"Head Scratchers Unite"
by Allen Herman

Get Some Spine Dudes.

Many call me a Republican. A few view me as a Democrat. I have been identified … via email, letters and phone calls … as a socialist, a communist, a conservative, a tea-bagger, a birther, a vegetarian and rampaging capitalist. Others have identified me as a bleeding liberal, a wealthy slob with no interest in the poor, a nihilist, a pro-abortion wacky and even a homophobe.
Strange, very few of these same people have challenged my thoughts or my morality. Instead, because they haven't agreed with me, they've attacked my character. They call me names but seldom challenge me with substance.

I also receive many letters from readers who not only support what I've written, but also applaud the courage it sometimes take to write what I think. Of course some don’t always agree with me, but they do admit I make them think. I challenge them to defend their views and beliefs.

If you're a regular reader of our "book," you know we publish most of the letters and reactions we receive. You also know they're not all flattering. In fact, a little while ago, I met a women at one of our advertisers who suggested that our readers boycott all of our advertisers supporting our magazine. She told the owner of the store that she was proud of living in a free America, and both understood and appreciated what it stood for. But she also believed that advertising in our publication was horrible, and that she wanted me silenced. It would seem, in her opinion, that those who disagreed with her were not entitled to their Constitutional rights. Regardless, we do appreciate and want differing opinions. And we will continue to print them when able.

The truth is that I am really none of the above. I have no party affiliation. My affiliation is strictly issue-dependent. I vote for people on both sides of the aisle and am charitable while preaching tough love. I have always tried to look at each issue that has come up neutrally and have reached what I hope are sensible non biased opinions. But I am human, and obviously am not always successful.

To be honest, I am totally confused by the things I see and hear today. I can't understand why and how there are those who wonder why I am nervous about four women having forty seven children. Nor can I understand why some believe I am pro immigration because I want all sick people treated in hospitals; legal or illegal. Further, while I am in favor of all having health care, I can not understand why people blast my patriotism because I am opposed to the recent healthcare bill. As I watch the insanity around me unfold I must confess that I understand little of what I see and am completely confused by what I consider the public’s non or misguided reactions.

Therefore, I have started my own party …... the Head Scratchers ….. and I have elected myself its first president. I hope to have bumper stickers, T-shirts and a variety of other appropriate materials available for the faithful in a short period of time. I am still looking for a tagline ..... something as brilliant as "If you ain't brain dead you should be a Head Scratcher."
For years I have wondered how Mel Gibson's dad and his ilk could possibly deny the Holocaust when General, and later President, Eisenhower along with the English and Russians, filmed it, photographed it and even forced local citizens to come view it. Our soldiers, including our current President's great uncle, saw it, wrote about it and gave talks about it. Movies have been made, books written and museums opened ..... yet there remain those who refuse to believe.

Last week when I learned of Israeli soldiers boarding a ship and saw the videos later in the evening I thought of Mel's Dad. There were people, a majority I might add, who have condemned the brutal use of force. Once again, there were pictures and videos and, I believe, a large number of people with preconceived notions that did not want to hear nor see truth.

While calling the soldiers villains they failed to notice that the ship, "peacefully sailing" into the blockade area, had crew members with stun bombs, baseball bats, wooden beams with nail heads, iron bars and water cannons awaiting the sailors who "attacked" these innocents with paint ball guns. The fact that it was all recorded for the world to see meant little. The standard argument remains, "Don't confuse the issue with logic: I want to be emotional. And please no pictures or video. I might have to rethink my position and even ... perish the thought ...change my mind."

I suggest it's the same people, who confuse "the issue with logic," who now have Arizona in their cross hairs. Jump on the bandwagon. "The badies, the Nazis, the Communists, the anti immigration people, the pediphiles and the Republicans, as well as the conservatives and other deviate souls live and vote in Arizona. Let's punish them, boycott them and take them to court. We will show them how to treat good Americans."

The fact that Arizona has been inundated with thousands and thousands of unwanted illegals who have brought crime, drugs, prostitution and Lord knows what else ..… along with very cheap labor … to the border state is of no consequence. Few, outside the border states, understand the costs or the fear this brings. To the Republicans the illegals represent cheap labor while to the Democrats they represent votes. In some fifty years the Federal Government has done nothing to solve the problems that have landed on our border states. And as witnessed recently, it doesn't look like the Federal Goverment even wants the individual states to solve their own problems.

To date, the Federal Government's response is to demand a comprehensive review of our immigration laws and a strategy to get our current twelve billion, (and growing daily), illegals on the path to citizenship. Only when it figures out what to do with those who are already here illegally will it think about the ones who continue to flow over, under, above and through our borders. It will do nothing to correct it and punish you should you try. (Sounds like what's going on with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.)

There is no logic in this and if I mention it, I will be, once again, branded as a racist, anti immigrant, conservative, insensitive, Democrat-bashing Republican. And I'm anything but that!

But, when I see pictures of California high school students raising the Mexican flag to the top of their high school's flag pole and then placing Old Glory upside down below it ..... I get really pissed! Pissed enough to make sure each one of these little brats belongs here legally.

Score one more for the "Head Scratchers."

Even stranger is the fact that, in my opinion, we are concentrating on the wrong group of immigrants. The Latinos are basically a hard working, church attending group of G-d fearing Christians who have families, are involved in little crime and have a very strong work ethic. The vast majority are good guys and I want them here. I just want them to come in legally and learn ENGLISH.

Sad to admit, I can not say the same thing about many of those pouring into the USA from parts of the Middle East. But that's another column..... maybe two!

Let me just offer a bit of historical reflection: We did terrible things to the Japanese Americans during World War II and yet they proved, as did the German and Italian immigrants, to be wonderful Americans with a sense of duty and a willingness to defend our nation from our enemies. They integrated solidly into the American way of life and have become very productive members of our nation. Can we say the same for some of those coming in to America today from certain Middle Eastern nations?

OK, I'm done. And the point? The point is that we, you and I, need to fight for what we believe in. We need to defend what we see as good and worthy of America. Conversely, we can't back down or retreat. Let people call us, you and me, what they will. Many very good people have died defending this great land and a little (or a lot) name calling can't and won't hurt us. We need only think openly and logically, and be true to ourselves when we react.

And a little head scratching along the way might relieve some of the itch!

Once again, your thoughts and opinions are welcome. When possible, they will be published.

Allen Herman
Your opinions are always welcomed.
uptightsuburban@aol.com