Romancing The Road...

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., En Espanol.

IMG_2202, originally uploaded by Victor L Antunez.

I came across this mural of MLK and friend's in MAZATLAN.  MLK's QUOTE is this: "He who accepts evil without protesting it is really cooperating with it."

I decided to blog this mural today because in the last few days there has been an ANTI-IMMIGRANT backlash including a comment from our IDIOT PRESIDENT, COKEHEAD George W. concerning the NATIONAL ANTHEM being SUNG in SPANISH.

When I first sall this mural in Mazatlan, Mejico I thought, that's great.  MLK's message has been translated for all Spanish speaker's to read.  I can only hope that his message of love is translated into every language of this world.  Wouldn't that make for a better world. 

In the past few days there has been an uproar over the National Anthem being sung in Spanish.  The ARTISTS that sang the translated version did it as a tribute to this great country of ours for accepting us with open arms.  In my view this uproar isn't about the National Anthem.  That's just a rallying point that the RACIST FORCES in our country are using in order to hide their real discontent.  That we are here at all.  That we are now the single largest ETHNIC minority in the US (14% in 2005).

All of this much ado about nothing reminds me of a conversation I had with some guys at a mechanic's shop a few years ago.  The guys at this shop were all white Americans and being white skinned myself they all just assumed that I was American (white) like them.  That happens to me a lot and because of that I have been privy to the inner thoughts of white men that my dark skinned Latin brother's are not.  At that time the Census bureau had just released it's finding's.  One of them was that Latinos had now jumped ahead of blacks as the Nation's largest minority group.  In South Florida Hispanics have been the biggest population block for many year's, but that we are now National was just too much for one of those guys.  He made a comment about that in order to get a negative reaction from the group.  I stepped right in and said, "Isn't that great, me and my cousins are taking over."  He looked at me shocked and asked, "Are you Latin".  "I'm Cuban".  That was the end of that line of conversation.   

Another misconception that White's have about Cubans in particular is that we are all waiting for CASTRO to die and then we are all going to leave this country, our home.  On the one hand many people in this country would love that.  On the other they use that misconception as a cheap jab at our patriotism and as a sign of our lack of gratitude for what this great country has done for us.  Let me be the one to tell you all, DON'T GET YOUR HOPE'S UP!  We are not leaving.  This is our home.  We love it just as much as you do. 

I'll close by adding this: were here, were staying here, and we are going to bend this American culture in a whatever way we want to.   

Polar Explorers

These are some quotes that I've journaled over the years.  I found them inspirational at the time that I read them in the book: THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD, and I still do.  Enjoy.

"What lots and lots I could tell you of this journey.  How much better has it been than lounging in to great comfort at home.

"After all we are setting a good example to our countrymen, if not by getting into a tight place, by facing it like men when we were there."                                                                                      CAPTAIN RF SCOTT, 1912.

************

"Some will tell you that you are mad, and nearly all will say, "What is the use?"  For we are a nation of shopkeeper's, and no shopkeeper will look at research which does not promise financial return with in a year.  And you will sledge nearly alone, but those with whom you sledge will not be shopkeeper's: that is worth a good deal.

"Those who guide the world now may think they are doing quite well: so perhaps did the dodo.

"If you march your Winter's journey you will have your reward, so long as all you want is a Penguin's egg.

"If you are a brave man you will do nothing: if you are fearful you may do much, for none but cowards have need to prove their bravery.

"not incapable of judging my elders, but too young to have found out whether my judgment was worth anything.

"Both sexually and socially the polar 'explorer' must make up his mind to be starved.

"Exploration is the physical expression of the intellectual passion.

"and I tell you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore."                                                                                                                 APSLEY CHERRY-GARRARD

The Lazy Boy lifestyle.

My friend Bryan and I are talking about buying a condo together next year, and motorcycles, and a boat.  We've both agreed that the common denominator in choosing for each of the 3 categories is women.  A couple of days ago I was at a marina looking at boats.  I found the perfect boat.  It looked like a floating sofa.  I was thinking about how to pitch it to Bryan.  That's when I thought of this slogan. 

THE LAZY BOY LIFESTYLE:  Beer, BBQ, and Broads.

Feet on one end, pussy on the other.

These are some more things that me and my sailor friends have said over the years.

"You got the kind of legs I like.  Feet on one end, pussy on the other."

"Woman, rum, and song; a sailor's cocktail."  VA

"Wind, salt, and stars; a sailor's cocktail."  VA

"Drinking, fighting, and whoring; a sailor's cocktail."  VA

"She was all giggles, and I was all laughs, but I had a ship to catch.  I bought one last round for me and the whore, but I had a ship to catch.  Then blank!"   This was a sobering wake up call for me in Singapore.  I was hanging out with a ship mate and a couple of Filipino whores.  Drinking cocktails, laughing, and the next thing I remember is waking up 10 hours later on board my ship.  I slept right through my watch.  Some one had slipped me a micky.  I think.  What is the lesson I learned?  Don't hang out with Filipino whores?  No!  The lesson I learned is don't drink from open container's in shady foreign ports.

"I'm mulatto on the light side."    I once sailed with a black Chief Steward named Howard.  We got along great and when I told him I was Cuban he told me that I must have some black blood in me.  That's when I told him that I was mulatto on the light side.  Those of you who know how fair complected I am are laughing right now.

"Boys go away to sea.  Men run away to it."  VA

Q:  What do you call a sailor without a girlfriend.  A:  Homeless.

"Gentleman of fortune."  RLS

Rowboat - an incompetent sailor

"Taking is borrowing without the formality of asking."

Turnkey Captain - this one is used to describe yachty Captain's that can turn a boat on and nothing more.

"That's good enough for government work."

LITTLE BROWN FUCKING MACHINE

These are some thing's that my shipmate's have said over the years.  Parental guidance is suggested.

LBFM - Little Brown Fucking Machine, in reference to SE Asian women.

Any port in the storm - meaning that after a long voyage any woman will do.

Jody - the fictional or real guy messing around with your woman while you're at sea.  I've seen sailor's brought to tears by their shipmate's with this one.  A chief cook once asked me if I was married.  No, I said, I'm Jody.  He said, "Vic, I bet you are."

You sound like a shit salesman with a mouth full of samples.

Moped - she's fun to ride as long as your friends don't see you.

Night flier - she's so ugly that as you walk in the bedroom with her you start turning out the lights.

Painter's wanted: sailor's need not apply.

A.I.S. - Asshole in sight

N.A.S. - No Ass Syndrome

AB - Ask the boson, always bitchin

H.B.O. - Haitian Body Odor

Standing by to stand by.

S.M.I.B's - Southern Maryland Inbreds.  You hear this one a bunch at the Merchant Marine school in Pine Point Maryland.

P.O.D.S. - Post Orgasmic Distress Syndrome

F.U.P. - Fat Upper Pussy

Work like your alone. Too often men get to giving other men of the same rank work orders while on deck.  This is the advice I give those men in order to avoid conflict's.  (VA)

AB's don't give orders they take orders. (VA)

Reasons why I can't work on the POA:

1. I can't tender because I get sea sick.
2. I can't do pools because I am sensitive to chemicals.
3. I can't go aloft or over the side because I am scared of heights.
4. I can't work on deck because I have a sore back.

• But you can't fire me because I have a fit for duty. (VA)

"Do whatever you want but don't work."

THE MOST HATED MAN

"There is no one a woman hates more than her fiance's best friend.  He knows all the secrets she is going to spend a lifetime trying to learn."                                                                      BRIGADOON

This quote struck a chord with me because at the time that I watched the film Brigadoon I was visiting with an old friend.  I stayed at his home in SAN JOSE.  He had a girlfriend that he had been dating for 2 years.  She was a sweet girl and was friendly towards me.  At the same time I sometimes got the vibe from her that she viewed me as an INFILTRATOR that was messing with her master plan.  Namely to marry my boy.  I'm not against marriage, but I am against getting married for the wrong reasons.  Some of those reasons are: 

• We've been dating long enough so let's just get married
• He/She isn't the one but is good enough
• I'd rather marry the wrong person than be lonely
• She's pregnant
• Everyone else is doing it.

People frequently comment to me that I am, "so old" to not be married.  That it's not normal for a straight man of my age to not be married.  Those are the same people that would find it normal enough for me to be divorced with 2 kids.