Clam Chowder, or Is It?

Once upon a time in Holland, actually it was in the 1930's,  in Holland, there lived an old, clock repair man and his two grown daughters.  He was a very kind and gentle man who saw the good in everyone, and because of this, the old man was loved and respected by all who knew him.  One day a young German lad came into the shop seeking to be the old clock repair man's apprentice.  The old man had several employees, including an older, Jewish gentleman, named Christoffel, but the young German was given the job, and was treated like part of the family, as were all of the other employees.

Everyone was invited to join the family for prayer and bible study each morning and evening.  After learning that they were reading the Old Testament, Otto, the young German refused to join the others for bible study saying that the Old Testament was the Jews' "Book of Lies."

The old clock repairman was sad, and told his daughter Corrie, that Otto had been taught wrong and that, "By watching us, seeing that we love this Book and are truthful people, he will realize his error."

Otto was proud to be German, in fact,  he proudly proclaimed that he was a member of Hitler's Youth Group.  Otto, didn't seem to be adjusting to the new country well.  In fact, Corrie wondered why he was even in Holland.  He wasn't learning the language and he was constantly criticizing the Dutch people and all of their products. 

Corrie, who also worked in the shop with her father, Otto, and Christoffel, started feeling something was wrong with the way Otto was treating Christoffel.  He was very brusque with the older gentleman, but it wasn't what he did exactly, that made her uneasy, but what he didn't do.  "No standing back to let the older man go first, not helping on with a coat, no picking up a dropped tool."  It was hard to pin down exactly what it was about Otto.  At first she thought it was just simple thoughtlessness.

It wasn't until the day that Christoffel came into the office with a bloody cheek and a torn coat, that they all learned what had really been happening between Otto and Christoffel.   Corrie went down to the street to retrieve the old man's hat, and there, she found Otto surrounded by a group of people, who had seen Otto push Christoffel into an alleyway, and grind his face into a brick building.  She also learned, that for quite some time, Otto had been making the old man's walk to and from work a time of terror.  All of which, Christoffel had been too proud to talk about.

Otto was fired from the clock shop.  He was the first employee in over 60 years to be let go. 

"Father tried to reason with Otto as he let him go, to show him why such behavior was wrong.  Otto did not answer.  In silence he collected the few tools he had brought with him and in silence left the shop.  It was only at the door that he turned to look at us, a look of the most utter contempt I had ever seen."--Corrie Ten Boom The Hiding Place

Now, I'm going to clam chowder it.  (Clam chowder is when you completely change subjects for no apparent reason.  Don't ask me why it's called "clam chowder, it just is.  I don't make the rules.)

On Memorial Day, it is a tradition that the President of the United States spends the day at Arlington National Cemetery to honor of those that have given their lives for the freedom of our country.  It is customary for the President to give a speech, place a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and to have breakfast with the families of fallen soldiers.   According to an article in the Washington Post, this year, President Obama will be breaking with this time honored tradition.   Instead, he is "finally addressing one of the great broken promises of his administration: his early pledge to return home to Chicago every six weeks or so."

During his 16 months in office this will only be his second time returning to Chicago, the last time being February of 2009.  He and his family will be arrive in Chicago on Thursday and will return on Monday.  (Apparently not in time to participate in any of the traditional Presidential activities that honor the men and women that he, as The Commander and Chief,  has asked to give their lives for our country.)

Another article says that Obama's trip has, "triggered a guessing game."

"Where will they dine? What will they do for fun? With the Sox on the road and the Blackhawks skating into the Stanley Cup finals, might the first family ditch its predictable pastimes -- basketball, golf and tennis -- and go to the United Center for hockey?"

Hmmm,  it's leaving me guessing too, not about what he is doing in Chicago, but what he isn't doing in Washington.