A little bit of hate can go a long way
I hate the word “continue,” and the phrase “good read.” I dislike how the former looks and how the latter sounds.
I think the term “man cave” is a bummer. It’s such a sexist thing to say. Do I go around introducing my wife as “the little lady”?
I recoil when people hold store doors open for me; I feel put out, having to rush to accommodate their “thoughtfulness.” Thanks but no thanks. You go on through. I’ll get my own door. I can manage that at least.
I loathe the “wave-on.” That’s when a fellow-driver waves you through a stop sign or an intersection even though he has the right of way. My attitude is, do what you’re supposed to do. Trying to be nice only sows doubt and confusion. It can get us both hurt.
I despise afternoon naps. Afterward, I feel so crappy.
I hate it both when I lose my keys and when I find them. Both make me feel stupid.
I dislike Jake Tapper of CNN. He seems like such a wiseguy.
I heartily dislike “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. It’s juvenile. On the other hand, I’m occasionally mildly amused by Jimmy Kimmel. As for Stephen Colbert, I’m mostly indifferent. I’ve tried to like him, but I just can’t. He’s not Letterman. And he’s not Carson. Does that make me old? So be it.
I’m repelled by the fact that every Sunday game in major league baseball features the playing of “America The Beautiful,” a wonderful song that has no business cutting into the seventh-inning stretch and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
It’s so phony patriotic.
For that matter, I find repellent the practice at professional golf tournaments of having a member of the military stationed at one of the greens holding the flag pin.
It’s golf’s way of saying thanks to the men and women in uniform, as we’re reminded by the TV broadcasters.
Every time I see this, I’m reminded of what Will Rogers said about the crowds that cheered as the Doughboys of World War I marched down Broadway.
“If they really want to honor those fellas, the crowd would march and the boys would sit in the stands and cheer.”
Along with the NFL and college football, the PGA and MLB should drop the charade of love of country. What they are really after is public acclaim for their love of country.
Speaking of empty patriotic gestures, and I was speaking of empty patriotic gestures, what’s up with politicians feeling obliged to wear an American flag stick pin on their suit lapels?
It’s distressing to think that they think the stick pin is a necessary accoutrement.
I’m pretty sure Ronald Reagan was the first to do this. I suppose we should be thankful the Gipper never wore a ball cap embroidered with some silly political slogan.
What about the current president, or any president, saluting members of the military?
He’s the commander-in-chief, for crying out loud.
Every time I see this happen, I’m reminded of two incidents.
One involved President Eisenhower. When Ike landed in Johnstown way back in 1958 for an event in Ligonier, he chuckled the moment he spied very the rich civilian, his host, Richard King Mellon, a former lieutenant general in the Army Reserves, in full uniform.
Eisenhower, who in World War II led that little invasion that freed Europe from the grip of Nazi tyranny, told Mellon in jest that maybe he should have worn his old uniform, too.
Ike didn’t have to show off his military creds or his love of country. He had walked the walk.
The second involves Lyndon Johnson. LBJ was about to board one of two Marine helicopters parked on the White House lawn, when the young Marine standing nearby saluted smartly and, trying to be helpful, said, “Sir, this isn’t your helicopter.”
“Son,” the president answered gravely, “they’re all my helicopters.”
I abhor Sunday afternoons in winter. I hate snow and cold and early darkness. Oh, heck, I hate winter whatever day of the week it is.
I hate the Cubs, this year. In years past, I’ve hated the Brewers and Braves. I would hate the Yankees if they had Dustin Pedroia because I dislike the runt second baseman for the Red Sox, who, incidentally, I can’t stand.
Does all this make me hateful? Or only discerning?
I’ve never considered myself a disagreeable, nasty person. I hope not to be. But looking at this list, maybe I should reassess.
Hate can eviscerate the soul.
Yet hate can be good. Wasn’t there a famous politician who said, “I hate war”? And wasn’t it FDR who stated, in regard to the “organized money” elite of his generation, “I welcome their hatred”?
Yes, I think it was; I love it.
Richard Robbins lives in Uniontown and is the author of two books – “Grand Salute: Stories of the World War II Generation” and “Our People.” He can be reached at grandsalutebook@gmail.com.