I used to love the Oakland Raiders . . unconventional with a dedication to win. I didn’t wear the buccaneer’s hat or the eye patch, but I identified with them and rooted for them.
But, when it came right down to it, I didn’t really want to put on a real scabbard, housing a sword sharp enough to cut off someone’s head . . a wooden or plastic one, in my imagination, would suffice. I didn’t want to be a real raider. I wanted to identify with some of the characteristics that I found admirable.
The problem we are having now is that the crazies have come out to join their leader and want to be real pirates. And, want to really cut off people’s heads . . see the demonstrations in Michigan, Charlottesville, Portland, etc. Although, the crazies in Portland were the government forces dressed up incognito ala the KGB or the forces that took over Crimea. But, I digress . . .
My point is that there was a time for gunslinging, worshipping Zorro, branding the skull and crossbones above your head, and yelling , ‘AYE MATEY, Off With His Head.’
But, that was a simpler time. It’s fun to be nostalgic and want to have a simpler time when Ozzie and Harriet and Donna Reed and Leave It To Beaver were pictures of the idyllic American life.
But, that’s not now.
We live in a complicated, sophisticated, evolved world where great things are happening because people are smart, hardworking and caring . . . well, except for those that want to be real pirates! AYE MATEY!