Comments by Bobby Tony | Eastern NC Now

Well stated and highlights the nuance of positions. Now we await the on rush of politicians who operate on the "never let a crises go to waste" motive. Thanks for a thoughtful post.

Commented: Saturday, June 27th, 2015 @ 6:25 am By: Bobby Tony

Update on the wild day of the River Raft race in Atlanta, Ga
The Wild 70's revisted by some old guys.

www.atlantamagazine.com

Commented: Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 @ 10:54 am By: Bobby Tony

Christopher, I apologize for the rude, boorish and sophomoric attempt at humor. Your position is clearly and eloquently stated. I try to truly understand and sympathize with any transgender person who struggles with these issues. My comment is directed at the commercialization aspect of Caitlyn Jenner’s plight. It is her right to live her life as she wishes. My crude point is that this whole family has made a fortune out of public displaying their dysfunctional lives. That opens them up, in my opinion, to public criticism. I question the timing and marketing of her story but not the decision. You will find in life that opportunities and challenges often can be turned into a finically gain. This is as it should be, but it it often overshadows the underlying pain and trauma the situation begets.
For those who seem to think that Caitlyn's decision displays courage, I would disagree. Courage would have been to make this choice 40 years ago. You may be too young to remember the same issue surfaced some 40 years ago. Dr. Renée Richards made the same choice in a much more judgmental time. You may need to look her story up.
I admire your passion and seriousness on this and other issues and you probably deserve more respect that my flippant comment displays, but you have the benefit of youth and earnestness that some of us older folks no longer have.
Do not let my caviler approach to this story deter you from your search for understanding in this world. It is just that sometimes old age brings a broader understanding which results in a cynical view of the motivations of others. The old Greek plays depict "the Comedy and Tragedy Masks” as two sides of the same condition.
Your concern has properly chastised me for poking fun of at the situation. The comment was not a criticism of you but of the absurdity of the crass commercial aspects of this charade.
I wholeheartedly support and endorse Caitlyn’s right to use this as a means to make money. I just do not attach the same moral superiority to the choice, as do others.
Lastly do not let the locker room humor deter you from you pursuit of understanding, or in the language of some, much older and wiser times “Illegitimi non carborundum”.
You just keep writing and exploring your understanding of the nuisances of life. You will meet many a court jester in your pursuit of knowledge. Acknowledge them as what we are, a clown or buffoon whose job is to entertain, and no more. Like many, I lost my idealism long ago and have given up the search to regain it. My wish for you is that you never lose yours. Guard it and protect it, it will be difficult but perhaps the reward will be worth the effort.
For a simple translation of this comment, see Ted McD’s forty-three word comment below.
You got the last laugh young man!

Commented: Monday, June 8th, 2015 @ 1:13 am By: Bobby Tony

I couldn't let it just lay. My old church property is owned now by an LLC and pays property taxes. I suspect it leases the facilities to the present congregation.

Commented: Saturday, June 6th, 2015 @ 1:14 pm By: Bobby Tony

When our Church in Candler Park decided to disband in 2004 and sell the property, I was a deacon (aside for GS: a result of being the only member under 75 and able to write a complete sentence). We found the property deeded in the Church name but I do not remember if it was an LLC. After the sale we consolidated all funds into a single bank account, the congregation (less than 60) then voted on how to disperse the money and it went to several missionary organizations and local churches where past members had migrated. Today the property is still a church for the diverse population in thriving Candler Park. I will one day revisit a service in this church, I am sure I will be welcome more than the current congregation was during the 1950’s.
The SBC had no part in the negotiations or how the funds were distributed.
www.glmwc.org

Commented: Saturday, June 6th, 2015 @ 11:00 am By: Bobby Tony

I wrote this as a response to civilians asking what it was like to ride a chopper into a battle zone. It may be similar to what those heroes of D-Day experienced in a much more destructive war when it was certain that they were stepping into hell.

"There is an eerie calm that descends on young men when they wait for the disembark order. In just a few seconds, you will meet either your maker or your enemy. You are highly trained, well practiced, fully supplied, and motivated. There is no noise among the brothers to your right or left. They like you are lost in their thoughts of home, girlfriends, or whatever. I would be tempted to say that there is loneliness in the crowd, but that would not be accurate. There is a lifetime ahead if you are lucky to be lonely. There is only a sense of purpose and one final equipment check, and then they flip the switch. It is similar to stepping from total darkness into bright sunlight or stepping in to total darkness from bright sunlight. All the planning and preparation give way and you are dependent on a few eighteen to twenty year olds who you may not ever have liked in civilian life but today you put your hands in their hands and vice a versa. Here you meet your destiny. The only reward for this is that you will survive to do it all over again.
God bless those souls both living and dead for their willingness to partake in perhaps the highest game of chance with the highest stakes. If you lose, the consolation prize is a white stone barely one foot by one foot. They all look alike with the exception of a few words but they each have a story and a dream ended short of completion. As I write this, seventy one years ago the time is 11:48AM on the beaches and the outcome is unclear but the die is cast and they must persevere."

Commented: Saturday, June 6th, 2015 @ 6:48 am By: Bobby Tony

I have read in the news about a recent study on restaurants. I guess the 2400 calorie Red Lobster feast is out unless you space it out over an hour or two.

Commented: Friday, June 5th, 2015 @ 7:47 am By: Bobby Tony

In addition, there may have been a language problem as was the case with my mothers family, I have the Ellis Island sheet for my mothers parents and it is barely readable.

The early 1910 & 20 census sheets also had some mis-spellings of The Italian names. As you mentioned, if you don’t know at least some history people in the tree would get lost. Mom and her brother and sister did not show up in her mothers census sheet as they were at the Masonic Home in Macon, Ga.

My first ex wife to be wrote in a beautiful cursive style almost like calligraphy
, but all the time. Her writing was never more beautiful then when she signed the divorce papers. I used to have that framed somewhere.

Commented: Thursday, June 4th, 2015 @ 11:57 am By: Bobby Tony

Do you have Robert Merton confused with Erik Erickson? Erickson was responsible for the term” psychosocial development and identity crisis.
Merton developed notable concepts such as "unintended consequences", the "reference group", and "role strain" but is perhaps best known for having created the terms "role model" and "self-fulfilling prophecy".
My favorite Social Scientist is Morris Massey “What You Are Is Where You Were When “.
In any event all were active over 35 years ago, I wonder what current sociological thought is on the subject.
Ted McDonald possibly has the best approach to under standing identity: beaufortcountynow.com

Commented: Thursday, June 4th, 2015 @ 10:31 am By: Bobby Tony

I suspect that may still be possible. I have seen street a preacher as Recently as a few months ago. He had a crowd but they moved on quickly. I think the donation of money and or land is the hurdle.

Commented: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 @ 7:09 pm By: Bobby Tony

Remind me to tell you the story about the Rio Vista Resturant on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. They had all the catfish you could eat for $1.25. There really is no story but I just did not want to change the subject. I personally have embellished my profile here on BCN. It is a blank page.

Commented: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 @ 11:01 am By: Bobby Tony

Carny, poor editing on my part. Must have had Ralph on my mind. Yo Ralph!
It gets hot down in his sewer and Ipad does not know what I'm trying to say.

Commented: Monday, June 1st, 2015 @ 4:38 pm By: Bobby Tony

Thanks Ted. I need to work on that simplfly and just the facts ma'am approach..

Commented: Monday, June 1st, 2015 @ 7:52 am By: Bobby Tony

I never knew either of my grandfathers. On my dad's side I suspect I could have learned chasing skirts, and drinking, so I'm glad I missed that. I could learn that on my own.
On my mom's side, He was dead twenty six years before I was born. I think I could have learned Italian, hard work, but mostly I wish I could have learned what kind of guts it took to leave his home country alone and go to the new world with a language he could not speak to make a life. But that was a common American story.

Commented: Monday, June 1st, 2015 @ 5:40 am By: Bobby Tony

Does that mean that you are finally going to answer Ted McD's three pending questions? Then the real discussion can begin. The Socrates thing wears thin.
Stan and I need a definition of Religious Moderate. Let's start with the average guy. Maybe one paragraph in English
Sooner or later you have to state what you believe
OK GS. What is the definition of a religious conservative?

Commented: Sunday, May 31st, 2015 @ 8:46 pm By: Bobby Tony

Ted McD. If you send me some money I will send you the taped version of this exchange. The number to call is BR549.

Commented: Sunday, May 31st, 2015 @ 6:01 pm By: Bobby Tony

Okay, I'm going to stop joking now! I'll wait for the serious stiff while I'm sitting in the phew.

Commented: Sunday, May 31st, 2015 @ 5:28 pm By: Bobby Tony