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By Stanley P. Gershbein
Brooklyn Daily
The media has been telling us that the mother of the Boston bombers is in denial (please hold all jokes about the river in Egypt, as everybody has heard them more times than they care to remember. Many years ago, I spent a week cruising on that river and I don’t want to be reminded that it is one of the muddiest, dirtiest, smelliest, most polluted rivers on the planet).
The very angry Zubeidat Tsarnaev claims her sons are loving, caring boys, and that the bomb story is a hoax. The blood shown on TV is red paint and that Tamerlan and Dzhokhar are being framed. Is mommy really in denial, or is she just another overprotective mom who believes her good boys can do no wrong. Is there a difference?
If you want to lean about angry parents who believe their children are unspoiled and flawless, have a conversation with any schoolteacher in Brooklyn. My roommate is a retired New York City schoolteacher and can fill your head with stories about those mothers. Her favorite is the one where she told a sixth grader to take his seat. The youngster quickly turned and shouted “F--- you” to her. Naturally, she called for a meeting with the mother. The next morning the overprotective woman met with Carol and opened the conversation by poking her in the chest demanding to know, “What did you do to provoke my child to say that?”
End of meeting. Here’s one young man that may not grow up to be another terrorist, but he sure as heck will be a leading liar.
Mommies? How about daddies? Spend 20 minutes discussing the subject with a Little League umpire. You’ll hear stories that shout, “You’re blind ump. My kid was safe.” And “Wanna’ meet me in the parking lot?” That’s when they’re angry at the umpire. How about the fathers, themselves, getting into it? There have been vicious fights, police called, and even arrests made, all because, “My kid is better than your kid.”
Having spent many an afternoon watching youngsters playing baseball, I am convinced that there should be a Little League rule barring all parents from being within one block of the game. If you have ever been a spectator at these games, you know exactly what I mean.
• • •
The daily calendar in front of me tells me that Memorial Day is almost here. The following are thoughts that I’ve written about many times. Once more couldn’t hurt.
Thanksgiving is the day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Memorial Day is the day when we pause to give thanks to the military people who fought for the things we have. It is sad to know that there are many of you out there who are always griping about how much you hate the military. Many men and women gave their lives so that you may have this freedom to gripe, complain, whine, grumble, criticize, and protest. I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net wearing a shirt that my son Steve gave me. On the front it asks, “Got freedom?” The back reads, “Compliments of the Unted States Armed Forces.”
Thanks Steve.
Read Stan Gershbein's column every Monday on BrooklynDaily.com.