I Am Not Deplorable; Off Putting, Maybe. I Vote Like Uncle Bud

Despite intense outcry from the medical community and reproductive rights advocates, Texas isn't budging on a proposed rule to require the cremation or burial of fetal remains. Texas Tribune

Texas reminds me of Uncle Bud!

My political hero was my uncle and the Hickey family patriarch after the death of my grandfather - Larry "Bud" Hickey. Bud was the oldest male child of Laurence and Nora Hickey -7535 S, Marshfield, Chicago Zone 20.  Bud's six brothers and six sisters were equally as centered as the white haired guy with a permanently ironic look of quizzical sarcasm.  Bud was white haired from his teens and when the draft started in 1941 before the war started, an old biddy remarked to Granny Hickey, " thank the Good Lord, your boy Larry is too old." He became a U.S. Army master sergeant (naturally) and fought in the Pacific.

Uncle Bud was the Chief Engineer for Cook County Hospital from the 1950's until the 1980's. He was then made the Chief Engineer of Cook County by George W. Dunne. Uncle Bud and his large family lived in Meyer Hall - the former Cook County Hospital Doctors Residence at Taylor and Wolcott -because Uncle Bud was on duty 24 hours a day. The great surgeon and former Director of Admissions for Loyola Medical School, the late Dr. James H. Kennedy,MD once told me that as young resident at CCH he told, "See the Medical Director, but, above all, pay attention to Larry Hickey."

When Abortion, got its bloody foot in the door of the American soul in the late 1960's, Progressive forces, like the bed bugs now scourging urban Americans, bullied politicians with Policy,  False. tickling Policy. In the late 1970's, Cook County purchased an incinerator for the sole purpose of burning aborted fetuses.

Uncle Bud installed the gas operated incinerator and welded its doors shut. No human beings would be burned in Bud's Cook County Hospital. The incinerator - it operated, but absolutely no babies were burned. The children would be buried with human dignity. You see, Uncle Bud was a Catholic, when that meant something, and Catholics, at that time, were prohibited from cremating the human body. All of that was parsed out by clerical Vatican II Cupcakes, don't you know.

News of this got out. The Policy hit the fan. Uncle Bud told Dunne, "Fire Me, but those doors stay welded shut."

George Dunne ended abortions at Cook County Hospital, except to save the life of the mother, because he agreed that Cook County Hospital had become no more than, in the Cook County President's own words, 'an Abortion Mill,*'

Uncle Bud and George Dunne were Democrats. both were 'retired.'  New Cook County President Dick Phelan bowed to Planned parenthood as Cook County President and the soul of the Democratic Party was sucked out of the husk of the automaton that knows only dollars and the brute exercise of monolithic political power.

Uncle Bud's story is from the late 1970's.  So I am deplorably old fashioned, or so Hillary remarked to Barbra Streisand and six figure ticket holders at recent HRC fund-raiser.

Deplorable ideas?  Abortion is evil, not health care.  That is a big one for me.

Deplorable taste? I never wore a Nehru jacket, a dickie, a turtle-neck, beret, Greek Fisherman's hat, Peace button, tattoo, ear ring, nose ring, shower ring, Leisure suit, or bell bottom anything. And I dated, married and date exquisite looking women.  Honor bright.  Don't know what's wrong with them, but I am happy about it.

 In fact, I wear pretty much the same style suits, shoes, shirts, sweaters and attitude, that I did in my formative 1960's wonder years and my public life as a teacher, husband, father and citizen.

I don't listen to Techno, Disco, Hip-Hop, Gangsta, Metal, or Adele. I love classical, Celtic (not the PBS crappola), Jazz, Garage band 60's rock, Outlaw Country, Mexican Campesino music, Polkas, Blue-grass and Motown almost as much as Keeley Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Mel Torme and Marvin Gaye.

I can not stand when people who should know better sneer at working men and women during the very speech they are giving to bully up their votes. Happens every time a progressive Democrat and far too many Republicans un-zipper their teeth.

Principles matter.

I will vote the way Uncle Bud and my Dad would vote.

Texas is Ok and Uncle Bud would approve.

In the Old Man-Killing Parishes - The Death of My Irish Cousin Larry Hickey

HICKEY (Crinnie, Castleisland, Co. Kerry*) May 15, 2011, Laurence (Larry), (peacefully), beloved husband of Mary (nee Keane) and much loved father of Bart, Marina, Helen, Noreen and D.J.; sadly missed by his loving wife and family, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, all extended family, relatives and friends. R.I.P. Reposing at Tangney's Funeral Home, Castleisland this (Monday) evening from 4.30 o'c. to 7 o'c., followed by Removal to Castleisland Parish Church. Requiem Mass tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 o'c. Burial afterwards in Kilbanivane Cemetery, Castleisland. House private please.

When I got home from Leo High School last night, my son Conor interrupted his study of The Principles of Air and Ventilation Systems for his class at Local 399, to tell me that my cousin Larry Hickey had died. There are a number of Larrys, as there are a wealth of Pats, Mikes, Barts, and Sylvesters. Conor said, " Larry of Crinna." He was not a 399 Hickey, nor am I. Larry was a dairy farmer on an ancient family farm that sits on a mountain above the town of Castleisland, County Kerry Ireland. I am one of the very few Hickeys without an Engineer's license, or a membership -card in Local 399. I was determined 'useless' at a very early age and consigned to a vocation that did not require attention to mechanical detail and the sweat of the brow. " Jesus, Man! You had better get into a college or you'll sh-tarve,so!" was the dictate of my grandfather

Local 399 of the International Union of Operating Engineers was started by my grandfather sometime after the 1912 stockyard strikes. Many of the engineers were from County Kerry, Ireland and it was a lousy job back then - hauling coal and shoveling cinders for the packing houses of Cudahy, Armour, Swift and the smaller concerns.

Today, it is a skilled trade that requires a command of operating systems that maintain the quality of air, water and gases required to heat, conduct clean air and provide air conditioning. The trade evolved. Where once brute strength and a willingness to suffer and strain within furnaces to clean out cinders and ash, shovel coal, maintain boilers and then battle company goons for a few quarters a day were all that were required of young immigrant fresh from the bogs of Kerry. Today a sharp and scientific understanding of air and water systems as well as brute strength and a willingness to fight for one's job with skill, a sound work ethic and attention to detail is necessary.

The Kerrymen who remained in Ireland, when my grandfather left at fifteen years of age, were the elder sons who would inherit the patch of land in the name of the family. The youngsters emigrated to England, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and America.

Larry was the eldest son, of an eldest son - my grandfather's older brother Bartholomew son of Barthlomew, or Bateen -'little Bart.' Larry was a big man like my grandfather Laurence ( Larry), but a gentle and soft-spokenly understated man where Grandpa Hickey was a pioneer Rage-aholic and an unparalleled blaspheming wild bog-man. He was a powerful gent even well into his seventies and could lift a long coal shovel from the tip of the pole with his arm parallel to the floor and bring the flat end to perfect geometric tangent and all at arm's length. Try doing the same that with the end of push broom.

Larry of Kerry operated the ancestral farm on the side of a mountain - Crinnie, or Crinna. He raised dairy cattle and formed a syndicate with his neighbors that eventually became Kerry Ingredients - Kerry Gold butter, cheese, and dry products. Larry did well.

When my wife died, I took Nora and Conor to visit Crinna ( Crinnie Mountain) and Conor helped Larry's son Bart work the cattle and dig in the bogs. Irish turf was burned in the hearth and in the cast-iron stoves for warmth and cooking fuel. Cutting and Footing turf, or digging the product which was spade-shaped into ingots of flecked black peat and dried on pyramidal reeks, made the early Kerryman engineers adepts at handling the coal shovels and could work like automatons for hours. My grandfather's greatest compliment would go, not to one who acquired a university degree, won medals in a war, hit a homerun in little league, or ran for office. His only encomium was " That man can dig, so."

Here is Tom Lally cutting the turf -



And "Your man" footing the cut turf -



Cousin Larry could dig! He had powerful hands and sinewy forearms. He could operate farm machinery. Develop and maintain a business and household budget. Understand the Irish economy and EU dairy futures and be a sweet-natured and generous soul into the bargain.

Larry visited Chicago in 2007 and that was the last time that I spoke with this lovely man.

I re-read Seamus Heany's wonderful poem The Tollund Man in tribute to Larry.

The Tollund Man concerns an archaeological dig in the Jutland region of the Baltic. A perfectly preserved corpse was taken from the Jutland bogs - a Viking. The soupy bog preserved something of a person whose soul no longer drove his muscle and bones.

This Memento Mori poem is wonderful. Our families are wonderful. Life is wonderful.

The Nobel Prize Winner's Poem about the Tollund Man

Heaney purposely writes that he will go to Aarhus to see the Tollund Man even though he knows that he is on display in Silkeborg. But in Heaney's opinion "Aarhus" goes better with the metrical feet.
Here is the original poem in English
I
Some day I will go to Aarhus
To see his peat-brown head,
The mild pods of his eye-lids,
His pointed skin cap.

In the flat country near by
Where they dug him out,
His last gruel of winter seeds
Caked in his stomach,

Naked except for
The cap, noose and girdle,
I will stand a long time.
Bridegroom to the goddess,

She tightened her torc on him
And opened her fen,
Those dark juices working
Him to a saint's kept body,

Trove of the turfcutters'
Honeycombed workings.
Now his stained face
Reposes at Aarhus.

II
I could risk blasphemy,
Consecrate the cauldron bog
Our holy ground and pray
Him to make germinate

The scattered, ambushed
Flesh of labourers,
Stockinged corpses
Laid out in the farmyards,

Tell-tale skin and teeth
Flecking the sleepers
Of four young brothers, trailed
For miles along the lines.

III

Something of his sad freedom
As he rode the tumbril
Should come to me, driving,
Saying the names

Tollund, Grauballe, Nebelgard,
Watching the pointing hands
Of country people,
Not knowing their tongue.

Out here in Jutland
In the old man-killing parishes
I will feel lost,
Unhappy and at home.

*Castleisland is often considered the Gateway to Kerry, as the main road to all towns in Western and Southern Kerry passes through here - the N21 from Limerick continues on to Tralee while the N22 goes to Killarney and other towns in Southern Kerry.

The Glenaruddery mountains to the north and the Stacks to the west define the beginning of the 'Vale of Tralee', at the mouth of which Castleisland is situated. Most of the land around Castleisland is pasture for dairy stock, with bogland located at various locations around the town, particularly to the east and south.

It is in the barony of Trughanacmy.

•County Kerry is the most western part of Europe.
•The current popoluation is about 140,000. Just before the famine it was 293,880 .
•Thousands of years ago Ireland had two glaciers. One that carved out Kerry and one that covered the rest of Ireland.

http://www.agoodconfession.co.uk/My%20Ireland.html

Local 399 Host Benefit for Natasha McShane

Here's another opprtunity to help coming up soon!




Stationary Engineer Local # 399 hosted an estimated 600 great people who attended Friday night's benefit for beating victim Natasha McShane. The event was put together by former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheehan and his brother James "Skinny" Sheehan along with Chicago Sun Times owner James Tyree, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Mayor Daley. Chicago's great Skilled Trades Unions were thick in the giving especially Pipe Fitters Local 597. There is not a benefit in this City that is not aided by the Carpenters, Electricians, Hoisters, Cement Finishers, Plumbers, or Laborers Locals. I can see 597 Leader Tom Kotel dropping an envelop thick with 'Hundos.'

I could not attend but most of my large extended family were there - you can contribute to the Fund for Natasha McShane, as I did by clicking my post title.

Cousins, Mike Brennan, Hank Walsh, Brian, Mike, Red Pat, Sy, Marc Hickey and the many Winters Lads Willie, Bart, Mark, Vince, Brendan, Tim, Marty, Jack and Nat along with my brother-in-law Larry DiMateo scooped up cash for the poor Girl.

Old buddy and Pulitzer Prize Winning Cartoonist Jack Higgins and his beautiful bride Missy wondered ( and well they should) about my absence to which, Chicago Renaissance Man and Radio Legend Mike Houlihan replied, " I think it was Hickey's night to tape the Kardashian Saga on Cable." The burn on the treasured CD did not take, alas. Bernard Callaghan of Keegan's Pub no doubt nodded with dour and sober understanding of my absence from this throng of worthies.

No, I was not having a breast reduction, liposuction or any other elective cosmetic surgery . . .thank you very much.

High School pals Bobby Sheehy and Pat Byrne of the Mulliganeer's gave cousin John Winters a check in the amount of $ 2,500 to help Natasha McShane. The Mulliganeers are dedicated to helping Chicago families suffering from illness and unexpected financial tragedies of this kind and have presented hundreds of thousands of dollars to that mission.

Mark Konkol of the Chicago Sun Times must be credited with boosting the news on this great benefit! I am sure the Dooley Brothers, Terry McEldowney, Cathy O'Connell,John Williams and Liz Carroll provided music.

My Neighbors,Cops, Fireman and Catholic and Public Teachers larded the giving! I know Leo Men Jerry Schmitt, Chico Driscoll, Harry Valadez, Larry Lynch, Rich Doyle, Tom Lynch and so many others were on hand. State Sen. Ed Maloney, State Reps. Kevin Joyce, Mike Carberry, Rep. Elect Kelly Burke and her husband Terry were all there making this a full basket for Natasha. The Great Mike Doorhy a Master of throwing a benefit for aid was there! I can see the ghosts of John Hickey, Martin Ford, Johnny Neary, Jigs Donahue, Old Jack Reedy and my grandfather Lawrence, an old Local 399 Founder, tough guy and Kerry Bogman smiling with approval and wondering "Why the Hell, Patsheen was not there . . . Christ Jesus Almighty!!!?"

I am so proud of Chicago's great hearted people. Below is CBS 2's Krystin Hartman's fine report.

CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Natasha McShane
CBS

A young woman has a tough recovery, but she's not going it alone. Supporters packed a benefit Friday night in honor of Natasha McShane. She's one of two women who survived a vicious baseball bat beating in Bucktown in April.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports.

It was everything Irish for a young woman from Northern Ireland who came to the Windy City to study. Her name is Natasha McShane. She's fighting her way back to everyone who cares about her.

A young woman has a tough recovery, but she's not going it alone. Supporters packed a benefit tonight in honor of Natasha McShane. She's one of two women who survived a vicious baseball bat beating. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman has the story.

Everything Irish in Chicago tonight for a young woman from Northern Ireland who came to the windy city to study. Her name is Natasha McShane. She's fighting her way back to everyone who cares about her.

"Natasha is slowly progressing every day, she's even beginning to talk," longtime family friend Mark Campbell said.

That's good news considering all that's happened.

"She was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Campbell.

One early morning in April, Natasha was walking along a busy street with her friend, Stacy Starl Jurich, when police say Heriberto Viramontes attacked them with a bat in Bucktown. The injuries were serious. Mary Dunne read about it.

"How will I ever say I'm from Chicago?" she said. "I was so embarrassed. Then I thought, 'I can do something.'"

Dunne rallied her brothers Mike and James "Skinny" Sheahan and other local leaders to help Natasha and her parents, who traveled so far to be by their daughter's side.

The benefit to raise money for her considerable medical care was the result. Hundreds of people from the Irish community answered the call.

"Now I'm proud to go to Ireland because, quite frankly, everybody over there knows now how Natasha is loved in our city," Dunne said.

She says the McShanes are grateful for the outpouring. Natasha's father attended the benefit, but declined comment. A family friend said: "Keep the prayers going. Keep believing in this beautiful Irish girl, that she can get better 100 percent. "

One hundred percent of Friday's proceeds went to the McShane family. Everything from the food to the space, was donated.

On Friday, Heriberto Viramontes and his alleged accomplice, Marcy Cruz, both pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the Bucktown beatings. They will appear for a status hearing on July 7.

Cruz, 25, told her boyfriend, co-defendant Viramontes, to "look at all those drunk a------- coming out of the bar'' moments before Viramontes attacked the women, Asst. Cook County State's Atty. Erin Antonietti said during bond proceedings.

Jurich needed 15 staples to the outside of her head and McShane was initially in a drug-induced coma, the prosecutor said.

About 18 minutes after the robbery, Viramontes and Cruz were captured on surveillance video at a nearby gas station trying to use the victim's credit card, a source said.

Viramontes, a Spanish Cobras gang member, has been arrested more than 30 times and convicted of burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and domestic battery, police said.

Cruz has a record of arrests for minor crimes but has never been convicted, police said.

McShane was transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Rehab Institute on May 14, a spokeswoman for Northwestern Memorial said. She opened her eyes for the first time on April 30 as doctors slowly pulled her from a drug-induced coma. She also spoke her first words and now understands her condition.

Jurich is now receiving outpatient treatment.

Sun-Times Media Wire contritubed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Natasha McShane Fights Back!

Just got home from Leo and found this very happy news from Chicago Tribune! I donated and will again. The Party at Local 399 will be a great way to celebrate this tough little girl's victory over the two savages who attacked her. Get on over to the new Local 399 and Party Hardy!


Donations can be sent to:
Natasha McShane Fund
c/o Signature Bank
191 N. Wacker Drive,
Chicago, IL 60606.

Natasha McShane has started talking for the first time since she was brutally beaten with a baseball bat while celebrating with a friend in Bucktown, her family says.

"She's whispering," her grandmother Bernadette McShane said today. "She's trying to talk."

Natasha McShane is speaking "odd words" like "yes" and "no" - not sentences - but slow progress is still progress, her grandmother said.
"I think it's brilliant because there were stories that she would never walk or talk, but I never believed that. I never went down that road," Bernadette McShane said.

"She's a very strong-willed girl, and if anyone can do it, Natasha can," she said.

Natasha McShane, the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, was one of two women beaten with a baseball bat in April. She was transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago last month.

McShane and Stacy Starl Jurich, 24, were walking home from Cans Bar when they were attacked by a man who stole their purses. The two people accused in the attack face a long list of charges, including attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery.

The community has rallied to support the women. Jurich, whose injuries were not as severe as her friend's, is undergoing rehab.

Retired Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan and others will host a benefit for Natasha McShane on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Local 399 (Operating Engineers) hall, 2260 South Grove St. in Chicago.

Dubbing June 13 as Natasha McShane Day, the Irish community is planning two fundraisers in her honor. The first will be from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox Ave., Chicago. A noon mass will precede the event.

Also on the 13th, the public is invited to a benefit at Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th Street, Oak Forest, from 3 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit helpnatasha.net or mcshanefund.com.

-- Duaa Eldeibf