Random Apathy

I seem to have no interest in politics these last few months and I place the blame (or credit) on the fact that nothing will change for the better. Absolutely nothing. I'm appalled, amazed, retching I tell ya, over the same tired-ass political speeches of promise and glory coming soon to a mailbox near you.

I had no interest in watching the inauguration or the discussions on the fashion sense of Michelle and the girls. I have no interest in whether or not Barry stumbled over the oath of office - it will be the most minor stumble he makes over the next 4 years. But I suppose we will have to focus on the little things as anything else will be called "racism" by those trusty white guardians and self-appointed black leaders of political correctness.

I was disgusted with JayZ or whatever that fool's name is, with his vulgar thug lyrics regarding Obama's inauguration. JZ does not represent any of the decent folks I know. He represents the worst and the dumbest - why don't those self-appointed white and black leaders (and Obama) tell these ugly con artists to pull up their pants and go home. That would be change.

Recently I read an article or two on Michelle's heritage - Obama spoke of his wife as having the blood of slaves and slaveholders running through her veins, the "quintessential" American woman. I studied her branch and it was not all that, I have a branch of my own much more interesting.

I found a branch of mine where one Frederick Metcalf registered to vote in 1867 in Lowndes, Alabama - his name written in between white men on the page. I found Fred as a private in the 138th US Colored Troops. I also have records where Fred and 3 of his brothers used the letter "X" as their middle initial - more than a century before Oliver Stone made it trendy for ballcaps and T-shirts.

I have found "cousins" across the country also researching and willing to share information, old records and letters, photos, and family lore.

I tracked Fred from Alabama to Virginia after the Civil War where he found his father, 80 y/o Samuel Douglass, and from there they went west to Mississippi where he found his wife and son who had been sold. They reunited and raised 10 more children together, still alive in the 1900 census in Tallahatchie, MS.

I learned they put their faith in the American system, regardless of what that system had previously done to them. I have their bank records where they put their pennies and nickels in the first "black bank", The Freedman's Saving & Trust (1865-1872) - only to lose what little they had when the bank went under (due to bad investments, original huh?).

I traced another familial branch that was neither slave or slaveholders; just dirt farmers who came to the colonies from Scotland and Ireland; they fought on the Union side during the war; some died in Andersonville, some took land grants in Oklahoma and are still there today.

After about 1870, most of these folks lived their entire lives in the county they were born in. They raised their families, served in wartime, supported political parties and ideas, were union members and suffragettes; went to church, sent their children to school, and believed in the American way. They survived and adjusted to national turmoil and depressions, lived through social atrocities and political assassinations. They usually died at home with 3 or 4 generations at their bedside.

Lucky for them they had no exposure to cinematic pundits; nor did they have to feed and fund thousands of pols and staffers at the trough.

They were not rich or famous or particularly beautiful - but they did seem to have something few Americans have today; they were grateful; maybe simply because they knew where they came from and where they were going - something folks today can't seem to figure out, unless they are told in a letter from a government agency, with sociopathic cultural icons lighting the way.