After having turned out this weekly column for nearly 7½ years, a person would be tempted to suspect that it might have become boring after a while. Not so. There seems to always be an unending supply of human errors, foibles and misconceptions to condemn or condone.
Oh, there are irritations: minor ones, to be sure, but those can be forgiven while in the process of ranting, raving or blowing one’s top over some glaring example of mankind’s stupidity and ignorance, knowing that one doesn’t immediately have to back up with facts whatever subject or position caused his latest harangue. (Or should I have used the word “hemorrhage?”)
Not that I’m advocating any change in the present practice of weekly columns in favor of more frequent ones, but, face it, episodes that happen over a weekend — and most episodes do — have probably already been talked to death by the time this Thursday feature makes its appearance.
Add to that the fact that I like to submit these efforts two days ahead of time in order for the editorial process to catch any glaring typos, violations of good taste or outright untruths, and that further limits the list of useful topics from which to choose.
Fortunately, though, there’s still enough individual stupidity to go around.
Given all of the above, I can’t help but mention the horrible church shooting last week and the initial comment made by a person associated with the NRA. The gist of his initial comment — as you no doubt remember — was to suggest that the pastor, who was one of the victims of the rampage, and who was also a state legislator, would be alive if he hadn’t voted against a measure to loosen proposed gun control legislation.
Almost immediately he recanted, and I’d bet that was at the urging of more sensible — or at least more public relations minded members — of his organization, but the damage had been done.
So what it boils down to is this: There are individuals remaining out there who still believe that allowing unrestricted gun-carrying legislation is the answer to actions taken by mentally deficient individuals. To put it another way, as he did, allowing everyone in church to carry guns will save souls.
Changing the subject, a recent comic strip, Doonesbury, showed a man commenting on the current Texas governor who responded to recent Army maneuvers by activating the state guard in case the troops tried to “establish martial law, disarm innocent Texans and detain them in tunnels underneath closed Walmart stores.” This was by a person whom voters of his state felt was most qualified for the job.
The cartoon speaker then wondered what happened to the effort by Texas to secede from the rest of the country, commenting that “It seemed like such a good idea at the time.”
Changing the subject again, I want to alert you ahead of time that the Southwest Washington Fair has asked me if I want to return once again to the South Stage this year with my ukuleles for my fourth annual appearance singing songs of the 1920s. My first response was “Do I get paid this time?” The immediate answer didn’t make any difference. I agreed anyway.
So, if you habitually go to the fair on Wednesday, Senior Citizens Day, be sure to grab a snack and come to the South Stage at 5 o’clock for an hour of great old songs. I’ve added a half dozen new ones this year and you’re always invited to sing along.
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Bill Moeller is a former entertainer, mayor, bookstore owner, city council member, paratrooper and pilot living in Centralia. He can be reached at bookmaven321@comcast.net
