Me: How’s it going, Eddy? You calm enough to give me your opinion on the way the press handles some DC stuff? By the way, I put your comments in my blog, and lots of people agree with what you say.
Eddy: Kid, I’ve always got an opinion. Only thing is: them ICE guys ain’t gonna come after me are they? All this bull crap I read says they tap everyone’s phones and even their TV. I ain’t afraid of anything, and you know that, Charlie. But I got grandkids now.
Me: Uncle Eddy, you’re a Vet. You fought for this country. I think you’re entitled to your opinions. So don’t sweat it. So here’s my question: do thou think the TV and newspapers are being too tough on Washington?
Eddy: They’re supposed to do that. It’s their job. The more heat the better. Them old guys like Cronkite and Murrow, they knew how to do it. And them 2 guys that blew the whistle on Nixon. How in hell do we know what those clowns in DC is doing unless somebody reports it?
Me: You think they’re being tough enough on Washington?
Eddy: Hell, no! You know something happens overseas – and bad stuff does happen – they spend all kinds of time showing it. Refugees, hungry kids, people all screwed up with some disease. But why isn’t anyone coming here? Or to Cleveland? Or Pittsburgh? I guess maybe the lines at the Unemployment office ain’t glamorous enough. Seems only hungry foreign kids are important. Let me tell you something, Charlie. Don’t forget your roots, kid. You remember, I know. A hungry kid here in Ohio is still a hungry kid. Who gives a damn about that? So everyone in Washington is hot to keep them Muslims out. OK – so how does that help me find work? The only guys who have steady work are the guys who run around rounding up illegals. The rest of us – no one gives a damn.
Me: Too much world news?
Eddy: I didn’t say too much, I’m just saying look at some of the messes around here before you start showing kids in Syria. Kid in Chicago ain’t got no shoes for winter, but that ain’t glamorous for them. They show all kinds of pictures of kids in Egypt, though.
Me: You don’t think any of that’s important, Eddy?
Eddy: Not when my grandkids are going without stuff. Them Washington guys, you better believe all their kids ain’t missing any meals.
Me: You’ve got a point, Uncle Eddy.
Eddy: Damned right I do. Until people can go back to work and start earning something, the rest of this is all crap. That’s we voted for all these guys – they made big promises. So when does it happen? Maybe the press people aren’t being tough enough. You get pictures of how bad they live in like Haiti, but you never get no pictures about how good them congress people are living. The President, he ain’t missing any meals. He flies to Florida every week and we pay for it. You know how many TV stations complained on that? Well I only seen one. Just one. I think more of them TV guys need to grow a pair.
Me: I don’t know, Ed. We’ll both have to see.