Where I Stand

Just over a week ago we had a national election. It pitted the incumbent, one Barack Hussein Obama, against the former governor of Massachusetts, Willard Mitt Romney. A lot of divisive talk before, during, and after the election.

I have been a softball and baseball umpire for over twenty years and I have belonged to several amateur associations, covering every level from youth to college ball. Here is an email I received from one of the Board of Directors of that association. He is responsible for training and recommending members for post season assignments, the playoffs. To wit:

"I am so  depressed.


I've always talked about how the animals have taken over the zoo in our country but in my heart I really didn't want to believe it. I couldn't imagine that such class envy existed that once the government and the people on the receiving end of our tax money realized how dire our finances that they would be willing to see the country go down an economic and moral rat hole rather than give up their own freebies and start providing for their own needs and not expect those that produce to pay more and receive less.

I was wrong.

I also didn't believe that the "takers" would ever reach a number large enough to gain control from the "payers".

I was wrong again.

All my concepts of this country have been wrong.

Our children and grandchildren can no longer feel confident that with effort and diligence their lifestyle will be better than ours.

We can longer feel safe from unwarranted government intrusion into our personal lives. I no longer feel that the government has the best interest in mind of the people and our country.

I no longer trust our bank or financial institutions.

I don't trust our food supply.

We can't trust the companies that we have worked to make successful for years won't, with little or no notice, announce that they are moving our job to China.

Our roads are crumbling and electrical system failing as the government gives away free cell phones to millions of people (but you have to be a"taker" and not a "payer" to get one) while at the same time telling us who are struggling to get by that we aren't paying enough. "You want roads you can safely travel on?" "That will cost you more."

Our courts are now ruling on cases using Sharia law. Our Supreme Court Justices base their rulings on what kind of legacy they'll leave. Can you trust the courts to rule with common sense and the best interest of society in mind? I don't.

I have turned into a full blown cynic.

The list goes on and on and just gets longer every day.

And all we have to look forward to is 4 more years of unqualified,inept leadership that has repeatedly expressed his disdain for this county and its people.

Thanks for listening.

I'll probably feel better in a couple of weeks after I get over the disbelief of what happened yesterday.

But right now....... I'm so depressed.

I think I speak for many of US.....



Socialism is only good until you run out of other people's money:Margaret Thatcher   If I have offended anyone, get over it.  And if you want to unfriend me on FB, my feeling will not be hurt."

A lot to chew on, no? At first I was just pissed that he found it necessary to spew that stuff without provocation. Then it began to sink in that this guy used hi position to bully the rest of us, a line in the sand to test our loyalty. During a phone conversation with the President of the association I said the best thing he could do would be to offer a sincere apology for having abused his authority. Here's what popped into my inbox next day:

"I apologize for using the (association) mailing list to exercise my use of free speech which is currently guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States."

Pretty sincere, all right. I had a lot to think about. I had been with this association for several years and had been promised a spot, perhaps the plate assignment, for the state high school playoffs. I really enjoy the quality of the games, the great people I'm partnered with, the satisfaction of doing the job well. But this gentleman was going to be there year after year, droning on about Integrity, Professionalism, and Impartiality. What a load.  I had thought I might have a private communication between the President of the association and myself, but my wife, bleeding-heart Liberal and my true inspiration, rightly stated that this fool needed calling out publicly. It didn't take long for me to make a decision and send out a mass email of my own:

"I too am sorry (that guy). Free speech is indeed guaranteed by the Constitution but your abuse of the (association) mailing list was unprofessional and not in keeping with the role of an unbiased arbiter. This is a weak apology at best. I cannot respect an individual who uses a position of authority to force his opinions upon others unsolicited. In a private conversation or political forum I would welcome a debate, but not when an individual with certain administrative authority over me challenges my intelligence and states his disloyalty to our President with that language and at the risk of losing my status within the organization.

I therefor exercise my right to free speech by disassociating myself from the (association). It has been a pleasure working with the fair and unbiased among you. Thank you for the civics lesson, Mr. (that guy).

I have gotten many supportive emails and phone calls from the membership since then:

"Yep...that was total unwarranted garbage. Thanks for calling him on it!"

"Hello Ed this is (name withheld) i just received the forwarding emails yesterday and I just wanted to say that I don't know the whole thing on what happened but whatever happened really pissed you off, and if I haven't told you before I wanted to tell you now, that I really really respect you even more then I have ever before. Just for you standing up for what you believe in and on whats right and what's wrong. I've been trying to express myself the same way but can't get the results you do so for that reason YOU HAVE MY UTMOST RESPECT FOR NOW AND FOREVER YOU'RE A REAL GOOD MAN ED TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK AND WHEREVER YOU GO I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW."

"Thank you for so eloquently stating my sentiments."

"I wonder if exercising someone's 1st amendment rights would include forwarding "goose shit" emails to HS & College sports admins? Might the "goose" favor a republican coach? A son or daughter of known political persuasion? Should umpires join unions? YA think!?"

"I'm not going to get over your rant, and I resent that you felt it was
okay to use the (association) members e-mail list to spew your hate. I have
lost all respect for you.
I agree with all that Ed Newbegin voiced in his reply to you. I will
however, continue to be a working member of (association) if we can keep our
personal political views out of the classroom and off the field."

"I will send an email tomorrow to (president), copy (that guy), also resigning from (association).  I was also unhappy about the election, not because Obama won (I actually like him) because I hate the influence that the Citizen's United decision now has on elections, allowing both sides to raise unlimited funds to viciously attack the other side, instead of telling us their plan for the future and why we should elect them.  However, I would never chose to inflict my opinion on any group I was a part of!"


 And there you are. Since then my thoughts have turned on whether I went too far. But then I picture myself walking into the first meeting of the season, seeing that smug face, knowing that he harbors those hateful opinions and would not hesitate to inflict them on others. The hypocrisy of teaching us to be objective and professional when he himself cannot restrain his bile. No, sorry, can't do it.

I have been a devoted volunteer with my local Little League for many years, and now I can spend all the time I want helping kids become better people, better citizens. Better than that hateful man.