You may or may not become more than casual fans of the NFL. Howver, there are many who are fanatics for professional football. It wasn’t always so. In the early twentieth century most football fans preferred college football and to an extent looked down on players who competed for money. Your own great-grandfather sometimes poo-pooed the NFL and didn’t give it much mind, even during the Packer glory years of the 1960’s.

Television super-charged the popularity of NFL football. A recent “day in history” article reminded me of the “Greatest Game Ever Played” in 1958. The Baltimore Colts defeated the NY Giants in sudden death overtime. It was the first sudden death game and it was seen by millions watching one of the first nationally televised games. Papa was already on board as a fan. The fact that a great Wisconsin player with a great nickname scored the winning touchdown made the game all the more memorable. TV contracts and money has flowed and increased ever since. It has exploded into a billions of dollars industry.

For perspective, an eighth grade classmate and I decided, on the morning of a Packer game, to bike to County Stadium to watch a game. Yes, walkup tickets were available. I can’t imagine having had more than a few bucks in my jeans so I assume the ticket was rather cheap. In those days we simply left our bikes leaning on a fence or whatnot during the game. I assume this was in 1956 as we were in the same school until the 8th grade. I do recall the game involved Tobin Rote and a new guy named Unitas as quarterbacks. I think the Pack won.

For further perspective, the 1939 NFL Championship game sold tickets from between $1.10 to $4.40. This I looked up. It also provides a good trivia question if you ever need one. The victorious Packers beat the NY Giants to be NFL champs in Papa’s hometown; West Allis, Wisconsin. ( Of course this trivia question would make sense only if others had ever heard of West Allis. ) I’ve always loved the contrast between the huge population monster of New York vs, little Green Bay. That fondness was reversed for players from the “Big City.” Wisconsinites were “inhospitalble mugs” per the NY Giants captain due to perceived slights. Enough to get locals dander up as also happened in1957: but that is a different story, a different NY player and sport.

December 7th marks a history event that stirred America to action against the tyranny of the Axis. If you get a chance, watch the movie “Tora, Tora Tora”. I think I first saw that movie while in Vietnam. It’s quite accurate. Hollywood made many films that reflect the drama the sneak attack by Japan caused. That will always be in the forefront of my mind.

However, on December 7, 1988 Papa had his torso opened from top to belly by the loving and caring doctors at the same hospital in which I was born. The world’s greatest surgeon, in my humble opinion, performed a quadruple bypass on my heart. That repair job outlasted his career. It’s my understanding he retired a few years ago. At the time, doctors were predicting 8 to 10 year expectations for heart bypasses. Plus 24 and counting is good by me. My fondest memory of my surgeon was his jokes. He came armed with one each day. He always extracted a belly laugh. Perhaps he wanted me to cough and gag on humor so that my lungs cleared. Or, perhaps he delighted in torturing me as an attorney. At university there was often friendly banter between law school and medical school athletic contests.

He came with lawyer jokes of course. “What’s the difference between a dead snake and a dead lawyer on an interstate highway? ……Skid marks in front of the snake.” Of course, I gave some medical humor right back. (I also found that lying to nurses/staff about fuzzy vision starting to clear can get a rise out of them. They want to take you seriously.)

A medical procedure often draws out unsolicited commenst/opinions from friends/relatives/visitors. One such pal said maybe I should worry because my surgeon only did one bypass with the left mammery artery. He said his buddy so and so had the best of the best and had both a right and left used for the re-routing of two bypasses. Good, now Papa had something to worry about. I couldn’t resist so I asked. The actual best doctor in the world looked at me and said, “The right artery is a little bit of a stretch.” Then he leaned back a tad and laughed, “Besides we need to save it for another day.”

When Papa says gouge he means gouge. Many years later a cardiologist at the VA hurried out of my examination room. She returned with a tape measure. Saying that other younger doctors would want to know she measured my chest and leg scars. One is from the ankle to nearly where it counts to get hit. Nowadays I guess little bitsey cuts are made. A racetrack wag up in Inverness claims his by pass was done while the heart was beating. I like a good joke but seriously; a surgeon with a sharp knife has to have a steady hand while a heart is quivering? (Papa doesn’t ask him for betting advice.)Reminds me of my hip replacement without anesthesia. The anesthesiologist and I were talking when I moved my shoulder. He said, “Stay still. Be careful. They have sharp instrumnets down there.” December 7th is a memorable date for me on a personal basis. When you need medical treatment look for a competent physician. One with a sense of humor is a bonus. For some reason I’ve found hospitals can provide unexpected sources of humor. I believe humor cures.

Papa was reminded of this question upon seeing the name of the new mayor of Tapei, Taiwan. Memories from the 1950’s returned to me. China going communist in 1949 was a jolt to the US. Sun Yat-Sen’s dream of democracy in China had been short lived. Like most countries, the minds of the people had not yet provided enough fertile ground for freedom. The US had supprted Chiang Kai Shek as leader of China for many years. There was probably an unrealistic element of assuming he led a stable government as China fought against Japan’s invasion in World War Two. China in the eyes of FDR was a member of the Big Four. After Pearl Harbor the Ameican led “Fighting Tigers” became operational in China. Our countries seemed close. (Watch “Forty Seconds Over Tokyo” to understand why I feel good towards those who save Ted Lawson.) The Nationalists and Communists in China seemingly cooperated in the struggle against Japan. Russia of course had long term connections to the Communists and after the second World War re-cemented relations; including in Manchuria and helping the revolt. Poof! China was lost and Chiang Kai Shek’s government fled to Taiwan.

I think it’s fair to assume that many in the US were shocked when the Nationalist government didn’t prevail in the civil war with the communists. It does appear that folks in the goverment had misread the situation. It wasn’t a far leap to wonder if someone could have done something to save China. Stalin gained influence with his communist compatriots of course and that added an additional question of whether anyone in the US had perhaps turned a blind eye to the situation; or heaven forbid, sympathized with the communist advance. Much of this became tied up in the Red Scare atmosphere in the US at the time. The Soviets were expanding at an alarming clip.

Now it seems popular to poo poo the 1950’s mentality about the dangers of communisim. However, the harsh dictatorship behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet sponsored spread of revolution in various countries and the theft of nuclear technology were quite real. And, there were indeed some communists in America. Probably a lot fewer than believed if past “card carrying membership” was a major qualifying criteria. Papa once wrote that many in the generation of young adults in the 1920’s/30’s never met an “ism” they didn’t like or embrace. People still are making similar mistakes today. Marxism/communism/mysticism/totalitarnism/and even Eugenicsism maintain holds on some folks. (Side note: It was after all the crazy 60’s but Eugenics almost got Papa and his head shape.)

Most who dallied with communism in the years leading up to World War Two had probably moved on in the 1940’s/1950’s but they did leave a trail. Enter politicians looking for answers. Who lost China was one such question. So, in my youth a ton of energy was spent searching for communist spies. Again, there were some. But, the political side of the search became overbearing. There were more than one but my home state out did them all with Senator Joe McCarthy. I was young but I do recall “Joe must go!” signs around town. It was a big topic. As were the McCarthy/Army hearings on TV. Eventually, the internal hunt died down and US policy became one of “containment” of the communist threat.

(Another side note: After McCarthy’s death a special election was held. For years my brothers and I parked cars on a vacant lot across from the Wisconsin State Fair. Auto races and the fair itself drew big crowds. We made good money at 25-50 cents a car. And, up the block, if Grand Dad didn’t have a wake/funeral, we could also park cars on his paved lot. It was a slow funeral day when then candidate Bill Proxmire came to the funeral home to park. 75 cents was the going rate for a paved spot. However, he wanted to park a station wagon with a huge campaign sign at the corner; on the front lawn of the funeral home. Directly across the street from the fair’s main gate! Lots of traffic at that corner. We boys looked at each other and concluded there was no reason to ask permission fom Grand Dad. It was just a lawn. $5.00 was offered and pocketed for that prime location. For the rest of his senatorial career Proxmire seldom spent too much more on his campaigns. I think I met him another 10 times; he’d just show up at places around the state and shake hands. At the entrance of the Flower Show was a lead pipe cinch if one wanted to meet him.)

As for China, the current communists continue with the ism’s usual brutality and iron fist rule. They threaten and spy and conjole and are a looming threat to the US. But, first China may have its eye on Taiwan. The small island nation, free since 1949 may become a sitting duck. In 1979 the US withdrew from a defense treaty. Free China was abandoned in Papa’s view as another result of lost focus from the 1960’s and 1970’s of our own interests and security. Too often the US gets off and back on a wobbly coaster that veers away from a common sense concept of strength stopping aggression at the wrong times. These are my thoughts as the Generalissomo’s great-grandson becomes mayor of Taipei.

In 1951, General Douglas MacArthur said good-bye in an address to a joint session of Congress. I remember images of that speech. We did not yet have a television at home so I assume I saw him during a school assembly that included a recent newsreel. Newreels were short films that highlighted events from a few weeks ago. They were a standard feature at movie theaters. By the time they were shown at school during our bi-weekly or monthly gathering, the news was a tad stale. Nonetheless a few were very memorable to me. (Such as Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile.)

General MacArthur was a well known hero from World War Two. As a boy the names of the men who had led the nation to victory were well known to me. Eisenhower, Bradley, Doolittle and Patton. Right up there was “I shall return” MacArthur. Plus he and his family had a Milwaukee connection. Later in life Papa often parked in a garage under MacArthur Squre when visiting the county courthouse.

I remember a sense of sorrow at the 1951 speech. I didn’t know the full details but some felt he had been treated unfairly/forced to retire. That a bona fide war hero was fired by the President mystified me at that age. A bittersweet moment to be sure. Near the end of the speech he said “old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” That phrase stuck with me. The words came at the end of a storied fifty-two year military career.

Sometimes Papa thinks “fading away” is not a bad idea. Currently, a second special counsel investigation, that follows a specific 1/6 congressional investigation and two prior congressional impeachments against President Trump was announced this morning. Five bites at the apple by my count. An inviting target but is there any doubt why he feels like a victim? He has at times been his own worst enemy but it has been six years of panting pursuit. Not just for him but also for the nation. Will the media or politicians ever tire of stoking their contempt to a boil? Of course, he will defend. Fight. For whatever reason, it’s an environment he enjoys. Media will be happy for profits from the story without end. Democrats may wish him to be the Presidential Election opponent in 2024. If he needs an infusion of cash to secure the nomination will there be a cynical “cutesy two”? It worked this election cycle. Or, is that playing too close to the fire? Soon the republicans will start some counter investigations. Any such action will undoubtedly draw the ire of the “5” side. It’s all partisan is a claim that is not too hard to predict.

I fear there will be no “fade away” in your childhood memories of 2016-2024.

When you reach a certain age you will be eligible to vote. That is a special right you will have that needs to be honored and protected. It is important that you exercise that right as an informed citizen. You will be surprised at how many folks simply don’t bother to vote. However, the number of uninformed folks about the issues confronting our functional democracy should also dismay you. Uniformed voters can become easy prey for emotional pleas of politicians. (Fear tops that list.) For that reason low participation rates in elections has seldom bothered me. I’d prefer to have voters who are interested, hopefully informed on issues and take the time/effort to vote being the ones who help make the decisions.

The question of a “wasted vote” most often is discussed in regard to third party candidates. The United States has two primary political parties. Votes for third party candidates, especially at the national level, are often depicted as wasted votes. Papa has, by such a cynical viewpoint, wasted a Presidential election vote more than twice. When confronted by a “lesser of two evils” choice here is how I choose to go forward. If I can’t simply decide which candidate is worse/better I opt out of of voting for a candidate not worthy of my vote. My responsibility as a voter, as I see it, is not to pick a winner from two losers. I vote for an indiviual who I believe can do the job. I fullfill my participation. The process is not simply one of math where I need to vote for/cheer for a major candidate. If the final results of an election are 52% to 46% to 2%; are only the 52% of votes valued? 48% wasted for not backing a winner? It is always easy for partisians to label the 2% as wasted.

The dominance of our two party system sets the stage for a perceived wasted vote by the 2% in my example. It is a main block to thrid party advancement. The “main attraction” focus of elections possibly mutes good ideas/policies that third parties have. It won’t happen in my lifetime but a competitive third political party could rise up during yours. The number of voters who self-describe as “independent” is growing. Perhaps as the two main parties isolate to their extreme edges a yearning for a moderate center will emerge. Just as likely is that the two parties will continue to give lip service to moderation as a draw for independents in order to retain power. That is unless the crazies in one (or both) party drives the experiement in democracy off the cliff.

I do not write on this subject because we are close to the last election. It is because today is Veteran’s Day. When Papa was young all males were potential soldiers. The US had a draft until 1973. Selection for the draft was not a slam dunk for most young men. It was more of an obstacle to be dealt with before getting on with life. Elvis Presley was a good example. He was drafted. Many other men volunteered so that they could pick a branch of service or miitary specialty. Many entered the National Guard or Reserve units to satisfy their service requirement. A few Green Bay Packers who had to get a weekend pass to play in championship games were famous examples. Deferments for school or some employment fields were available to most who applied. But, in the end all males had to navigate the Selective Service hurdle. Most did this in an honorable fashion.

However, a small number outright dodged the draft, as well as accepatble military service. They did that to avoid any chance of going to Vietnam. I held/hold such persons in low esteem. I understood we all were in the same boat and needed to navigate the draft before getting on with life. Most college guys I knew made calculations that suited them and their goals. The formula was the same at age 18 as it was a few years later. For those who dodged I felt that act would possibly catch up to them with negative consequences. Most of the country doesn’t see it that way and has moved on. However, it’d be nice if dodgers wondered if a man died or was injured in the place they would have occupied. Probably unlikely knowing the character of dodgers. It is painful that some achieved high positions in life; including running for/being President. A few earn special conyempt by denigrating those who did serve or thump their chests as if they also served. I don’t recall seeing any of them over there.

Yep, at times there are valid reasons to vote for candidates not from one of the two primary parties. Not a wasted vote. Sometimes 2-6% is a conscious vote.