Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 25-26, 1944, over Luzon, Philippine Islands. His citation reads:
He fought with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity over Luzon, Philippine Islands. Voluntarily, he led a squadron of 15 P-38's as top cover for heavy bombers striking Mabalacat Airdrome, where his formation was attacked by 20 aggressive Japanese fighters. In the ensuing action he repeatedly flew to the aid of embattled comrades, driving off enemy assaults while himself under attack and at times outnumbered 3 to 1, and even after his guns jammed, continuing the fight by forcing a hostile plane into his wingman's line of fire. Before he started back to his base he had shot down 3 Zeros. The next day he again volunteered to lead escort fighters on a mission to strongly defended Clark Field. During the resultant engagement he again exposed himself to attacks so that he might rescue a crippled bomber. In rapid succession he shot down 1 aircraft, parried the attack of 4 enemy fighters, 1 of which he shot down, single-handedly engaged 3 more Japanese, destroying 1, and then shot down still another, his 38th victory in aerial combat. On 7 January 1945, while leading a voluntary fighter sweep over Los Negros Island, he risked an extremely hazardous maneuver at low altitude in an attempt to save a fellow flyer from attack, crashed, and was reported missing in action. With gallant initiative, deep and unselfish concern for the safety of others, and heroic determination to destroy the enemy at all costs, Maj. McGuire set an inspiring example in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Shipfitter First Class Patrick McGunigal (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 17, 1917, on board the U.S.S. Huntington. His citation reads:
For extraordinary heroism while attached to the Huntington. On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H. W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.
Corporal Alexander U. McHale (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia. His citation reads:
Captured a Confederate color in a charge, threw the flag over in front of the works, and continued in the charge upon the enemy.
I understand that you usually come here to laugh and, truth be known, I come here to make you laugh… well, I come here to make me laugh and am happy when this also makes you laugh. Anyway, I also know that there are times when you look for me to speak on serious topics (like when Saved By The Bell weighed in on the dangers of abusing caffeine pills). So, today I will solve all of you race related problems. In the process of doing this, I will let you in on a couple of my secrets to success (if, like me, you consider having a low level state job success).
*I profile people. It’s true. To not do so, I feel, is to waste part of the brain that God gave me. It’s a natural thing, so don’t run away from it. Race plays a part in these profiles, but it’s not the biggest part. Here’s the thing, profiles don’t just happen. They are formed based on our experiences (including things we see/hear on tv/movies/music). The thing isn’t to never profile… it’s to know when you should/shouldn’t profile and to realize when you’re doing it. Listen, if a black guy points a gun at you (like one did to me), you might be worried whenever you’re around a black guy. Luckily, this isn’t the case for me because I’ve had enough positive life experiences over the years (and I’m smart enough) that I realize that guy doesn’t represent a whole race. My point is that if you meet someone of a different race, realize the assumptions they make about you (and they will make assumptions) are based on their experiences they’ve had with other people “like” you. By the way, the “race” I discriminate the most against… yankees (followed closely by hippies). The “race” that gets the most leeway from me? People from James Island (followed by people from South Carolina… followed by people from The South). Of course, this is just talking about strangers… friends and family are exempt from these groupings (as they usually are in any race discussion).
*By the way, I get profiled all the time. It doesn’t have to be about race. Most times, in fact, I think it’s more sex based than race based. I do a good bit of walking around my subdivision and I get profiled all the time doing it. First, I have to point out that I seem to be the only person around here who knows which side of the road to walk on (against traffic). Anyway, any time I am walking and a girl is walking towards me (and this is true for all races I come across), she moves to the other side of the road. There’s more than enough room on my side of the road for us to pass each other without any trouble, but they move to the other side. Why? Because I’m a man who they don’t know and they don’t want to be assaulted. Of course, I wouldn’t hurt them but they don’t know this and I’m sure they’d rather be safe than sorry. I get it. A version of this happens when I come up to a yard with kids playing in it. If the kids are young enough, a mom will usually yell for them to come closer to the house until I pass. Again, it happens for every type of race that I pass. And I say good for them… they’re just protecting their kids from a guy they don’t know.
*Ok, you didn’t come here to read about how I profile and get profiled… you came here for help and I’m here to give it to you. I can give you this help because I have many minority friends. I’m not sure how many, but I think if I count one of Sonny’s black friends (or, I should say, Sonny’s one black friend) who I’ve worked with shooting fireworks a few times over the years, I’ve got a good percentage of friends who are of a race different from mine. I say this as a joke for those people who count the number of black friends they have.
Now, back to the solution to racism…
*It can’t be a macro solution… it has to be a micro solution. This is something that will never be totally gone from the world, so stop aiming for that. Just focus on your little world.
*Look at what you have in common with people… not what differences you have.
*Don’t look to others to lead. This is something you have to do yourself.
*Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. They don’t call it the Golden Rule because it’s kind of a good idea.
*See each person as their own race.
*Try to think about why people see things the way they do (fully realizing, of course, some people are just stupid).
*Listen to other people… Don’t just talk at them.
*Don’t let the news shape your views… the news is for ratings, not the truth.
*Don’t get defensive.
*Forgive.
*Wait until you’re friends with someone before trying your “race jokes” on them… you’re more likely to get a laugh (and less likely to get sent to HR) that way.
*Don’t take life so seriously.
*My favorite professor at Winthrop (Mr. Johnson the first time I had him, Dr. Doug the other two times I had him after he got his PhD) once told us that there is no such thing as reverse racism (at least in the way that most people say it). If you’re a minority discriminating against a white person, it’s not “reverse racism”… it’s just racism. Dr. Doug, of course, looked exactly like me (only a good bit darker… except for that one summer I worked outside, then he was just a little bit darker). My point is that it goes both ways. That doesn’t make it right, it’s just how it is.
I’m sure I can think of more, but if you can master these instructions you’ll be fine. Remember, this doesn’t mean you have to like everyone (if it did mean that, I’d be screwed… not to mention Sonny… that sonofagun hates everyone), it just means you really need to have a better reason for disliking them than just the color of their skin or where they are from (unless it’s the north or some hippie state like California – even then you should probably talk to them at least once to see if they are the exception and not the rule). Now let me show you a video of what my friend (my word, not his) Chuck had to say on CNN about this stuff… (Note: The only thing I might disagree with is I’m not sure race had as much to do with what happened as others do. I think the fact that Trayvon Martin was a teenage male had more to do with it than the fact that he was black… but I could be wrong).
Probably the best SNL skit ever (if you’re at work, put your earphones in… and prepare to laugh so hard that you cry).
Picture Tuesday
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| We're Scooby heavy in the pics today |
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| I think he was sleeping with his eyes open in this picture |
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| Scooby at work with The Wife |
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| This looks like how I am at work sometimes... |
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| I'm not sure if I posted this before or not... but it cracks me up so I decided to post it now to be sure. This was taken while Susie and Mary Ruth were at the doctor because they were sick. Don't they look sick? |
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