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I Hadn't Planned on Saying This- But...
10/05/05 | vanity

Posted on 10/05/2005 5:47:46 PM PDT by genefromjersey

I Hadn’t Planned to Tell This Story – But :

Sometimes you have to speak out and be heard – even when you’re a Certified Old Fogey .

Long ago , but not too far away , I lived in a little country town, in upstate New York. Most of the people who lived there were small farmers, tradesmen, mechanics, or factory workers : “blue collar with pretensions” , I guess you’d call us.

The town was mostly what my Dad used to call “ Narrowback Protestants “ ( You’d have to show a girl your Sunday School pins before she’d neck in a parked car with you ) with a scattering of Roman Catholics (regarded with deep suspicion) and one or two Jews (routinely mocked and despised.)

One of the town Jews- an old grouch named Meyer- owned a United Cigar store : candy, newspapers,cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, magazines, and sundries.

On the 4th of July – if you were old enough , and hadn’t been kicked out of the store too many times , you might be allowed to buy (illegal, immoral, delightful) firecrackers.

When World War II ended , one of the soldiers who came home was a fellow named Sid. We’d always heard Jews got “ the soft spots” in the Army : places where they would never be in danger, and could probably turn a few bucks on the side ; so we didn’t quite know what to make of Sid – who had been a Ranger, and who had taken 6 machine gun bullets in the hedgerows of France.

Sid married Meyer’s very pretty daughter, and took over the store – As much as Meyer would let him, anyway; and, in the fullness of time,became the man to see if you wanted to buy cigarettes ( for your Dad,of course ), condoms ( to carry in your wallet –forever unused ) or those illegal, immoral ,delightful 4th of July firecrackers.

Our part-time Town Constable – as narrowback as they come – regarded the Cigar store as a den of iniquity , and kept a very close eye on it : the same way he kept a close eye on “the girls” who worked in the town’s little factory. He was the foreman there – and universally hated for his ability to sneak up behind workers and catch them if they paused to chat.

He sneaked up on me as I prepared to light the second firecracker from a pack I had just talked Sid into selling me . “I’ll take those firecrackers ,”he purred. “ You’re in big trouble !”

The Constable wasted no time in making his offer: I would not be prosecuted for possession of fireworks , but would have to identify the person who sold them to me…in front of a Jury.

When you are 12 years old and trying (well:sort of) to do the right thing, a Subpoena can make you feel pretty tense.

For one thing, I liked and respected Sid and his wife. I used to hang out in the store when I could , and talk about life , and values, and the turbulent world we lived in. They never “talked down” to me , and I had gotten to be on a first name basis with them.

On the other hand , Dad was part of the Town Board that paid the Constable’s salary , and I was expected to be reasonably upright and law-abiding. I knew – when summoned to testify in a case – one is supposed to tell the truth , the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I agonized for weeks over what to do in the matter of The State of New York - by Grace of God Free and Independent vs Sid : wounded war veteran , small town merchant ,and friend. Everyone I talked to had different advice – even Sid , who said : “ Whether it helps me or harms me - do what your conscience says is right.”

Suddenly it was time to appear in court. The Constable came to the house , and we began driving to the County seat.

We rode in silence for a while, and then he said : “ Don’t be nervous. All you have to do is tell the truth. “ He glanced over at me. “ Do you think you can do that ?”

“Yes sir”, I responded glumly.

“Good !”, he beamed. “ I’ve been trying to get something on that damn kike for a long time !”

Would it surprise you to learn I had a sudden loss of memory on the stand ? That Sid and his attorney sat there trying not to look surprised as the memory loss persisted ? That cross-examination by the prosecution and further direct questioning by an irate judge failed to restore my faculties ?

I hadn’t planned to tell this story –ever ; but today I ran across another anti-Semite on the Internet --- and I guess you could say it restored my memory !


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: antisemitism; new; old; smalltown
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To: genefromjersey

This is really a very well written and interesting story, and a vivid snapshot of a time. I'm glad you told it.


21 posted on 10/05/2005 6:08:12 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: genefromjersey

Thanks for a great story....I can't help but think what an honorable man you are...


22 posted on 10/05/2005 6:08:20 PM PDT by Kimmers
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To: genefromjersey

That's a lovely story. Thanks.


23 posted on 10/05/2005 6:08:38 PM PDT by grasshopper2
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To: genefromjersey
Great story Gene. My dad liked everybody but he especially liked Jews and befriended them often. I grew up knowing some really great Jewish people.
24 posted on 10/05/2005 6:09:25 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: genefromjersey

Good one, gene...

Memory loss can be such a blessing at times.

Your story made me smile.


25 posted on 10/05/2005 6:09:29 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: genefromjersey
There is "telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

And there is "doing the right thing".

The two are generally, but not always, 100% congruent.

26 posted on 10/05/2005 6:10:53 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: genefromjersey

Get rid of the word "purred". ("Said" would be fine.)

Then get this published. :o)


BTW, racists come in every different color & flavor, and anti-Semites are no worse than all the rest.


27 posted on 10/05/2005 6:11:51 PM PDT by k2blader (Hic sunt dracones..)
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To: genefromjersey
I hadn’t planned to tell this story –ever ; but today I ran across another anti-Semite on the Internet --- and I guess you could say it restored my memory !

That’s good, as it goes.

Meanwhile, I’ve run across a few Semites in my time – all worthy of hefty jail times - if not outright execution.

They did things that were relatively minor – semi-trumped up – and it ended up unraveling their (and their associates ) greater violations.

I had similar memory lapses. Works both ways, I guess.

28 posted on 10/05/2005 6:12:30 PM PDT by Who dat?
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To: Who dat?

Huh?


29 posted on 10/05/2005 6:14:15 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: genefromjersey

I remember firecrackers and even Roman candles being legal on Long Island in the 50's and 60's

BTW... good for you!!!


30 posted on 10/05/2005 6:15:17 PM PDT by DLfromthedesert (Texas Cowboy...you da man!!)
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To: genefromjersey

Thanks for sharing your story. If you folks are stil living, give them a call and thank them for doing a fine job raising you.

Sad thing is there will always be bigots in this world, no matter how hard we try, this is something that will never be outgrown.


31 posted on 10/05/2005 6:17:08 PM PDT by TheMom (My husband and children rock! I am like a rock . . . round and thick.)
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To: Who dat?; genefromjersey

Are you joking? It didn't work...


32 posted on 10/05/2005 6:19:15 PM PDT by Ramius (Buy blades for war fighters: freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net --> 900 knives and counting!)
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To: k2blader; genefromjersey

I disagree; "purred" is very descriptive of how this yahoo would sound; I could almost see the Cheshire Cat grin on his stupid face.


33 posted on 10/05/2005 6:19:21 PM PDT by DLfromthedesert (Texas Cowboy...you da man!!)
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To: genefromjersey

I grew up not knowing what a bagel was ....thats how far out of the mainstream I was ...I could never understand why people hated Jewish people. I did not understand the holocaust or the hatred for any group of people...I saw it here and there but I didnt understand it ....and I still dont understand it especially now when I see those on the left who seem to hate Israel.


34 posted on 10/05/2005 6:19:55 PM PDT by woofie (Trying hard to become another Buckhead)
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To: genefromjersey

Oh, You got one of the best laughs out of me in a long time, and because what you say is true.


35 posted on 10/05/2005 6:20:15 PM PDT by Sundog (Cheers)
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To: genefromjersey

Thank you for sharing your experience, genefromjersey. Not only was it well written, it was well lived. You have reminded me that sometimes the shades of grey are just as important as the black and white that created them. Consider yourself hugged, a big grizzly bear hug. :) chena


36 posted on 10/05/2005 6:22:04 PM PDT by Chena (I'm not young enough to know everything)
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To: genefromjersey
*smile* Thanks for sharing and a shout out to Sid for taking 6 for the home team!
37 posted on 10/05/2005 6:22:09 PM PDT by DocRock (Osama said, "We love death, the U.S. loves life, that is the main difference between us.")
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To: genefromjersey

Good story.

I think I was probably in that little
store and knew Sid. (Not really, but
there was one like it in every town in
America when I was a kid.)


38 posted on 10/05/2005 6:22:32 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: woofie

LOL!! I gres up in Brooklyn in a neighborhood largely populated by Italians (my grandparents were all from Sicily) and Jews.

The best of all worlds: bagels and lasagna, and LOTS of good wine.


39 posted on 10/05/2005 6:23:41 PM PDT by DLfromthedesert (Texas Cowboy...you da man!!)
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To: mylife

Thought you'd like this.


40 posted on 10/05/2005 6:24:18 PM PDT by ozaukeemom (Nuke the ACLU and their snivel rights!)
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