MACHO MUCHISSIMO | 2005-08-08
Right now I wish I were a member of the group that calls itself "The Greatest Generation."
I have been in pain for a week but didn't think much of it. Friday I went to the dentist for my regular tooth cleaning and discovered that I have an cracked tooth under a crown. My gum is about to rupture from it.
I will see my regular dentist today for a root canal. In the meantime the dentist on duty gave me heavy antibiotics and the pain pill you put in the peanut to stun an elephant.
I was in serious pain, but I marched on.
If I were one of those who call themselves The Greatest Generation, I could announce that this was just one more proof of how no man has ever been as brave as I am.
Unfortunately, I was raised around the "Greatest Generation" and I am sick to death of their macho crap.
I like to make fun of myself largely because I got tired of that crowd taking themselves so seriously.
I have met many people in the burn ward who would give anything if they were able to take a little while off from their agony and invade Normandy. History is full of people who suffered a lot more than "The Greatest Generation" did.
My mountain ancestors faced conditions all their lives that made World War II and the Great Depression look like a picnic. They took on the Indians face to facce and it takes unlimited gall for someone to claim that they are the Greatest Generation because they fought a war abroad.
What other people call Macho is what I call trashy.
White trash is always getting drunk and moaning about how hard they have it and how easy everybody else has it.
If people of a certain age do the same thing they are called "The Greatest Generation."