1950's once again

I grew up in the 50's and was an elementary school student in the Pittsburgh Public School system. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and there were bout 3 schools located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood whose population of Jewish students had to be 80% or greater.

But being the 1950's and society being very black and white, and the understanding that America was a Christian nation and the values of the Christmas Holiday were made from truth and righteousness, we participated in Christmas Pageants, had a decorated Christmas tree and a creche scene in front of that in elementary school.

Being one of the shortest boys in my class I had the opportunity to play baby Jesus in the parade of come to life players of the Nativity Scene.

I still, to this day, know all of the stanzas of about fifteen Christmas Carols thanks to Miss Cyphers, music teacher.

I would come home from school wishing WE would celebrate Christmas, thinking just how wonderful a holiday it was, what with the colors, the pageantry, the music, the cute little baby and his homeless parents. Being Jewish must not have been too important if our school principal and all the teachers spent so much time and decoration on a Christian holiday.

By the time I became a 7th grader in the same school, Hanukkah was beamed on the radar, and more than one Hanukkah song was taught with more than one verse sung. So for the new kids to Linden School, in now 1962, it was kind of cool to be Jewish in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, or at least in the schools that had a population of Jews.

In Pittsburgh in the 1950's we also had something called the blue laws. A fine time in Pittsburgh where the bars were closed on Sunday, so every good Christian could find time to go to Church, celebrating the Lord's Sabbath.

The Jewish Sabbath began Friday evenings and ran through Saturday night at sun down. Apparently celebrating the Jewish Lord's Sabbath, was not a concern for the Government to close bars as either Jews did not drink, or weekend business at the bars was way too important to hinder.

In the fifties we were told a whole lot of things by the Government, whether it be about education, race, religion or masculinity. We were told that anyone differing with the rule of the Government could be a "commie"; are you now or have you ever been..." In the fifties a man was a doctor and woman a nurse. Being masculine meant football, beer, working 50 hours and expecting the "little woman", to clean, cook and keep her man happy. Women who worked could be secretaries, or the boss's "girl", and teachers, who mostly were Ms, so and so. Single men were called bachelors, a bachelor of two many years was a bit concerning, but as long as the bachelor had a long line of "babes" few questions were asked. And single women were considered "spinsters". Easier to be a single man (you just had a whole lot of ladies to love before settling on one, and if you were a single woman, make sure you wore enough makeup and jewelery (so no one confused you with looking like a man.)

In the fifties blacks, if on TV, played bad guys, or maids, and other than robbing people, or waiting on them, there was little back story, except if the white families provided them charity of some sort or other. Jews were laughable ugly looking people who were busy ripping you off as a lawyer, or wearing the garb of an Orthodox Jew with black hat and coat. There were still for black only fountains, locker rooms and and seats in the back of the bus. Jews had to create their own hospitals in major cities so they could practice as Doctor, and when sick not infect any other patients with a "jew' disease.

Homosexuals in the fifties could, if they were brave enough find some back alley with a door with no sign and maybe an address, and spew their evil ways among other "queers". But if the bar owner did not pay off the police, or the Vice department needed to help some Politicians be more Christian, the police would raid the bars and arrest the patrons for something as major as standing too close to another of the same gender.

And in the public schools in the fifties being a good student meant celebrating Christmas.

We are told there are lessons from history all nations could and should learn. Wars, pogroms, vilification of groups, segregation, too much of one religion taking power and control, and lack of respect for human rights, are circumstances that dominate the books of history. Wise men and women swear never again, and we will not make the same mistakes. Stupid men and women deny any of the causes for chaos and havoc and look outward for reasons never inward for resolve.

2009, five decades later, and if you read the headlines watch the news coverage listen to the radio, you might think that time has not moved forward but has found itself in a warp reminincent of a decade based on baseless facts, fear mongering, and on harmful hate.

We find ourselves once again mesmerized by men who seem to think they are a part of the masses, but mask the truth so mere mortals react, renounce and refute. These men lead he lemming, pounce upon the insecure and permit the personalized victimization of those who are accountable for absolutely nothing.

The religious are reminding us that our forefathers never really mentioned a separation between church and state, a true American is a Christian, and only God can make us whole.

We are reminded that blacks and gays are not like us, and given any more responsibility they will enforce their agendas and destroy anything good, anything right anything white.

Once again it is the 1950's, but this time it is going to stay that way. We somehow have moved backwards and in the move have forgone any education from history.

Wonder how they celebrate Christmas 2009 at Linden School?