Our # 2 son remembers 9-11 and 7th grade

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Our # 2 son remembers 9-11 and 7th grade 09/10 by Silvio Canto Jr | Politics Conservative Podcasts:

We mark another anniversary of 9/11, the most significant day of our generation.

My biggest “9/11 morning memory” was thinking about my wife, three sons in school and everybody else in the family.

I remember watching the second plane hit the tower around 8 A.M. central time.  It was absolutely stunning to watch two passenger planes hit the World Trade Center.  By the way, I had been in those building for business calls several times.  I recall the stunning views from an office in one of the upper floors.

A few minutes later, my wife walked in from taking the boys to school.

I told my wife that something bad was happening and that we should be prepared for picking up the kids in school at a moment’s  notice.

Like most fathers, I was concerned that there were other attacks pending and specially in a major city like Dallas.  We have lots of tall buildings and a nuclear plant in the area.

It was a very scary day and one that brought a lot of families together.  It certainly made us appreciate each other and the value of human life.

My worst memory of that day was watching people jump to their deaths.  It was heartbreaking to watch human beings choose between jumping from the 90th floor or burning to death.  

9/11…. it seems like it was just yesterday!

Last but not least, we were very lucky that day that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were at the helm.  I believe that their reaction and commitment to defending the homeland were superb.

 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.

Another Father’s Day and so many kids without fathers around

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I thank God that I had a mentor in my life, the kind of man who understood what it means to be a father.  Not everyone is so lucky.  So let’s chat about the “father crisis” in many communities in the U.S.

Ten years ago, I cut out this article from the Wall Street Journal paper edition.  I saved it and look at it from time.  It was written by Juan Williams, author and Fox News contributor.  It is “The Tragedy of America’s Disappearing Fathers“:

The extent of the problem is clear.

The nation’s out-of-wedlock birth rate is 38%.

Among white children, 28% are now born to a single mother; among Hispanic children it is 50% and reaches a chilling, disorienting peak of 71% for black children.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly a quarter of America’s white children (22%) do not have any male in their homes; nearly a third (31%) of Hispanic children and over half of black children (56%) are fatherless.
This represents a dramatic shift in American life.

In the early 1960’s, only 2.3% of white children and 24% of black children were born to a single mom.

Having a dad, in short, is now a privilege, a ticket to middle-class status on par with getting into a good college.

Kids suffer without a father, no matter their color or last name.

Father’s Day is here.  Let’s remember a simple truth: we need men to be responsible fathers.

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Another February to remember President Lincoln

As every school boy or girl can tell you, this is Pres Lincoln’s birthday. He was born in 1809.

He lived an incredible 19th century life:  born in the frontier, faced all of the adversity of the time, became a very successful attorney and eventually ran for president.

He also raised a family with Mrs Lincoln. They had 4 sons but only Robert, Willie & Tad survived. 

Historians regard George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as our two greatest presidents.

It’s hard to argue against Washington. He was the first president and the man who kept the nation together at the very beginning. Washington did the incredible of walking away from power after two terms as president.

Lincoln had a different path. He fought to preserve the union and paid a tremendous price for it.

We remember Pres Lincoln today and hope that school children always remember him every February.

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 Bob Forsch (1950-2011)

We remember Bob Forsch, who was born in Sacramento on this day in 1950.  

Bob broke with St. Louis in 1974 and turned into a very steady pitcher in the National League.    He won 168 games with a 3.76 ERA over 19 seasons and pitched in the 1982, 1985 and 1987 World Series.     Forsch threw a no-hitter in 1978 against the Phillies and in 1983 against Expos. 

Bob died in 2011.   His brother, Ken, was also a major league pitcher.

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

Babalu: The missiles in Cuba: “Se fueron los cohetes pero se quedo Castro”!

(My new Babalu post)

We sat around my father's Phillips radio, or the one with a short wave band.   By the way, this radio was a lifeline to international news.

My father purchased it because it was one of the first FM models to be available in Cuba.  However, it was the short wave band that became the radio's primary feature.

Our place was very close to "El Malecon", the legendary Havana ocean drive avenue.  We had a feeling that something was going on because it was full of "milicianos" with anti-aircraft weapons.  

We heard Persident Kennedy (translated to Spanish) say that there were missiles in Cuba:   

"In a dramatic televised address to the American public, President John F. Kennedyannounces that the Soviet Union has placed nuclear weapons in Cuba and, in response, the United States will establish a blockade around the island to prevent any other offensive weapons from entering Castro's state. Kennedy also warned the Soviets that any nuclear attack from Cuba would be construed as an act of war, and that the United States would retaliate in kind."

Looking back, I have a couple of questions.

First, why didn't President Kennedy tell the Soviets to take Castro out with the missiles?  My guess is that the Soviets would have asked:  Do we take him out dead or alive?  The Soviets were overextended in October 1962.  We held all of the cards and should have demanded Castro's exit.

Second, why don't we ever talk about the impact on the people Cuba?  The Missile Crisis was followed by more and more repression, brutality against the guerillas in Escambray and the consolidation ofthe Castro dictatorship.

As someone said:  "Se fueron los cohetes pero se quedo Castro"!

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.

Listen to "The October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis" on Spreaker.

We remember Paul Weyrich (1942-2008)

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We remember Paul Weyrich, co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, founder of the Free Congress Foundation and other organizations.  

Paul was born on this day in 1942.  He passed away in 2008.

Weyrich was an important voice back in the late 1970's. He was a critical player in the Republican comeback of 1980.

We also remember Paul for starting The Heritage Foundation.  

  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.

October 1962: "Love me do" was released today!

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It started many years ago in October 1962. 

John, Paul, George & newcomer Ringo released their first single in the UK.  It made it to the Top 20 and opened the way for bigger songs later. 

In 1963, The Beatles made it to #1 with "Please please me" & "She loves you".  In early 1964, they were performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York and Beatlemania was going strong in the US.

In the US, these two songs were included in an LP "The Early Beatles".   In the UK, both songs were in the first LP.

You can hear them here:    "Love me do" & "P.S. I love you".  This is a great book about all of their songs:

We remember Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933-2007)

We remember Rev. Jerry Falwell who was born on this day in Virginia on this day in 1933.

In 1985, Rev. Falwell came to Dallas for an anti-abortion rally. He spoke for about 10 minutes and shook many hands later. I was lucky enough to meet him and chat for a bit. I was impressed with his sincerity and willingness to chat with anyone.

Jerry Falwell started preaching in 1956 in Lynchburgh, VA.   Later, Dr. Falwell founded Liberty University in 1971.  Today, there are 15,000 students on campus and over 90,000 taking courses on line.    

In 1979, Dr. Falwell founded "The Moral Majority" and became a huge player in the politics of the 1980's.    

Falwell died in 2007 but his influence continues.   He lived a wonderful life and we miss him.

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 Pat Woodell (1944-2015)

For my money, those shows from the 1960's and into the 1970's were a lot more fun.   Thanks to the reruns we've had a chance to catch up with many of them.

"Petticoat Junction" was one of those shows.   Every week we tuned in to catch up with the 3 sisters and their hilarious romantic stories.   No bad language.  No pornography.   Just clean fun and lots of it!

Pat Woodell was born on this day in 1944 and died in 2015.   She played Bobbie Jo, the pretty brunette in the family.  She is the one to the right in the picture.

Again, great 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.

We remember E B White (1899-1985)

We remember E B White, the author of many children's books, such as Stuart Little (1945), Charlotte's Web (1952), and The Trumpet of the Swan (1970).    

He was born in New York on this day in 1899.

A great life and a man who left us some wonderful books that will be read for centuries.

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.

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