Saturday, July 24, 2010

Verity - We've Come A Long Way


“Verity - the quality or state of being true or real; Balderdash – nonsense.”
Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary

We’ve come a long way
Verities & Balderdash
By Bob Robinson

This is a weekend of celebration… celebrating the life and times of Darke County’s favorite daughter, Annie Oakley. As I went through all of my V&B’s to see what I had to offer, I found nothing appropriate to her or the gift she left us.
Then I backed up and found a different type of gift, one that cannot be expressed often enough. Somehow I believe Annie would agree with me.

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies.
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away.
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family
Going quietly on his way.
And the world won't note his passing
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Billys, Dennys and Johnnys,
Went to battle on the line. 

But we know it is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier,
His home, his country, his kin?
Just a common Soldier
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier
And his ranks are growing thin.
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

In the time I spent checking the hundreds of comments about Annie, her life and her contributions, I remember her offering 50 Sharp Shooters – all ladies – to Pres. William McKinley in 1898 as the Spanish-American War was brewing.
The offer was not accepted.
I’m not a politician, although most of you know I tested the waters a few months back. I’m simply an American and Darke County transplant who was asked to “step up to the plate” for the people. I’m still doing it… but in a manner to which I believe I am more suited.
I don’t agree with washing “all” politicians in the same mold, but I can’t argue with the sentiment… the depth of concern that went into this poem.
Those who serve us are true heroes, as I believe Annie was.
We’ve come a long way. I offer, once again, my thanks to all those who have served… and to Annie for what she has given to this great nation.
Remember, verities should be thought provoking; balderdash is nonsense.
See you next time.

Bob Robinson is the retired editor of The Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio. If you wish to receive a daily notification of his comments, opinions and reports, send your email address to: opinionsbybob@gmail.com. Feel free to express your views.

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