Dave Richards for June 5th…………
--I just want to say that I have been appalled by the officiating by NHL Refs and Linesmen. Sure, those of us watching TV have a certain advantage so it is possible we’d see, say a St. Louis player holding the arm of a Bruins player behind him so he can’t manipulate the puck. And since we can see instant replays and they can’t, I do understand how they could miss where two St. Louis players team up to ‘sandwich’ a Bruins player between themselves and the boards with such great force that the Bruins player in question collapsed to the ice unable to skate.
Why do I blame the officiating? Simple. I cannot believe the officials don’t know what is going on. They can’t ‘miss’ that much illegal activity. Which leaves me with the only logical conclusions. They are either crooked or are copping an attitude that they’ll decide when to call something and when to let it go. I would prefer to believe the attitude. But I submit even just the attitude is wrong. The sole purpose of the officials on the ice is to insure that all players play by the written and established rules. So, if they’re going to refuse to call infractions, why have them?
Thanks for letting me vent a little. But there are more important things to ponder, I think.
--The anniversary of D-Day is tomorrow. When I was a small boy growing up in Pascoag, our next door neighbor, Mr. White, was a veteran of The Great War. And even though this was some twenty years after the second world war, he still called it The Great War.
In the early years of the 20th Century, an ‘eternal flame’ was lit at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Its purpose was so that “no one will ever forget those who died” in The Great War. I know they meant it at the time, but now, more than 100 years later……….well, it’s very hard to remember what you never knew to begin with.
It may be impossible to remember those you never knew, but I think we can remember the lessons war has taught us. And I think the lesson we need to remember is that even though one side in armed conflict may prevail, both sides lose in any war. And what they lose is parts of their future.
For all the social strife, civil disobedience, protests and polarization we saw in the 1960s, the kids of that day did get it right. They couldn’t make it stick, but they got it right. Peace is the answer. Avoid war at all costs.
I know a few veterans who agree with that.
--You’ve heard me say on a number of occasions that I prefer things which unify society and dislike when laws or causes seek to divide people into groups. I mean, do you remember the international touring group “Up With People”? Their one and only message resonated with me. There should be no “Up with this group” or “Down with the other group”. It should be “Up with Everybody”, people helping each other to rise to the highest level they can attain rejecting any attempts to put people into groups based upon similarities with others.
You may remember me mentioning that my dear old mom was a very progressive and liberal politically. She was also a feminist. But nothing infuriated my mom more than someone saying “the first woman to do this”. She’d lower her glance at me and remind me in the most stern of vocal tones, “if you want real equality, stop noticing if someone is male or female. It’s all about whether they can do the job!” That was my momma. And I did get her point. That’s why I shake my head in wonder when people place themselves in groups and demand the world recognize and support them because they are different. This month it’s the LGBTQ group. Oh, I know they keep adding letters on to that designation, but I noticed that none of the new letters are E for Everybody, so I’ll stop with 5 letters.
I think I’ve made my point, so I’ll stop there. Don’t look for the differences, look for the similarities. That’s the best way to live together. In peace.
--Before I go, just a word to our graduating students. Tag. You’re it. Do a better job of running the world than your parents did. We’re all counting on you.
--That's what I think. What do you think? Comments to: dave@onworldwide.com or postal mail to Dave Richards, WOON Radio, 985 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, RI 02895-6332.
Thanks for reading.
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