Am I a dreamer?

[JJEH]

I love history and I keep buying more books at a time than I can read. I prefer non-fiction and biographies.

I further like "old school," however you for yourself want to interpret it. It just seems back then people were different... tougher.... and no-nonsense.

Almost every day after handling my books I imagine myself in that world... a world were everything looks simpler but also harder to survive. People had their priorities straight, had a focus and worked hard every day to feed their families and themselves.

My most favorite topics are the Dodge Brothers, the Texas Rangers and the USMS. I recently picked up an interest in Waltham watches.

I keep thinking of how to go back there. And I mean not devolving from 2019 back to the 1900's. But tough men, doing a tough job. Be it either in hunting men or building a business worth millions of dollars. Working hard to produce quality service (i.e. law enforcement) or quality products (i.e. cars, watches).

My word is my bond and I rather do business with a handshake than a contract. But if someone breaks that word I'm through with that person. I rather walk the extra mile just to make sure my stuff is straight and everything is in order rather than going home on time every day.

I have friends from back in my military time as well as now in LE I'd go through any door with at any time, no questions asked. I'd take a bullet to save my family and those friends are family.

I'm not happy in today's world but I don't want this to be a political post. We had ups and downs ever since the greatest country in the world was discovered. It just keeps working inside my head as to what happened and how we can instill morals, values and ethics again in today's world?! My own kids show me every day that I'm pretty much alone with that idea.

The Dodge Brothers for instance; that went from going barefoot to school because they were so poor, to become millionaires and a respected name in the business. Caring for their employees as well as society (making high dollar donations and Mr. Horace working as a part time reserve officer).

What happened to "Made in USA" products?! We can do it but there is no more pride left. Greed trumps pride these days. Building something from the ground up and seeing your kids take over is a thing of the past I guess...

Or Bass Reeves, born into slavery and later becoming the first black DUSM that worked in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. Imagine, back then.... out there.... on horseback... tracking fugitives without radio, cell phones, gps and google. Next backup probably 2 days away. My hat's off to all them people! I'm not even half the man Bass Reeves (or other DUSM's or Texas Ranger's for that matter) was, won't ever be.

I wish some of their mindset, work ethic and discipline would still be present today in people. I try to honor them and all their hard work by doing the best job I can possibly do. Make quality arrests instead of quantity! But it seems I'm alone...

Again, I need to ask you, am I a dreamer?

 

[Kurusu]

No. You are not a dreamer. Just another one of a dying breed.

 

[spricks]

My daughter is also a bookhead , constantly buying and selling and reading...I told her she is an old soul....and she also believes she was born 100 too late....good people read books in my opinion.... Barnes and noble comes to mind...read and learn is nothing but positive for folks.... fake news is everywhere...books are fiction or non fiction...

spricks

 

[Bill 76]

Ah, for the days of wooden ships and iron men!

 

[Ματθιας]

OP, there are still people like the ones you write about, but they are few and far between.

I'd like to think that I'm one of those people, but the reality is, I'm a cynical misanthrope and probably no different than the others.

All that can be done, on a personal level, is to live the best life one can.

 

[loknload]

Ahhhh,,,The days of brass balls and leather lungs!,and riding on the back step of a fire apparatus!
I too like my history, and I only read hard back books!

 

[cballman]

Yes you are a dreamer. I just happen to love the store called Half-price Books. I have bought plenty from them read a lot but not all of them. Also like to read about history. Just got back from Charleston South Carolina. We stopped by and toured the H.L. Hunley submarine that was the first sub to sink a ship in the Civil War. The tour was just freaking awesome. The Sub was immersed in a special solution of stuff to keep from rusting more. But to be that close to that much history was awesome. Bought the books and the DVD to help out on the conservation effort.

 

[Bob L]

I would not call it being a dreamer but I miss the days, as you said when a man's word was all that was needed. When kids could roam the streets without having to worry about predators and you did not have to worry about someone stealing from you without ever setting eyes on you. I remember making jokes when I was young about items being marked "Made in China" and knowing that nothing is as good as that which was made in the good old U.S. of A. Remember when you went to for a company and it was a forgone conclusion that you would retire from the same company. Different world now.

 

[loknload]

Spent quite a bit of time with the Hunley myself! Fantastic piece of history and a great story behind it. And now they figured out why they sank upon sinking the Housatonic
We even spent the time and visited the cemetery where the crews are buried, quite humbling.
Love the history!

 

[Old TexMex]

I read history. Personal accounts, diaries, ships logs, among other original work, usually in the persons own hand (access to the Library of Congress and Smithsonian for a time helped).

Your post reminds me of a "responsibility quote":

"Wherever the citizen becomes indifferent to his fellows, so
will the husband be to his wife, and the father of a family
toward the members of his household."

-- Karl Wilhelm von Humboldt

His bio in Wikipedia is interesting
Wilhelm von Humboldt - Wikipedia

 

[Bill Raby]

What you have to remember is that the guys in the books were the rare ones. If you are making arrests I would assume that you are a cop.The problem that cops have is that they spend all their time around the crummy people. The good people are still there. But you will not see them on the news. And the scumbags have been around as long as America has.

What has changed? In the past if you did not do some kind of work, even dishonest work, you would not last long. Today it is possible to spend your whole life laying around, doing absolutely nothing, and get by just fine.

 

[LVSteve]

I further like "old school," however you for yourself want to interpret it. It just seems back then people were different... tougher.... and no-nonsense.

Be advised that the term "Machiavellian" came to be long before any of us here were born.

 

[JJEH]

Thank y'all for your replies. Glad I'm not alone... sometimes I feel alone and wonder what direction we are heading, as a nation...

Here's a glimpse into some of the books I have.

Great stories about great people. People that made history and changed the way business is done forever.

I think morals, ethics, manners, discipline and respect were on a higher priority level than today.

Today it is possible to spend your whole life laying around, doing absolutely nothing, and get by just fine.

Yes, agreed. Which, to a point is good. Welfare is supposed to support you until you can get back on your feet. Nowadays it's a career path...

 

[Jessie]

I too think the past was better, inhabited by better, tougher people with more grit and brains than today. But I'm somewhat wrong. Today is tomorrow's past and there are some good folks and good deeds being done today.
I don't know if there are more crazies today or just more people or just more comm so we hear about more, sooner.
Maybe a little of all of it.
I do think I was born too late but then, I'd be dead now if I was born
earlier.
Who knows? Enjoy the ride you have and make the most of it while you're here.

 

[gregintenn]

I'm not sure the good ole days were quite as good as we tend to remember them. There are things I miss, but there are also things I don't.

 

[Golddollar]

I wish some of their mindset, work ethic and discipline would still be present today in people. I try to honor them and all their hard work by doing the best job I can possibly do. Make quality arrests instead of quantity! But it seems I'm alone...

Again, I need to ask you, am I a dreamer?

No, you are not a dreamer. You are setting an example, which hopefully will not go unnoticed.

 

[walter o]

Think that your word was your BOND days are far behind us .I do believe that those of us that remember that are of a dyeing breed. I dont think that many folks would stand and fight for others ,not counting military& law enforcement . they run toward trouble, not from it

 

[jscheck]

You are indeed a bit of a dreamer, but so were the people you're writing about. I'm pretty certain few if any of them thought of themselves as anything else but hard working honest people trying to make a living and better themselves. History has made many of them giants and history may yet make you a giant! What we see around us is often discouraging but we need to strive to do what we know is right and good. If we don't then America will surely fail. It sounds like you're doing your part, have faith that many others are doing theirs!

 

[JayFramer]

Yeah, and bring back 3/4" gloss rifle scopes, too!

 

[Old TexMex]

One of the beautiful things about books is that you can gain information without some other entity knowing what you're curious about...unlike google, facebook and other agencies which gather and then try (somewhat successfully) to sway your actions based on that information.