The Oppenheimer Report - 6/5/12

Last Monday was Memorial Day as you all know, and one of my military friends, a colonel who had been one of the excellent nurses we had caring for my parents, sent me an interesting email. The heading read “Why Mr. Rogers Wore a Sweater” and it went on to describe three unlikely war heroes. The first was actor Lee Marvin, who had served honorably in WWII, the next was Bob Keeshan, A/K/A Captain Kangaroo, and the third and most unlikely hero was Bob “Mr. Rogers” Rogers. Apparently, years before he became the gentle and kind children’s television character, Mr. Rogers was a Navy Seal, specially trained in hand to hand combat! According to what I read, Rogers had 25 enemy kills to his credit. The reason he always wore long sleeves was to hide his wartime tattoos. Who knew Mr. Rogers was a badass? Anyhow, there is a very good reason we celebrate Memorial Day; one I so often overlook. I thank all the people who have put their lives on the line so that I may enjoy living in a free country.

In the news last week, chalk one up for the Free World. Charles Taylor, ex-president of Liberia was sentenced to 50 years in prison for war crimes he committed against neighboring Sierra Leone. The guy practically invented the term “blood diamonds,” and among his countless other atrocities, he is accused of forcing young children to become murderous soldiers. Flat picking bluegrass legend Arthel “ Doc” Watson died at 89 of complications from colon surgery last week in is home state of N. Carolina. I’d never listened to Doc Watson before but just downloaded one of his later albums. It’s a little too hillbilly for me, but the guy could pick. There was a destructive earthquake in Northern Italy, Syrian diplomats were expelled from 11 Western countries in response to the latest massacre in Houla, and Mitt Romney cinched the Republican nod, to nobody’s surprise. Canada is back in the news with the story of that creepy guy in Montreal. Did you hear about this Luka Magnotta guy? He ice-picked his boyfriend to death, filmed and posted the murder on the internet, then cut the victim up and mailed the body parts to various government officials. He may not be Jeffrey Dahmer, but he gets an honorable mention. Today he was finally apprehended in Berlin. But the big story: Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 60 years as reigning Monarch England. I watched a bit of the festivities on Sunday, because there was boating involved. It was the mother of all flotillas. A thousand boats representing the 16 Commonwealth nations motored by the Royal family on the River Thames as the Royals waved enthusiastically in the heavy rain from the Spirit of Chantwell, A/KA The Royal Barge. Twisted soul that I am, it occurred to me that if someone had an RPG, they might have taken out the whole Royal Family with one shot. Chow Britannia. I give the old girl credit, she and the ailing Prince Philip stood through the four hour marine event, and that could not have been easy. Of course this Diamond Jubilee is a big deal. I’ll bet Elton John will rewrite yet another one of his songs.

I can’t believe Mr. Rogers was a Navy Seal. I’ve got a picture of him somewhere wearing a bathing cap in the pool. It just goes to show, you can’t judge a Seal by his cardigan.

Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED