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October 23, 2004
Impressions in a U.S. Marshal's Office
Don't know why I thought of it, but a while back I installed glass desktops on every desk at our local branch of the U.S. Marshal's office. The visit was eerie to the point of surreal.
I remember walking down a hall and as I made a turn to the right there was a piece of furniture. It was probably a small chest of drawers, but on top were three pictures arranged like a mother would arrange pictures of her sons. In the center of course was George W. Bush wearing a smile as pretty as any mother could want. To the right of George was Tom Ridge. I do not remember anything special about that one. To the left was John Ashcroft. God he is scary even in an 8 x 10. He has this look of a man that would be perfectly comfortable as a mean dumb southern sheriff.
I knew I was trapped in their element until I finished my job. Everything was so oppressive I almost wanted to shout out my sins, I could not take the pressure anymore; but I controlled myself.
The marshal's offices were spacious, filled with very expensive wood and decorated in green. Everybody had this golf theme going, whether on screensavers or just in decorations on the desks. Some offices also had a complimentary theme such as baseball. One thing I remember was a display of old baseballs with old baseball cards as a backdrop.
The men there were dressed as you may expect, tight-waisted slacks giving a slightly bulging midriff. Most were wearing their badge on their belts, big metal stars that shouted "Don't fuck up in front of me." Women were all in conservative, but fashionable dresses.
Back in the computer area, I ran into a guy I knew. He was the one that built my first computer. He was dressed like everyone else, no badge though. He was still fairly cool, but in an uptight sort of way. We talked for a few minutes, I reminded him about the computer he built for me. He laughed like he heard that a lot.
Finally after installing many desktop glasses in a lot of offices, my helper and I were finished. I had to be let out of the building by a good natured black guy who had a very large belly and a very large gun. He told some small jokes and said that he could not wait to get off work and go eat. I said eating is a good thing.
The overhead door that was raised was, of course, armored. It reminded me of a detention center's basement. I really wanted to leave at this point, but I did not want to look like I was rushing to the black guy. Finally I was able to see the sky colored in dark gray.
The Ashcroft picture still haunts me. I am not sure exactly how long ago I did this job, if I had formed any opinions of Ashcroft at that time. But I know after seeing the picture that Ashcroft is a mean S.O.B. that plays for keeps. I've been in there before when Clinton was in office. Janet Reno's picture was in a different location. She wasn't as foreboding as she was ugly.
Just wanted to share that story. Have not heard much out of John Ashcroft in a while. I wonder why?
Posted by pmcmahon at October 23, 2004 08:33 PM
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Comments
Did you really need to use the F word? Could you not have a least said something like F@##! Let's try and keep our internet clean! Trash on the net is as bad as trash on the street, You don't want to bring a tear to an Indian's eye, do you?
Posted by: C. Burkett at October 25, 2004 11:16 PM
lol....
I think p is just taking a cue from Dick Cheney.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html
Posted by: bcoffee at October 25, 2004 11:38 PM
That's a little bitchy and it's called censorship. In my world, there is a little something called freedom of speech and you can't take that away from anyone. If you don't like it, don't read it. Go pay for your own blog and make up your own rules.
By the way...I've never met an Indian who didn't cuss like a sailor. But if you really want to bring a tear to an Indian's eye, just have him listen to this:
Question: What do you think tribal sovereignty means in the 21st century, and how do we resolve conflicts between tribes and the federal and the state governments?
President Bush: Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. You're a -- you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And, therefore, the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities. . .
A word that has since raised eyebrows across Indian country, and one that, almost immediately after leaving the president's lips, had Democrats licking theirs:
Given.
To many Native Americans -- and Democrats, alike -- the president's answer spoke volumes about what they see as his ignorance of Indian issues. And to many, the operative word in Bush's response was the verb "given."
Posted by: JT Frog at October 26, 2004 10:14 AM
Now, Now, Mr. Frog,
Just because we have differencing political views can you not take a joke? Maybe you are just to young to remember the “Keep America Beautiful” campaign in the 70's. There on the side of the road stands an Indian as a car speeds past. The camara pans to the car as the occupants of the vehicle throw trash out on the road as they pass. The camera pans back to the Indian and comes in for a close up on his face. A tear rolls down his cheek.
That was a very powerful campaign. I for one, as a young person, made a life long decision then to not throw trash out on our streets. It made a lasting impact on me.
My whole take on the article was I found the writing humorous. I shared it with a friend even. I had enjoyed the style. (maybe not the message) My comment came from the fact that the word brought back to me that sad feeling of how we in America just throw trash out. It was meant as a lighthearted way of stating that.
I have to agree with you about the free speech issue. There are a lot of things I don't watch or listen to. Can I ask you one question? How have we come to such a low place in our society, Dick Cheney included here, that we don't have respect enough for ourselves and others to live above the trash?
Posted by: C. Burkett at October 26, 2004 05:22 PM
I believe we have more than just differing political views. I don't happen to agree with you that using the word "fuck" makes someone "trash". I'm old enough to remember the Indian commercial. But I didn't think it was a very fitting comment. (Although it did remind me of yet another reason why I don't think Bush is fit to be president)
In fact, in re-reading the article, I find it to be a brilliantly descriptive piece. Changing that one word to keep "those who live above the trash" happy would have lessened it's impact greatly. And suggesting that someone do so to meet "your" ideals of naughty or nice is indeed suggesting censorship. To me censorship is no joking matter and I guess I don't get the joke.
Posted by: JT Frog at October 26, 2004 06:03 PM
Wow! You sound so angry. What makes a person so angry?
I absolutely did not call the author or anyone else trash. I called the word trash.
If you are old enough to remember the ad, then possibly you are old enough to remember good manners!
Free speech has to do with the right to speak your mind on political issues, religion, or any thing else without the fear of government retribution. I seriously doubt that our founding fathers thought it would be used as a means to support bad manners.
By the way have you ever considered an anger management class? Just trying to help.
Posted by: C. Burkett at October 26, 2004 08:36 PM
C. Burkett, I am sure you are not surprise that people like TJ Frog have such a small vocabulary that they really don’t know works to use other that trash.
Your example of the Indian was obvious to me, but when one have such a low self-esteem like apparently TJ Frog has, one usually feel big using trash like this for words to help build self esteem. Pity he is in such a rut.
It would be interesting to see if he can carry on a conversation without talkin
Posted by: JJG at October 26, 2004 09:46 PM
Lol! How does one carry on a conversation without talking?
This was not an article I wrote. Nor am I angry, rofl. I'm merely defending the author's right to freedom of speech and condeming those who feel the need to push censorship where it isn't wanted or warranted.
Since when is defending freedom of speech bad manners?
Posted by: JT Frog at October 26, 2004 09:59 PM
