Eve of Destruction

Eve of Destruction

In 1976, I turned eighteen and along with my hoodlum friends, (as my dad referred to us) we went to our first bar. It was in the Bronx, in a section called Woodlawn, and got drunk. It didn't take much and made us feel like grown-ups.

It was such a different time. The Vietnam Conflict was nearing its end; there were no organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Dunk Driving), no commercials on the dangers of smoking or doctors on television warning us about the health dangers of obesity. Yet, we got by.

Understand, I am not suggesting these are not positive developments in our society. I'm not recommending that people start drinking, smoking and getting obese. It seems we do that anyway and we know a lot more today.

But, life seemed easier then and there was less to worry about, less anxiety and less troubles. We didn't have computers, cell phones, electronic games, or televisions in our bedrooms either. Most had one television in the living room and mom or dad controlled what we watched.

For fun, we might go to a game; it only cost $1.50 to sit in the grandstands, at Yankee Stadium. Or we went to the park and played ball, including stickball. We didn't need much, a stick, a ball usually was it, and if we couldn't get to the park, we played stoopball, a game where you hit a ball against the stoop (a staircase on house or building).

After dinner, most families (kids and parents) would come out of the house sit on those stoops and talk with their neighbors. For most, this was entertainment. Living in the Bronx, exposed us to people of all races, creeds and we got along. It was a true melting pot. I don't believe most Americans experienced life this way.

There were the occasional fights and we did have gangs (Italians, Irish, Hispanic and African Americans, excreta). But, there were no guns and even knives weren't that common.

About drinking, you have to remember that this was still wartime and at eighteen, we were edible for the draft. It was legal for us to buy cigarettes and alcohol, yet, we couldn't vote. We didn't have to worry about driving drunk because we had buses and subways to get around. In the Bronx, kids our age didn't have cars, like today.

Getting back to the bar, the Hideout, had live entertainment on weekends. A one-guy band, who sung with a raspy voice, and when they served the last round of drinks, he would always sing the "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire. It was one of the few anti-war folk songs to hit the top of the charts.

I like to share a few words of that song:

Handful of senators don't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction.

Well integration is a lot better today, but problems still exist. Sometimes, I feel our leaders pass to much legislation and usually for the wrong reasons.

Although, I don't feel that we are on the eve of destruction, yet, I don't like what a see in America today. We have become a nation of division. What happened to the melting pot? Special interest groups on the right and left are the driving force behind all legislation in Congress and locally, as well.

So, I decided to get more active and create this web site to share my thoughts and to support a new political ideology, centrism. Besides my commentary, there are links to other sites, all the news you want and a few other surprises.

So, thanks for stopping by and please add us to your favorite list with a simple click.

Hear "Eve of Destruction," sung by Barry McGuire and watch a slide-show tribute to Vietnam Veterans.

(click link below):

Eve of Destruction

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RELEASE: Friday, May 19, 2006
COPYRIGHT 2006 A CONSERVATIVE CENTRIST
and ANTHONY PERRAGLIA