Joe Dittmar - September 11, 2001 Survivor

Today, ironically, the day after the Boston Marathon bombing, I had the privilege of hearing, firsthand from Joe himself, the story of 9/11/2001 survivor Joe Dittmar.  He was inspirational and powerful. He was motivational speaker at the NC Association of Health Underwriters Annual Symposium in Winston-Salem.

On 9/11/2001, Joe was attending a normal business meeting with representatives of various commercial insurance carriers at the NYC offices of Chicago-based AON Corporation, on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center.  One of only seven survivors of the meeting of 54 insurance executives, Joe's sharing of his experience of that day gave informational, historical, and inspirational insight into one of the incredible incidents in U. S. and World History. 

Joe's eyewitness account of the sights, sounds, and scenes from inside and outside the World Trade Center on that infamous day presented an intriguing and gripping perspective on what really happened before, during, and after the attacks.  His presentation, for which he takes no compensation, had the audience spellbound and moved. 

He opened with a moment of silence for the victims of yesterday's Boston attack.  I felt honored to hear and be in attendance for his extraordinary presentation on this day, April 16, 2013.  Thank you, Joe Dittmar.

William Jennings Bryan

 

Just a stunning group of Bryan's which I had to post.  Belonging to a friend (I have some nice Bryan's), these are superior.  

 

A great early 20th century member of the Democratic Party, Bryan stood three times as its candidate for President of the United States (1896, 1900 and 1908), never being elected. He served in Congress briefly as a Representative from Nebraska and was the 41st United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson (1913–1915), taking a pacifist position on the First World War.

 

With his deep, commanding voice and wide travels, he was one of the best known orators and lecturers of the era. Because of his faith in the wisdom of the common people, he was called "The Great Commoner." Bryan's participation in the highly publicized 1925 Scopes "Monkey Trail" served as a capstone to his career, as he was opposing counsel to legendary Clarence Darrow.

Picture of the Day - "42"

 

 

I am so excited about seeing "42".  Jackie Robinson was important to baseball and he was important to the integration of America, to soul of America.  The scene shown above where Pee Wee Reese comes over and puts his arm around Jackie in an early game just after his arrival, was a very simple, yet, oh so poignant, powerful, and important gesture.  I have heard about that gesture all of my life.  Brian Piccolo famously did the same thing to Darryl Hill, the first black ACC football player who played at Maryland, to quiet down a rowdy crowd at Wake Forest on Hill's first visit to Winston-Salem. 

 

I am so happy with the many wonderful reviews I am reading from friends.  John Pierce, an Atlanta Braves season ticket holder, said, "it exceeded my high expectations, was inspiring, convicting, and engaging."  John is a native of Chattanooga, where most of the movie was filmed with the old Engel Stadium serving as Ebbets Field.  John is a wonderful ordained minister, and Executive Editor of the national moderate Baptist publication, 'Baptists Today', and a great baseball man whose opinion I hold in the highest regard.

 

I think I am subconsciously holding off seeing it to continue enjoying the great anticipation.  Jackie Robinson was a true, true baseball and American hero.  I can't wait. 

 

(Update:  I have now seen the movie.  It exceeded my very high expectations as well.  It was moving and emotional for me.  The movie revolved around the themes of baseball, race, and faith, three of life's most engaging issues for me.  It was very historically accurate.  The actors fit the actors wonderfully.  Harrison Ford will get an Academy Award nomination, in my view.  It was a wonderful movie about humanity and the great game of baseball in the 20th century.  It will be a classic).   

Theodore "Teddy, The Rough Rider" Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States.  He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity.  He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the first incarnation of the short-lived Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party in 1912.

In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became President at the age of 42; he remains the youngest president. He was elected President in his own right in 1904. Roosevelt attempted to move the Republican Party (GOP) toward Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses.

The above pictured TR political buttons belong to a friend and are a wonderful grouping.  I like TR buttons very much and own one a number of them, but few of the beauty and quality as those pictured above.  Enjoy.  TR was a worthy early century leader and character.

"The People" Have Lost Complete Control of Our Representative Democracy

For those of us who love, revere, and cherish our representative democracy and process, this video is as good as it gets.

It is very coincidental that I saw this video today. I was thinking the following: The American people are SO far ahead of the politicians, whether it is on the issue of immigration, gun control (registration in particular), gay equality, debt reduction, climate change..... so many other urgent issues of the day.

The fact is, "the people" have lost total control and influence in the process. This is not at all what the founders envisioned.  Clearly, it is the entities which provide funding to campaigns and politicians to which politicians respond. 

Today it takes more money than ever before to run a successful campaign due to the numerous media outlets and methods of campaigning.  But campaign dollars beget campaign dollars in our competitive system.  And the answer has become, of course, a reliance on the super-wealthy and the super-pacs which have come to control the process. 

The extent to which money to has come to influence and control our democratic system is rendering the system unresponsive, irresponsible, and downright deplorable.  Please listen to Professor Lawrence Lessig for clarity.

Dr. King Was Killed 45 Years Ago Today

Here is an excerpt from Martin Luther King's last speech in Memphis, the night before his death on April 4, 1968.  I recall it like it was yesterday.  I was in the hospital recovering from injuries resulting from an auto accident returning from playing college baseball.

NC A&T erupted, riots and curfews ensued around the country, shock, grief, sadness, outrage prevailed.  Two months later, nearly to the day, Bobby Kennedy was killed.  I was living, and playing baseball, 15 miles from the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport at that time.

1968......what a time.  What a leader of men, what an example of a human being, what an orator, what a preacher Dr. King was.  Oh, he could 'bring it'..........and what a difference he made in America.  RIP Martin Luther King.....45 years later. 

Thought for the Day

Without question.