Teddy Roosevelt on Immigration

1919 Quote


"We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."

Miscellaneous Stuff!!

Well. let's see. Me and my lovely wife Regina celebrated our 43rd Wedding anniversary on January 10th, also we are also going through a second round of empty nest syndrome because my youngest son was in an awkward position. He was the lone renter in a house as its lease expired. Since his other roomies moved on, he didn't want to assume the whole burden on his own, so he stayed with us while looking for a studio apartment. He was with us for about two months until he found an apartment to his liking. It was a real pleasure to have him back in the house again. I think we miss him now more than we did the first time he left.

Retirement agrees with me more and more, I  volunteer at the local Historical Society once a week and attend Civil War Round Table meetings monthly. It keeps the cobwebs out of my brain. For now, I don't think I want to add any more activities. Have to ease into all this fun you know, i don't know if I can stand it?  :-)

Who Is Minnie Torkler?

I've started off my stint as a volunteer at the Historical Society of Rockland County by transcribing the 1926 diary of Minnie Torkler. I've done two weeks so far. It's pretty interesting, a New Years Eve Dinner plate at the Hotel St. George in Nyack went for a whopping $4.00,

It appears that she and her husband Fred are landlords for several buildings in Manhattan since she makes references to several people not having hot water and she mentions bookkeeping a lot. I think this might be an interesting slice of life in 1926 as I delve deeper into the transcribing.

No Fun Rooting For A Losing Sports Team

I love the Washington Redskins, my last link with the state of Virginia where I lived for 7 years a long time ago. But it has been really hard on me and other 'Skins fans for many years now. The last time we won the Superbowl was 1991!! We have a good quarterback in RGIII but I think the Snyder-Shanahan combination is toxic. Shanahan has to go, no question about it. But Snyder is part of the problem. He butts in too much. What I wouldn't give for a reincarnation of Jack Kent Cooke. But 3-11? C'mon the team is more talented than that.

I'm not giving up on them for sure. My only salvation is that living in New York, I talk to a lot of suffering Giant's fans as well. my old friend Jorge from my old job is beside himself as a loyal Giants fan. The NFC East as a whole is pretty bad this year.

Well there is always next year!!

Volunteering at Rockland County Historical Society

Now that I'm officially retired and not looking for a job (government should be happy), I've decided to get back to my first love occupation-wise. I have an appointment on Wednesday to talk to the Historical Society of Rockland County to see if any of my history related skills can be used as a volunteer. I really love to do historical research combing through old documents, letters, diaries, etc. I've had two volunteer stints with them in the past when my work schedule was light, so now I should be able to give them one day a week.

I'm really looking forward to it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a nice Thanksgiving Dinner at the 76 House last night. Our small extended family was there, my wife, youngest son, cousin and sister. Food and service was excellent.

The 76 House for those who may be curious is the house where Major Andre was held prisoner during the Revolution prior to his hanging for being a British spy.

The only thing that I didn't care for was the loud contemporary music. I would have preferred unamplified  period music, but never-the-less it was a pleasant experience.

link

76House

A Day of Reflection!! 11/11/13

Yesterday was Veterans Day. Our family has represented the Armed forces through several generations. I'm proud of them all. My Grandfather Erbe was in the West Virginia National Guard, my Father and my Uncle both served in the Navy in World War Two, I served in the Coast Guard during the Cold War Era and my older son served in the Navy and is still in the reserves. 

Funny thing is that it would have been an unbroken Navy line, except for the fact that when I enlisted, the Navy recruiter said his allotment  had been filled. So I enlisted in the Coast Guard, which to this day I don't regret. My sea time was spent on the Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa. An ex Navy salvage tug that rode like a cork in the Atlantic.

This was the Christmas Card photo of her in 1967, when I was aboard.