Tom Gerdy 2013-06-20T05:40:21-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=tom-gerdy Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Tom Gerdy Good old fashioned elbow grease. Volunteering -- Selflessness or Selfishness? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3228842 2013-05-07T17:27:31-04:00 2013-05-08T11:42:08-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
I have spent many hours over the past twenty-five years volunteering with Habitat For Humanity. As a carpenter and a believer in reaching out to those around me, it is a perfect fit. This Habitat Road Trip had an added special feature. On this trip, we would be working with the students from the high school I attended. Not only would I have fun building with the other volunteers, but all my wonderful childhood memories would also surround me.

Passaic Valley High School is in Little Falls, New Jersey. Little Falls is a pretty little town about fourteen miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel. Partly because of its proximity to New York, this little town of just over 14,000 people has a very culturally diverse population. Towns close to such big cities also often operate at an accelerated pace. Little Falls is no exception.

The plan for this event was to help 125 high school students from various backgrounds build a wall system for a Habitat Home. The walls would be temporarily erected on the front lawn of the high school. After standing proud and tall on the front lawn of the high school for a week or two, they would then be moved about thirty miles west to another small town, Budd Lake.

In the near future, a group of volunteers will again travel to New Jersey to help build most of the home over a weekend with some volunteers from Budd Lake. The result will be that many people who don't even know one another will join hands to create a home that a good family will then buy from Habitat. The joining of hands and hearts is a big part of what creates the magic at Habitat For Humanity events.

The school and the students took a break from the fast pace to help make a difference that Saturday morning. The school canceled the team's softball practice because they understood the magnitude of what would happen on the front lawn that day. When I welcomed the students, I discussed that our society often connects happiness with money. I tried to explain to the students that the easiest way to achieve happiness is reaching out and giving someone a hand-up. I told the group that gathered early that Saturday morning, if you help those around you, happiness will chase you and tackle you.

I have found great wisdom in the words "the best way to become rich is to give." There were many bent nails, sore muscles, splinters, and blisters, but the huge grins on these volunteers' faces completely overshadowed those things. The smiles at the end of the day seemed to indicate that many students understood that early-morning message and "felt that feeling."

I am not shy, and my personality has made me comfortable as a vocal cheerleader for Habitat For Humanity. Because of that, I have been publicly thanked and recognized quite often for my volunteer efforts. Those words of thanks and public recognition are one of the few things that ever cause me to feel embarrassed. My wife says I should feel embarrassed many other times, but let's not go there.

I recently read an article by someone who volunteered with Habitat and discussed similar feelings. People often see volunteerism as a selfless act. I feel guilty when people thank me for volunteering because it is anything but a selfless act. It is quite selfish. I have never been able to give as much as I have received by reaching out. I have worked around countless other volunteers who feel the same way. At the end of the day, you can see that you have moved the world one step. It is difficult to feel much better.

My volunteer work with Habitat also has included many blessings. It puts my challenges in the proper perspective. It helps my heart grow. It clears my head. It allows me to associate with some wonderful people. It helps me keep my priorities in order. It helps me sleep better at night. It gives me hope for the future, and it makes me grin in a major way. This partial list is why I am embarrassed when people talk about my selflessness.

So, why have I taken the time to confess this to the world? If you already understand this conflict of terms, you have already given of yourself. Please continue to do so. If you have yet to experience this feeling, I ask you to give it a shot. Please reach out to someone who needs a hand-up. If you attempt such selflessness, it comes with a warning. You might end up feeling good all over and just a bit selfish.]]> "Cheap Funeral and Good Party": An Amazing Final Gift tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2711026 2013-02-20T17:21:42-05:00 2013-04-22T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
I am a building contractor, and I was inspecting a neighbor's tree-damaged home the next day when I got the call from my sister in New Jersey. She told me they were taking my 87-year-old mother to the hospital because "she just doesn't look good." Late that afternoon, I got the call we all dread. The doctor said my mother's lungs were about done, and we had better get there.

My wife and I quickly packed and got on the road for the 430-mile trip from our current home in Virginia to our old stomping grounds in northern New Jersey. Dreading what I figured we had in store for us made the trip seem longer than usual. We arrived in the middle of the night, and my mother was resting peacefully. The reports were that she might even make it out of intensive care in a day or two. It was a great relief, and we all thought this might not be the end.

My two brothers arrived that morning as well. We had our work cut out for us because, as we dealt with our mother's challenges, our 89-year-old father was in a rehab center recovering from a fall. We visited him that morning, and he was critical. I am not talking about his health. He was critical of everything, including the nurses, the doctors, the food, and the facility. We thought that was a good sign because complaining is a right we earn for living a long life. We took all the griping as a sign that our father was getting better. We left his bedside and went to visit our mother who seemed to be doing better as well.

Unfortunately, we were wrong about both our mother and our father. This was the beginning of the end for them both. We got the call the next morning that our father was being rushed from the rehab center to the hospital because his kidneys had given up. By the time we got to the hospital, he was in a coma. Two days later, on the morning of July 4, he died.

I don't mean to make light of our father's death, but laughter sometimes helps you through the toughest times. Standing at our father's deathbed shortly after he died, I called the funeral home where previous arrangements had been made for them to be cremated. It was the morning of July 4, and I think I caught the funeral director offguard. When I asked him to come to the hospital to pick up our father, his response was, "Did he pass?" It was one of the funniest things I had heard in ages. I only wish I hadn't been tired and a bit stressed. The best response would have been, "No, but we don't want to wait until the last minute."

After dealing with the funeral home and the hospital, we drove the 15 miles or so to the hospital where our mother was in intensive care. She asked how her husband of 64 years was doing, and we gave her the news. It was a painful moment for everyone, but we soon started to talk about wonderful memories, and we laughed much more than we cried.

I decided that, with the family gathered like this, it was time to ask my mother what I had wanted to ask for many years. "Mom, I was always your favorite, wasn't I?" My mother took her frail little arm from under the covers and gave me a thumbs-down as she rolled her eyes. My mother loved to tease. At least, I think she was teasing.

We spent four or five hours with my mother on July 4. Just a few hours earlier, we had been at our father's deathbed. My mother had trouble talking at that point, so she wrote notes to us. Although we still had some hope, we knew the end was getting close as she penned her final messages to us. The first was "Go get beer and pizza on me." The second was "I was lucky to have all of you." As we got ready to leave the hospital, my mother gave us her last gift. She wrote the words I will remember forever, "Cheap funeral and good party." She was telling us her job was done, and it was all right. Her message was not to mourn, but to celebrate.

We got the call just before midnight at my sister's home on July 4, as we celebrated my father's life with a big meal and many toasts. My sister got off the phone and said we needed to get to the hospital. My mother was no longer responsive when we got there, and two hours later, she died -- 16 hours after our father had died. I made my second call to the funeral home in less than 24 hours. His response was not as funny.

We honored my mother's last request. Several weeks after their deaths, we honored our parents with a service at the church our mother attended for about 50 years. That evening, we had a party, and a few hundred people joined us to celebrate their lives.

I will always be grateful for our mother's last request and gift. It gave mourning a back seat to celebrating the many lessons and gifts my parents gave us. I hope when my time comes, my children will celebrate my life in a big way. I want to go on record that I want Jimmy Buffett to play at that party.]]> For Sale: Very Large, Slightly Damaged Country tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2392667 2013-01-06T16:14:50-05:00 2013-03-08T05:12:01-05:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
I started to think that we should put an ad on eBay. eBay's electronic marketing system seems to have proved undoubtedly that there is a market for anything, including virginity. However, as I rethought my strategy for fixing America, I realized that not even eBay could find a buyer for a country with so many problems, so much damage, and a frightening amount of unrest among the citizens. It would take a marketing superstar to find someone interested in buying the United States, and P. T. Barnum is dead. At this point in our history, I am certain the country would be listed in realtor's terms as a "fixer-upper" or a "handyman special."

Just in case we decided to list the country for sale, I did some research so it would be easy to fill in the blanks for the realtor we picked to list it. The U.S. is composed of roughly 3.79 million square miles. The total population as 2012 ended was just more than 315 million people, which means there are only about 84 people per square mile. We have nearly 400 national parks that help preserve our land and our heritage. We have almost 12,500 miles of coastlines with beautiful beaches. There are tens of thousands of lakes and thousands of miles of rivers. Great reserves of natural resources are found from one end of the country to the other. The geography is extremely diverse and beautiful. At this point, I thought maybe we could get a fair dollar for the country. It sounds nice.

Unfortunately, in interest of full disclosure and protection from a future lawsuit, I thought it necessary to list also some slightly damaged and/or broken parts of America. I need to point out the following is only a partial list, and I recommend that any potential buyers do their research to find any other problem areas of the United States.

1. The current political system is a representative democracy. It is not completely broken, but some adjustments are needed. Many elected officials spend so much time trying to keep their jobs that they fail to do their jobs. Partisan politics continues to be used for power instead of for the good of the citizens and the country. Too many elected officials ride that career politician train. Any new owner might want to consider limiting how long people can stay in positions of power.

2. The current tax system is unbalanced in favor of those with money. Deductions and tax shelters favoring the wealthy have allowed billions of dollars to be earned without a dime of taxes paid on those dollars. This out-of-balance system is causing the middle class to shrink and might eventually cause it to disappear. The divide between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum gets wider every day. If we continue on this path, the class separation created will soon make the Grand Canyon look like a minor erosion problem. The result of such a trend could take America back to the conditions that caused a revolution and birth of this country. I recommend any new owner look hard at how the citizens share in the expense of running the joint.

3. The balance sheet for the country is anything but balanced. We are choking on the debt we have created over many decades. We have had open checkbook policies for much too long. If interested in buying, your accountant will have a huge challenge trying to figure out how many expenses were justified. Advise them to take a good look at the small print on the bills passed. Earmarks and pork-barrel legislation still play a large role in the country's problems, and they should receive much attention.

4. To a degree, we have removed the incentive to achieve from people in need. If you buy, you will need to adjust the system that helps those in need. Much must be done to eliminate a mentality we have created that says the government needs to solve our problems. The government needs to offer a hand up and not a handout. You must again teach people that you can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.

5. In light of recent tragedies, I would be remiss if I did not point out that, per capita, America has a disproportionate number of the world's firearms. The statistics vary, but there is little doubt that there is a gun for almost every citizen this country. Gun control laws are a piece of the puzzle that must be addressed. Public access to assault weapons, automatic/semi-automatic weapons, high-capacity clips, and armor-piercing ammunition must be addressed. Developing a greater focus on mental health problems must play a role in reducing gun violence as well.

6. The president, vice president, 100 members of the Senate, 435 members of the House, and 15 members of the Cabinet often play childish games of power. Those 552 people are supposed to represent the 315 million citizens. Whoever buys the country will need to find a way to inspire those 315 million to speak out and demand better of those 552. The new owner has to find a way to end the games and manipulation.

As I created these lists of selling points and negatives, the number of negatives I could quickly point out bothered me. However, even though I know many more challenges must be addressed, when it was all said and done, I kept returning to one thought. This country might not have a long history compared with others around the world, but it has a strong one.

Americans have accomplished some wonderful things at home and overseas. Throughout history, when crazy people have threatened the world, Americans have been there to help. We have made advances in the worlds of health and science that have changed the world in wonderful ways. Every time there is a natural disaster or tragedy here or abroad, Americans are there to help ease the pain, and they always have been. We witnessed it again in Connecticut.

When the pressure is on, Americans are ready to reach out and make a difference. When you get down to it, that is where the value is, which is why America is still a good investment. In fact, the people make America priceless. We have some problems, but we will continue to work on them. We have changed our mind. We are not selling.]]> A Politician's Christmas Carol tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2230778 2012-12-05T11:20:40-05:00 2013-02-04T05:12:01-05:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/ A Christmas Carol would again be retold in various ways.

However the story is rescripted or recast, the tale and the lessons taught are still the same. I must admit that every year, I have to watch the updated version of the wonderful adaptation of Dickens' book called Scrooged With Bill Murray playing a modern Ebenezer Scrooge. I eagerly await the scene every year when Carol Kane, the Ghost of Christmas Present yells, "It's a toaster!" I also get a bit emotional when Bill Murray tells the audience that it's not too late and leads everyone in "Put a Little Love in Your Heart."

Chuck (his close friends called him Chuck) Dickens established very early in the original story that the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, was not the nicest guy on the block. To use Dickens' words, he was "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!"

As I am sure most of you know, Scrooge had a few late-night visitors on Christmas Eve. We aren't talking about the neighbors stopping by to have some holiday eggnog. Ebenezer's dead business partner Jacob Marley as well as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visited him As we know, the result was that the uninvited guests from the other side were a wakeup call for the greedy, nasty, and egocentric Scrooge.

With the Dickens background behind us, we have arrived at where I can share with you what I want for Christmas. It's not something just for me, but for us all. Please help me if I am off base, but am I the only one who makes a connection between many of our current politicians and Ebenezer Scrooge?

My Christmas wish is that someone uses a Dickens or Jacob Marley connection to help our elected officials with their much-needed wake-up calls. Games continue to be played, as power and wealth seem their only goals. I think a visit from a few ghosts who could show them the past, present, and future might be in order. Indulge me while I recast for A Politician's Christmas Carol.

Past -- The first visit should be from Thomas Jefferson. By most counts, Thomas Jefferson was a statesman and a leader, not a politician. As far as I am concerned, the difference between politician and leader is in the following simple statement by James Freeman Clarke: "A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation."

I am certain that Jefferson could show our current politicians what it meant to risk everything for your country and what it means to think about the next generation. By writing the first draft and then signing the final version of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was willing to give up everything for this dream. Many current politicians will not even risk voting for their beliefs if it is not a good move politically.

Present -- The Ghost of America Present could be played by any of the thousands of servicemen or women who have given their lives for us and their country in these crazy wars. While our elected officials play filibuster and debt-ceiling games as they struggle for power, more of our young military people die every day.

When will we focus on what is important? Maybe a visit to a battlefield where bullets whiz by and death is real would help the gamesmanship end. Maybe we should have the offices of our politicians and our wounded veterans in the same building. While games are played, thousands in this country of so much go to bed hungry each night. Maybe a visit to a soup kitchen would help. Maybe the politicians' offices should be in a corner of the homeless shelters.

Future -- I am casting my grandchildren as the politician's tour guides to the future. I will not apologize for the nepotism because we are screwing up their world. The stops on this part of the journey would include a tour of the deserted neighborhoods where the middle class once lived. There would also be a stop at the aquarium where the last marine life is on display. Let's not forget the last piece of snow in the Smithsonian. In addition, a Dickens trip to the future is never complete unless we visit the graveyard. My grandchildren would parade the politicians past the rows of headstones where so many young people ended up because they couldn't afford the insane cost of healthcare.

As this Politician's Christmas Carol ends, we still need that Tiny Tim "God bless us" moment. That piece of the story is up to us. Will your voice be heard? Will you get involved? Will you help make a difference? Just as Bill Murray told the audience, it isn't too late. If we all let our hearts tell our hands what to do, the future will be bright.]]> Wisdom From a Teenage Nerd tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1632349 2012-06-28T10:01:03-04:00 2012-08-28T05:12:04-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
Aside from having been to so many of these events, I have an additional qualification that makes me comfortable being so critical of these commencement orators. I, too, gave a speech at my high school commencement ceremony. I could report here that I was the valedictorian, and I probably could get away with it. After all, who would check that? Do you think someone would go back and research my "permanent record"?

My age is showing by talking about my permanent record. Years ago, just this side of the Dark Ages, teachers used the threat of putting something on your permanent record if you didn't behave properly. They created a vision of some vault in the school basement guarded by alligators. The myth was that from now until the end of time, any behavioral transgressions would be recorded and could come back at a moment's notice to haunt you. I am still a little nervous that my permanent record will show up at the gates of heaven. I have this vision of St. Peter at the gates putting on his reading glasses and glancing down at my record. After thirty seconds that seemed like an hour, he would just shake his head and say, "Sorry."

The truth of the matter is I was not a class officer or valedictorian. I was voted class clown and graduated "cum lousy." The chance to speak at graduation was open to any senior. All I needed to do was submit the text of the speech I wanted to present. A team of teachers would choose the speaker. I am uncertain, but I think I was given the honor by default. Evidently, out of a class of five hundred students, only one wanted to speak at graduation. I would like to report that I hit a home run with my words, but that would be a lie that might end up on my infamous record. My speech was no better and probably a little worse than any I have heard over the past several decades.

I recently attended my nephew's graduation where, about forty years ago, I made my not so memorable graduation address. The soon to be graduates paraded onto the football field with Pomp and Circumstance played by the high school orchestra. It was about ninety-five degrees in the shade. As the community and school dignitaries were recognized, and they spoke, I stood under a tree sweating. There was no way I was envisioning the gift I was about to receive.

The valedictorian of the class stepped to the podium, and I glanced at the program and the impressive list of her accomplishments. The list included performing with the state high school chorus, being honored by the band, and membership in the World Language Honor Society. Conspicuously absent from her list of awards was anything sports-related. Yes, the valedictorian was a great student and a band nerd. The gift she was about to give those attending this event was based on her nerd status.

She began her presentation similarly to the other speeches already given. Much to my delight, as she wound down, she changed direction. She ended with the best advice I have ever heard from any speaker, graduation-related or other. She offered this to classmates: "As you go through life, don't be afraid to be a nerd -- dare to be uncool, and dare to be enthusiastic."

I could only think, as those words sank in, what wonderful wisdom this girl shared with us. I further hoped that her classmates and all attending heard her and would live by those words. I searched for the words to close these ramblings properly but realized that some things can't be improved. So, I challenge you by repeating her words:

"As you go through life don't be afraid to be a nerd -- dare to be uncool, and dare to be enthusiastic."]]> The Quest for the Perfect Political Panacea tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1431792 2012-04-17T12:49:13-04:00 2012-06-17T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
We have arrived at this point in our country's history because for years professional politicians and lawyers have abused our political system. I am certain that the Founding Fathers did not anticipate or envision that, in just over 235 years, our system would degenerate into a game no longer focused on people. If they knew how dangerous the love of power and money would become, they surely would have put in place some additional and powerful measures to protect the generations that would follow them. That said, I offer the following as qualifications that should make you consider me your president. I am not a professional politician, and I am not a lawyer, nor do I want to be either. Furthermore, I am a carpenter and a small-business owner.

Historically, lawyers and professional politicians have filled a disproportionate number of the congressional seats and, therefore, have been in charge of our country. In March 2011, the Congressional Research Service report on occupations of the 112th Congress stated, "According to Congressional Quarterly Today, in the 112th Congress, law is the dominantly declared profession of senators, followed by public service/politics." This situation does not seem to work very well for our country. A declared profession of "politics" frightens me.

I am certain that the 56 brave men who signed the Declaration of Independence did not think that politics should be a profession or a career. Even elected officials who ran on the idea of term limits seem to forget that promise when they get on the congressional gravy train. The current system has created a situation in which our representatives make far too many of their decisions focused on reelection instead of problem solving. Between voting for self-preservation and the insane money spent on campaigns, we have a mess on our hands.

You don't have to look very far to find broken pieces of our political systems and processes. I offer as evidence two simple examples that the system run by politicians and lawyers is not working. The tax code in 1913 involved 400 pages. By 2011, the tax code had grown to an astounding 72,536 pages. One tax code growth guesstimate predicts it will reach more than 100,000 pages in fewer than 10 years if we continue along the same path.

The second piece of evidence of a broken system is the number of laws necessary to guide our country. On January 1, 2012, more than 40,000 new laws went into effect. The situation is so far out of control that there seems no way even to count how many laws we have on the books. My attempts to locate that figure proved futile.

Keeping in mind the record of accomplishment of our career representatives, I decided to spend some time thinking about and searching for the one change in our system that could start us back on the right road. I wanted to identify that one issue, above all others, that might again give us that rebirth Lincoln referred to in Gettysburg -- "an America of the people, by the people, and for the people." I saw my search as similar to Monty Python's quest for the Holy Grail or, as I like to call it, the "perfect political panacea."

I recently concluded my all-inclusive and exhaustive search for this magical piece of legislation. I rapidly discovered that about eight out of every ten citizens I spoke with mentioned the same simple adjustment to our system. Whether using the "new math," Fred MacMurray's Chismbop, or just plain old 'rithmetic, the number always came out the same. Of the voters asked, 80 percent want to see term limits! As I understand it, most representative democracies call that a majority.

Some opponents (aka professional politicians and lawyers) argue that if we have term limits, much of the experience and knowledge of the political lifers will be lost. If our current state of affairs is thanks to the experience of our long-term politicians, I am willing to take the risk with some new blood regularly.

The term-limit message was so loud and clear I decided I only needed this plank in my campaign platform. Who better to build a platform than a carpenter and small businessman? Or did you forget this was about my presidential candidacy? In fact, I hereby establish the Term Limit Party. So, when you vote, cast your ballot for the one candidate who will not spend the rest of his life working and voting to be reelected. Vote for Tom "The Carpenter" Gerdy of the single-plank platform Term-Limit Party.]]> Newt... One Toke Over the Line tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1254398 2012-02-06T01:20:29-05:00 2012-04-06T05:12:02-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/ robocall from Newt before the Florida primary. As I heard, read the text, heard again, and reread the text of this craziness, I kept hoping that Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg would step forward and say that I was "punked." Unfortunately, it seems that Newt For 2012 did produce the robocall. Newt himself referred to the kosher meal situation on the Saturday before the primary while campaigning in Jacksonville, Florida.

In case you missed the frightening robocall, here is the text:

As governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney vetoed a bill paying for kosher food for our seniors in nursing homes. Holocaust survivors, for the first time, were forced to eat non-kosher because Romney thought $5 was too much to pay for our grandparents to eat kosher. Where is Mitt Romney's compassion for our seniors? Tuesday, you can end Mitt Romney's hypocrisy on religious freedom with a vote for Newt Gingrich. Paid for by Newt 2012.

If you care for the truth, I ask you to do your own research about how this pathetic and desperate piece of vote-grabbing fiction came to life. And if you don't care for the truth, there is no need for you to continue reading this piece. You are the problem, and there is no hope that you will be part of the solution.

Florida has more than its share of seniors and Jews. I had the pleasure of meeting a practicing rabbi from Vermont, who doubles as a stand-up comic. His name is Bob Alper. He claims he is the only practicing rabbi who also does comedy... intentionally. Bob talks of facing the land of his ancestors when he prays -- he says that he faces south toward Miami.

The writing was on the wall in Florida. Things didn't look very good for Newt. Evidently, some slick marketing people thought if they could get Bob's ancestors to vote for Newt, they could save the primary. The secret plan was to convince all the Alper family and friends that Mitt hated seniors, Jews, and kosher food. When asked about the comment and robocall, Newt said, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

I want to make it clear that this is not about Newt. This is about a horribly broken campaign system. It is about a system where secret money can buy politicians, and lies circulate the country much faster than the truth.

When will it be enough? As someone who loves America, I have had enough. Is this "jumping the shark" moment by Newt enough to anger the voters? I hope so. Is this where American voters scream, "I'm as mad as hell, and I am not going to take this anymore?" I hope so. Is this when we finally say this broken campaign system must be fixed? I hope so. In the words of singers/songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, Newt and our campaign system have stepped "One Toke over the Line." ]]> There's No I in Team, But Me Plays a Big Role tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1214309 2012-01-19T11:34:30-05:00 2012-03-20T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
The truth is I am not sports hall of fame material. I played football and basketball in high school and two years of football at Virginia Tech. My skill level in both sports at best could be called average. I don't think my name ever was on the front page of the sports section, and I don't remember being mentioned on the short list in the race for the Heisman Trophy. The best I can figure is that the only record I might hold to this day (if they tracked it) would be the most offensive charges in a single basketball season, which, unfortunately, happens when you finish football season and immediately step on the basketball court. It wasn't pretty.

I attended the dedication because several of my friends helped to create this addition to the high school. I wanted to be there to support them and thank them for all their efforts. I am glad I attended because one speaker told a lesson that his high school basketball coach taught him. It involved ten two-letter words, but those few words speak volumes. The ten words are "If it is to be, it is up to me."

Anyone who has played a team sport has heard a coach try to inspire teamwork by saying "There is no I in team." I believe the long time Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey once boldly commented on the growing lack of team loyalty in pro sports. Garvey said, "The difference between the old ballplayer and the new ballplayer is the jersey. The old ballplayer cared about the name on the front. The new ballplayer cares about the name on the back." I know that using Steve Garvey's quote might unintentionally stir a debate on the issue, but I am not going there with this.

At first glance, the ten two-letter words I heard at the Hall of Fame dedication seemed to contradict the "I in team" wisdom and support Steve Garvey's words. As I let the words sink in, I realized that there was no conflict. For a team to have any chance of success, individuals must take that first step. They must commit to not only the team, but also to taking the personal actions necessary to help the team.

Even though the Heisman Trophy slipped through my hands, I learned some good lessons while playing sports that have helped me throughout my life. Sports taught me that you can't talk your way to success. It takes personal commitment to a goal and a team effort. It also takes full understanding that you will never achieve a thing without acting. That is where we find the me in team. It is that commitment to do what it takes to achieve something.

The same principles apply to everyday life. Today, many people are quick to criticize and slow to act. We often complain, but don't act. We face many challenges as a country and world. We can't talk ourselves out of this. It is more important than ever to remember you hold the answers, but nothing will happen if you don't act. For you, your family, your community, and our country, you can no longer sit on the sidelines. So, please, repeat after me, "If it is to be, it us up to me!"]]> Is Our Destiny Pottersville or Bedford Falls? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1173196 2011-12-28T16:20:04-05:00 2012-02-27T05:12:01-05:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/ It's a Wonderful Life. This year was no different. As George Bailey's brother, Harry, raises a glass to toast his brother, saying, "A toast to my big brother George, the richest man in town," I again had to wipe away some tears. It gets me every time because I still believe that living as George makes you rich.

I saw one thing in a different light this year as my wife and I watched Frank Capra's classic tale. It centered on the scene in which George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, gave the rich, greedy, old miser, Mr. Potter, a piece of his mind. Potter was trying to take over the Building and Loan, one of the few businesses he didn't already own. Potter was talking trash about the people the Building and Loan helped buy homes.

The passage is long but worth including. George said,
Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!


I have spent the working hours of my life as a carpenter and a building contractor in the blue-collar world. I have always loved creating with my hands and helping people build their homes. I have been very fortunate to earn a living for more than thirty-five years in the building trades. However, the last several years, it has been a serious struggle. I have watched tradespeople around me fall by the wayside, as the economy and the lending environment became less and less conducive to running small businesses.

Many potential construction projects have been crushed, as the lending pendulum has swung from too liberal to the extreme conservative end of the spectrum, making it almost impossible to borrow money. Small businesses are now paying for the greed and dollar-worshiping of the lending and investment institutions. Sadly, those who created the problem still are awarded ridiculous bonuses, but we will address that sin another time.

Small businesses have always been the backbone of the economy in America. During much of our country's life, our leaders recognized the magnitude of small-business contributions to our growth and stability. They created a business friendly environment because our economy thrives when small business thrives.

The current leaders seem to have forgotten this piece of our economic puzzle. Whenever our leaders face a revenue shortfall, small businesses seem to have a bull's eye painted on their front doors. We are constantly the target of additional fees and taxes, making it tougher and tougher to remain afloat. At the same time small businesses are taxed out of business, huge retailers are given unimaginable tax breaks and incentives to help them set up shop. The playing field is no longer level, and the big-dollar players have taken control.

As I heard George Bailey take a stand against Mr. Potter, for some reason it made me reflect on the growing chasm between the classes in our country. Recent history has made me feel like "the rabble," or one of the cattle to which George Bailey refers. I also cannot help connecting the current Washington leadership and Mr. Potter. As greed and money controlled Mr. Potter, we are witnessing the same problem with our elected officials. The people running our country seem to have no interest in hearing what happens where we are doing our working and paying and living and dying daily. Their money and positions have made them blind and deaf to what most of us face daily. Out of touch is an understatement. It is a sad truth, but when the dollar becomes the master, the heart often files bankruptcy.

I want to make one last connection between the 1946 movie and the status of our current government. At one point in the movie, George is shown what would have happened to the beautiful town of Bedford Falls if he wasn't around to stand up to the power and greed of Mr. Potter. He takes a tour through the town that was renamed Pottersville and it isn't a pretty sight. So now, I must ask, are you willing to stand up to protect our "Bedford Falls" or are we destined to become Pottersville?
]]> The Real Jersey Shore tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1079262 2011-11-08T06:54:03-05:00 2012-01-08T05:12:01-05:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
As a man with Jersey roots, I must admit I watched with curiosity as the show Jersey Shore was unveiled. After all, I spent many summer nights cruising the boardwalk at Seaside Heights. I often stopped to place a quarter down on a number at one of Lucky Leo's booths as the Wheel of Chance spun. The hope was to win a Doors album or In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly. I guess that tells you how old I am. If we were cruising "The Boards" with a girl, we, of course, had to try to win a stuffed animal while displaying our basketball-shooting prowess. It was a great time, and I often grin when I think back to those evenings "Cruising the boards at the Shore."

I am not necessarily proud of it, but I must admit that, initially, the Jersey Shore characters and their ridiculously childlike behavior amused me. Imagine my disappointment after seeing in to what this so-called reality show degenerated. I was especially disappointed by the picture the show painted of the Jersey shore and particularly Italian men and women. I guess calling it a bit less than flattering is an understatement. I might be a bit partial because I have been married for more than thirty-five years to a Jersey girl with Italian roots, but the show's portrayal of Italian women is weak.

The purpose of my ramblings is not to talk about reality TV. I need to tell you about a different side to the Jersey shore. I am a building contractor in Virginia and spend some of my spare time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity up and down the East Coast. I recently spent a weekend not far from Seaside Heights, New Jersey, volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity blitz build. The weekend was spent helping a good family build the home they were going to buy. We started framing on Saturday morning, and 163 volunteers showed up to help frame this home. Sunday, we had about 135 people show up to help put the siding and roof on the home. Late in the day on Sunday, the very emotional widowed father of two children who is buying the home stood on his new front porch and thanked the group of volunteers for helping. As I stood next to the homeowner to be and listened to his words, I looked out to the group of volunteers. I saw grins. I saw tears. I saw heads held high. I saw people proud to help a neighbor. What I saw was reality and the real Jersey shore. ]]> Where Have All the Flags Gone? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.869112 2011-05-31T15:03:18-04:00 2011-07-31T05:12:02-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
In Arianna Huffington's book, How to Overthrow the Government, she discussed participation in the American democracy. She said, "Only a catalytic leader or a cataclysmic event can move the people to action." This book has a copyright date of 2000. Since that year, we have witnessed both a cataclysmic event occur and a catalytic leader rise to the presidency. Both temporarily moved the people to action.

In the months and even in the first few years following those acts of terrorism on 9/11, Americans proudly displayed the stars and stripes. Most homes and businesses had flags flying. The attacks moved and unified Americans, as we hadn't been for decades. It was a wake-up call for the sleeping giant, and it ignited a fire in our hearts that fueled a new sense of pride and unity in America. It was a good feeling. We seemed to recognize that we are in this together. At many public gatherings over the next year or so, participants loudly chanting "USA, USA, USA!" followed the singing of the National Anthem. I can remember the chills I got as I began a 10-mile road race that kicked off with a group of marines leading us, carrying the American flag.

In 2008, that catalytic leader Arianna talked about in the book stepped up. Obama talked about change, and America cried loud and clear that they wanted things to change. We went from a country where slavery was once commonplace to a country that elected a president whose father is black. The attitude and atmosphere were different. People who never participated before wanted to help bring about change. We again talked about possibilities. Again, a fire was ignited in the hearts, and now was the time to move America forward.

What happened to the changes? What happened to the fire in the hearts? What happened to the flags?

I am convinced that America was ready for change. I am convinced that this was the time for change. I am troubled that our political leaders seem to be fighting to keep their world as it has been for decades. Because of their divisive attitudes, after both 9/11 and the 2008 election, it didn't take long for the political world to return to the status quo. Party line votes were again the rule. The challenges and the issues were again unimportant. It was once again no longer about the people. It returned to being about politics and party.

The key to our future involves the politicians recognizing that they must change. The biggest change we need is a shift from ugly partisan politics to a nonpartisan mentality. We aren't supposed to agree on everything, but if we don't work together, we will continue to die a slow death.

Charles P. Pierce, in his book Idiot America, pointed out, "In the first place, after the initial shock of the attacks wore off, no medium was more instrumental than talk radio in the destruction of the unity forged by those attacks." Both the television and radio commentators found a gold mine. News commentary took another step away from reporting news and went much deeper into the world of pure entertainment. They have found it much more profitable than reporting the news. In the current environment, both politicians and self-proclaimed news pundits are spending most of their time trying to frighten, breed hatred, and create divisions among Americans. For within those words that stir up the public, they find ratings and dollars. The continued use of these tactics will only prolong the pain we currently feel as Americans. As long as opposing sides on all the important issues facing our country continue to fight like adolescent schoolyard bullies, we will be unable to move forward. The only winners will be the networks, because controversy helps their ratings.

Maybe it is a time for all Americans, especially politicians and news commentators, to take a lesson from the Amish. The Amish world is one of peace, humility, and community. A building block of the Amish society and value system is known as Gelassenheit. There is not a direct translation from the German to the English language, but as I understand it, it is often understood to mean giving up self for community. Our veterans understand the concept of Gelassenheit. They are willing to give everything for their country and their community. Having the rest of our country understand and adopt the idea of Gelassenheit might be our only chance to change, to reignite the fires, and to bring back the flags.
]]> The Greatest Show on Earth tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.862880 2011-05-17T10:48:16-04:00 2011-07-17T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
As we begin to again travel the long and painful road that is the presidential campaign season, we are already witnessing the beginning of the games they play. It is showmanship at its worst. The candidates' weapons of choice include smoke, mirrors, misdirection, twisted truths, diversions, avoidance, outright lies and manipulation of the media and voters. The best magicians in the world don't come close to the illusions these professional politicians perform daily.

It is a sad state of affairs that we get nowhere near addressing the true challenges of our country because of the way the game is played. Again, the voters hope the candidates will be educating them about the issues and possible solutions. The hope is that they will be debating their opponents with arguments based on facts. Again, it looks as if the voters will be disappointed because many politicians don't seem too concerned about facts. The process has degenerated into something rivaling professional wrestling. The platforms of parties and candidates are based on sound bites and wind direction, revolving around votes, money and power, with full-time creation of perceptions despite reality.

The election of a president in America has become like a knife fight because a knife fight has no rules. For some strange reason, the knife fight in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid comes to mind as I listen to the candidates weave their tales. When challenged, Butch says let's talk about the rules. While everyone is trying to figure out what rules there are in a knife fight, Butch kicks his challenger in the groin.

Even though we are again starting this campaign season like a knife fight, I want to avoid getting kicked in the groin again. Unlike the rule-less knife fight, I want some guidelines. The following is just the short list:

  1. Before every campaign speech, there will be a moment of silence to honor those who have given their lives for our country. Maybe that will help us prioritize and focus.

  2. Snopes will be given equal time to review every campaign speech and point out lies or twisted truths. Daily reports will be given on how each candidate does on the "truth meter." For each lie told, the candidates will be required to donate50,000 to reducing the national debt. If this election is anything like the last election, we might eliminate that debt by the time November 2012 rolls around.

  3. All political commentary shows will have a disclaimer explaining that what is said is opinion-based. TV shows will have a crawler at the bottom of the screen and radio shows will have to play the disclaimer each time they come back from a commercial break. We do it for cigarettes, and some of these political commentators are much more dangerous than cigarettes.

  4. Campaign spending will be limited to2.00 per registered voter for any candidate, so spend wisely. That should be about four hundred million per candidate. If they can't convince people to vote for them with that much money, they must be a pretty weak candidate. I wanted to set it at1.00, but I feel generous today.

  5. Religion is personal, so it will remain out of the discussions. I don't care if you go to church in a cave in Idaho and worship a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. If you can help end these wars and stabilize our economy, you are my candidate.

  6. The source of funding for all political ads trying to influence voters will be public information. Let's leave influence peddling to organized crime. Our political system is not organized enough to handle secret donations.

  7. All political campaigns will be required to donate1.00 for every dollar spent on the campaign to charities I will preapprove, insuring that some good comes out of every political camp even if their tactics have done damage.

  8. Birth certificates or college transcripts will never be mentioned again. I might not be proud of my college transcripts, but my customers never asked for them because they want to focus on important issues.

  9. It is a fact that 74.2% of all statistics are made up on the spot. Any charts or statistics politicians or political commentators use must be fact checked in advance.

  10. Last, but not least, politician's hairstyles are off-limits. I do have serious problems with Trump's, Kerry's, and let's not forget, Blago's style statements, but they have nothing to do with their ability to serve. This is about their character, not their coiffure.


This is just a start. So, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, let's remember that this campaign is not about "the greatest show on Earth." It is about helping keep America the greatest country on Earth.
]]> Taxation WITH Representation Isn't Too Great These Days tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.847786 2011-04-12T19:23:48-04:00 2011-06-12T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
I am sure that Pat and those who fought for this freedom roll over in their graves as they witness the actions of many of the current members of Congress. They would not believe what their dreams have become. They would be shocked that taxation with representation has deteriorated into nothing more than a struggle for power and control. A good number of our representatives have changed the phrase "give me liberty," to simply "give me." We spend more time talking about elections than we do about issues. Politicians start posturing and virtually selling their souls years in advance to get a shot at a powerful position. This jockeying for power creates a mentality whereby no price is too large to pay to be elected or re-elected. I know it is not the first time anyone has observed this, but the debates are no longer about what is right and wrong for our country. The debates are now about power and purely between right and left.

The current budget debate has magnified the ugliness of what power and control can do. Decisions are being made for votes, not for solutions. Decisions are being made with the next elections in mind, not with the next generations in mind. Decisions are being made with rich donors in mind. Grandstanding by senators and representatives is running rampant. As Americans, we all are losing. It is time we put an end to such activity.

It bothers me when people complain without offering any solutions. That said, I want to offer the following for this and future challenges in our government:

1. If the government shuts down, Congress loses two days of salary for every day the government doesn't operate. I think that might add some incentive to work together for what is best for all.
2. The pay scale for politicians is a decreasing scale with no pay after 12 years of service. If you care to serve longer, you must do it as a volunteer. Politics should be a passion to do what is right for the people. It is not supposed to be a career.
3. Politicians on the national level should get health-care coverage equivalent to an average of what the public school teachers in our country have. If they want better, they can pay for it.
4. The body in which they serve does not establish the salaries for state and national elected officials. The police officers and firefighters will set the salaries. Just so you, the politicians, know, it would probably mean a decrease in pay. As far as I am concerned, our police forces and firefighters deserve much more compensation than our politicians do.
5. Because balancing the budget is critical to our future, if the elected officials can't manage to balance a budget, their salaries will be reduced by double the percentage of deficit. If the budget deficit is 10%, they just managed to get themselves a 20% pay cut. If they want the glory in the good times, they need to share in the pain during the bad times.
6. Election campaigns will be run like reality shows and limited to 16 episodes. We will vote candidates off by telephone each month. Pure American Companies will sponsor the show, and the politicians won't be sponsored. They can't wear a Budweiser tie or a Nike logo on their suit or dress. Don't ask why I set it at 16 episodes. Four months for a campaign just sounds much more manageable than two years.

This is a start to correcting a very unhealthy situation. My apologies go out to Patrick Henry and those who gave their lives so we could have this representative government. Representative democracies can work if the representatives are not egocentric, power hungry, or owned by big money. ]]> Does a Gay Fetus Have Any Rights? tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.840968 2011-03-28T12:23:59-04:00 2011-05-28T05:12:01-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
And besides, I don't want to discuss God. I want to discuss faith and religion, which will surely keep me out of hot water because no one ever gets wound up when the topic of religion comes up.

Whether you believe in God, humanity invented religion, and it involves a great deal of faith. For many centuries, religion has ever been changing its appearance. When discussing religion, the questions who, what, when, where, and how have more answers than can be counted. In general, religion has been a moving target. Groups who worshipped the same God sometimes couldn't even agree how that should be done. Through the years, people who supposedly believed in the same things couldn't even find it in their hearts to honor their God in the same buildings. Even the books and writings at the center of some religions have various versions and different as well as conflicting interpretations.

I understand that faith means sometimes having to accept what is difficult to understand. Faith can also mean believing in something that cannot be proved with empirical data. I can understand and accept those ideas. However, several questions about religion have been bothering me for a long time.

1. How can people kill in the name of their religion, their faith, or their God? I have never been able to get a grip on the term religious war. Killing in the name of religion has forever been a part of world history. People who thought their God wanted them to kill Americans have attacked our country. I am really not cool with that idea.

2. How can a religion-based theme park include dinosaurs on an ark? I struggle with any leaders or followers of those leaders who refuse to recognize the existence of the scientific evidence that the dinosaurs were gone before we got here. I hate to tell them that Fred Flintstone never worked in a quarry for Mr. Slate riding a saddled brontosaurus to mine granite.

3. If a fetus has rights, but gay people don't, is it alright to kill a gay fetus? Let's face the facts; we are all a bit messed up. Most of our "houses" really aren't in that great shape. If we focused on our challenges and helping people in need, we wouldn't have time to tear others apart.

4. Does the God that some people worship have no problem if they intentionally inflict suffering on their fellow humans? I will not dignify the church by mentioning its name, but picketing funerals is not a way to move the world forward. It is only a way to spread hate.

Sometimes, good people take bad turns. The challenge I pose today is for all of us to take that extra step when reaching out and lifting someone up. Sometimes, we all need help. Sometimes, we also have to work overtime to straighten out some crazy acts performed in the name of religion.

]]> The Ten Politically Correct Commandments tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.827703 2011-02-26T11:17:15-05:00 2011-05-25T18:35:25-04:00 Tom Gerdy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gerdy/
Giles County, Va., is currently panic central for this debate. The County School Board decided in December to remove the publicly displayed Ten Commandments from the schools. In January, they decided that they were wrong for removing them and decided to flip their decision and reinstalled the lists in their schools. Now, in February, they have flopped and decided to remove them again. This decision came after discussing the issue with the district's legal counsel. I think that it might have been better to have that discussion with the lawyers back in December.

I struggle a bit with all the excitement over this issue as various religions once again clash with schools and governments. I have always believed that there is a God, but I am not sure that God had this vision of formal religions in mind as he looked over us. I venture a guess the direction that formal religion often heads is one of God's disappointments.

As I thought about this list of rules, I thought maybe we could solve all this confusion by developing a set of politically correct Ten Commandments. So, I've tried to make it something that could hang in our schools and government buildings without creating mass hysteria.

The Ten Highly Recommended Suggestions for Life Behavior:

1. You are not the center of the universe. Believe in something or someone who is greater than you are. When looking for that guiding power, be careful. Many who present themselves as someone with the answers will lead you down some bad alleys.

2. Show some respect to the source of guidance you are given. There are many ways to show respect. One would be to say good things and use good words when you talk about the one guiding you.

3. Take some time off regularly to honor and thank the spirit who helps you through life.

4. Love, honor and respect your parents for their efforts to do what is right. Try to remember that there are no set rules or blueprints for parenting. All parents make mistakes, but most of them are doing the best they know how with the skills and knowledge they have.

5. You will not kill. Nothing has to be changed to make this politically correct.

6. Protect your bond with the one you love. That bond of wife, husband, life partner or soul mate is a wonderful one. We are human so we often fall short of showing that one person the love and respect they deserve. Trying to share that bond with more than one person at a time makes no sense.

7. You will not steal. This again seems straightforward. If it's not yours, you have no business taking it. It doesn't get much simpler than that. If you want something, work for it.

8. Just tell the truth. It is so much easier than trying to remember how you twisted it. In the end, the truth will keep you out of trouble.

9. Don't covet your neighbor's wife. As Soupy Sales once said, "It always looks greener in the other guy's wallet!" If you aren't happy with where you are, there is a good chance you wouldn't be happy in someone else's life or with someone else's wife, so don't bother coveting.

10. Stop wishing for your neighbor's stuff. Your neighbor's stuff will not make you happy either.

This politically correct business is tougher than I thought it would be. Even though this set of rules eliminates any specific reference to God or religion, I am sure in this politically correct environment, it would still offend some group. That being the case, I have another idea. It is a way we could cover all bases and, I hope, not offend anyone. We could also save on printing costs because this solution only uses a few words. There wouldn't be a long list to remember and maybe just a few people would take note making the world a little gentler and kinder. At the entrance to every school and every public building in all bold capital letters, let's post these eleven words: DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!

]]>