The exploited are born when they walk out of underfunded high schools and into places like the U.S. Army Career Center on the corner of East 161st Street and Gerard Avenue. It’s a popular spot because fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the only jobs left in this neighborhood.Those who make it home with all their arms and legs ride the D train to downtown construction sites where buildings rise because the bankers and brokers need new offices and they want fancy condos to replace rent-controlled apartments.
The exploited work all day and come home sore and tired and can’t sleep because they close their eyes and see the war. The people in the offices and the condos never see the war.
The exploited might escape to Yankee Stadium sometimes. Maybe they saw Roger Clemens – the greatest pitcher in history – win some of those 354 games.
Maybe they like to talk about that and tell of the time they saw Clemens when he came to visit the soldiers in Afghanistan. He might have signed an autograph and played catch and showed them something their country never has: Kindness and decency.
Then one day they see Clemens exploited by the same politicians that started the wars and have made sure there are no good schools and no good jobs and no decent housing and no healthcare for soldiers or anyone else.
They are upset and try to sleep, but they only see the war and the politicians that sent them there.
Then they roll over and see the baseball sitting on the shelf: Roger Clemens #22.
He is one of them now.
6 comments:
I knew I could count on you to bring some humanity to this issue.
That is a beautifully heart wrenching story. We are all exploited by these people and it won’t stop until this country gets off its current kick of jealousy and meanness.
I have never commented on a blog before, but I could not pass by today without saying something. This is the best, most interesting and radically and wonderfully different baseball blog I have ever seen. Thanks for keeping things in perspective.
Yup, we are all one of them now.
m'gosh todd. you really lay it down, dont you.. much respect, larry
Todd:
It'll all Roger's fault. The fact that 47 million people are without healthcare. That children go to dilapidated schools. That there's so much poverty in this country.
If Roger had not demanded a hearing, Waxman could have been holding hearings on those issues, instead of . . .
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