as they may, have difficulty willing their place in history. .
In fact, when Franklin Roosevelt ran against him, he only used “Remember Hoover” as a slogan for his presidency. Hoover couldn’t shake the depression and Roosevelt wouldn’t let him.
I plunked around a few web sites to try and find out how our presidential candidates want us to see them. All have created empty words of action to help define who they are:
John McCain: “Courageous service, experienced leadership, bold solutions”
Mike Hucabee: “Faith, Family, and Freedom”
Barack Obama: “I’m asking you to believe”
Hillary Clinton: “Make history”
None of these cleverly crafted encryptions really tell us much.
Bill Clinton’s slogan was “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow” and George Bush was “Compassionate conservatism.” Pardon me while I giggle.
Neither will be remembered for their slogans. In hindsight, history is likely to define them with, “Don’t stop thinking about the intern” and “Irrational conservatism.”
Call me cynical but after being exposed to a daily barrage of political news, I have reached the point of diminishing returns.
As feared, I rant.
Perhaps when spring burst the tiny buds on my mayhaw trees into shades of glorious green and the blue birds and purple martins return to their nests, and my “rebate” check is in the mail, I will also see more clearly where all this political mess is taking us.
I want spring to arrive as badly as I want my friends and family to view politics with open eyes and open minds. It is an uncontrollable craving for something new and fresh. Isn’t that what spring is all about anyway; a chance to start over again.
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About Me
The life of any News Director is stressful most days... so, when the weekend rolls around I find myself on the back roads of our bountiful and beautiful part of the state looking for bluegrass music, interesting things to do, and, of course, fried chicken. I will try to share some of these "finds" with you. There are a thousand stories left to be told or simply remembered. Don't expect to find them all here; maybe just a little stroll down memory lane or maybe a little skewed insight into topical issues.
Larche Hardy,
News Director
Recent Entries:
- Marty Raybon and Georgia Bluegrass
- Curse of the Acoustic Guitar
- A Millville Hero
- Bluegrass at BAMA JAM a hit!
- Bird watching not a bore
- No Poet Laureate
- Let the Bluegrass begin
- Hurry Spring
- Alabama’s Highway 52
- Cell Phone Interuptus
- Bellying up to the bar
- Resolutions are Doomed to Failure
- Bah-dad-gum-Humbug
- A hunting we will go!
- Hot Stuff!
Other News13 Blogs:
- The Casual Historian - Larche Hardy
- Behind The Scenes - Heather Kretzer
- The Resident Gator - Megan Albright
- The Newby - Jessi Chapin
- Bloggin' From The Beach - Bree Sison
- Gainesville, Georgia's All American Girl - Tuquyen Mach
- ... and yes, my hair is naturally curly - Jessica Foster
- Derby Girl - Enocha Van Lierop
- Cracker Cat - Jeannie Weller
