A word about Ron Silver (1946-2009)

We remember that Ron Silver was born July 2, 1946.    He died March 15, 2009 after fighting cancer for a few years.

Like many of us, Ron Silver got a big wake up call on 9-11.

Silver understood that there were people in the world determined to blow up one of our cities and kill thousands of innocent people.  Let's not forget that they'd cut your head off if you disagree with them, too.

On top of that, he was a great actor.

A few years agp, my friend Rick Moran wrote about Silver.

In fact, Silver did not change. He was always a liberal on social issues.

Silver understood that the terrorists were opposed to everything that liberals believed in, from women's rights to any kind of tolerance.

Silver concluded that you couldn't do business with people who think that we should live under some kind of 12th century justice.

We take a minute this weekend to remember Ron Silver! It's a shame that there aren't more people like Ron Silver in Hollywood!

  

Last, but not least, make sure you watch "Fahrenhype 9-11", a response to Michael Moore.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Happy July 4th and a few other thoughts

Happy July 4th and a few other thoughts 07/03 by Silvio Canto Jr | Politics: 

Happy July 4th and a few thoughts about this great day....

.....and other stories........click to listen:

July 4, 1776: Happy birthday to the USA

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.....'

We remember today these words made famous in 1776. 

It is the most incredible message of individual freedom and self-government ever written.  Our thanks to these men for their courage and vision.  

Check out "John Adams", the wonderful HBO series that everyone should watch.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Abraham Lincoln was born on this day in 1809

As San Francisco debates school name changes, we are reminded of how much this country has changed.    Maybe the country has not changed but many people do not appreciate its heritage, such as Mark Cuban of  the Dallas Mavericks who is now dancing around what he said about the national anthem.

Our family arrived in the U.S. in September 1964.  By February 1965, we were learning about snow in Wisconsin and celebrating an important birthday.  Our teacher remembered that Abraham Lincoln was was born on a day like this in 1809.   She spoke at length about the man, his character and even had a tear in her eye when she called him "The Great Emancipator."   

To say the least, it was one of those grade school sessions that stays with you for a long time.  I had not heard anyone speak about President Lincoln that way since our Great Uncle Joaquin, a judge and law professor in Cuba, would tell us about the Gettysburg Address when we visited him in Havana.  He admired Lincoln as much as anybody and would have been enraged at those who want to delete his name today.

As my old grade school teacher said that morning, no one is indispensable in a democracy.  After all, democracies are based on laws, not men.  However, President Lincoln comes as close to indispensable as any American ever, as Scott Johnson wrote in 2016

"Today is of course the anniversary of the birth of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln. As a politician and as president, Lincoln was a profound student of the Constitution and constitutional history. Perhaps most important, Lincoln was America’s indispensable teacher of the moral ground of political freedom at the exact moment when the country was on the threshold of abandoning what he called its “ancient faith” that all men are created equal."

Yes he was the closest thing to indispensable in U.S. history!  Perhaps we can pass that information to those in San Francisco who don't understand it.   

So make sure you tell your kids about Abraham Lincoln today. They may not hear about him in certain school districts.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Dan Quisenberry (1953-1998)

    

Dan Quisenberry was born in Santa Monica, California on this day in 1953.   He broke with the KC Royals in 1979 and became one of the best right handed closers in the game.

Dan led the AL in saves 5 times and played in the 1980 and 1985 World Series.    He saved 238 games with a 2.55 ERA during his time in Kansas City.

He died in 1998 from a brain tumor.  He had a great sinker and saved many games by forcing hitters to hit into double plays.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

---

1876: The National League was founded

We call the National League "the senior circuit".    

This is because it was the first professional baseball league in the US founded on this day in 1876.    

The original teams were the Boston Red Stockings (now the Atlanta Braves), Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs), Cincinnati Red Stockings, Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, Mutual of New York, Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Brown Stockings.

The American League was started in 1901.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

1976: "Laverne and Shirley" made its US TV debut

"Laverne and Shirely" made its debut on this day in 1976 and quickly became one of the most popular TV shows of its time.   

It was the story of Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams).     They were a couple of 1950's young women working in a brewery in Milwaukee.    

Some may remember that the girls first appeared on a "Happy Days" episode.   They eventually landed their own show.

Very funny show!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

The Three Wise Men make the Christmas season a bit longer

It's crazy but the Christmas music around here stopped on December 26th.  I joked with a fellow usher at the January 1st mass ("day of obligation as my parents say") that our church was the only place in town singing about Christmas.

I guess that Christmas for me runs longer than December 26th.  It’s hard to change old habits.

We don't celebrate January 6th -- the Epiphany -- the way we did as kids. Back in Cuba, we would go to bed early on January 5th and wait for The Three Wise Men to leave us some gifts.  Once in the U.S., we kept the tradition but didn't go to bed early anymore.  We just exchanged some gifts in the morning and enjoyed a family breakfast.  

Why do so many kids all over the Spanish-speaking world wake up on January 6th and look for their presents?

First, it's what our ancestors brought to Cuba from Spain. As my grandfather from Asturias, Spain, used to say, we had a big meal on December 24th, went to midnight mass and then ate again on December 25th.  And then we got ready for "Los Reyes" or the Three Wise Men.

Second, it is a story right out of the Bible:

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."

This is not a cheap shot at Santa Claus, but it was the "wise men" who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.

Don't misunderstand.  I have nothing against Santa Claus, "Jingle Bell Rock" or Christmas office parties.  I love them too.  

I'm just saying that the story of The Three Wise Men is about the baby Jesus and that's what Christmas is really all about. This is why I love the Three Wise Men story so much.   This is why I'm thankful that I grew up hearing the story.

Happy January 6th to all of my Spanish friends who grew up opening their gifts today.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.

1975: The era of baseball free agency begins!

On this day in 1975, a landmark decision made Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith a couple of free agent players.    

McNally retired after the decision and Messersmith signed with the Dodgers.     McNally was traded by Baltimore after the 1974 season.   Messersmith had pitched for the Braves.  

Neither man benefited much from free agency but they did challenge the rule and won in the courts.

The real free agent class came after the 1976 season, when Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Don Baylor and others negotiated their own contracts.

It was a big day for the players and vindication for Curt Flood who sat out an entire season in protest of the reserve clause.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Christmas 1967: "Hello Goodbye" was # 1 for The Beatles

The Beatles and "Hello Goodbye) was # 1 song this week of Christmas 1967.   It was from the LP "Magical Mystery Tour" but did not appear in the TV special by that name.    

You can click HERE to buy the album.

HELLO GOODBYE

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.