Which port?

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Beautiful day, in an “East Coast” port, loading cargo for a Foreign voyage.

Maybe, a “Trans Atlantic” crossing, to Southampton, Rotterdam and maybe Bremerhaven; you know, the fun ports, in Europe. 

Maybe, even, the ultimate fun and exciting “Trans Pacific”, voyage, “Down Under”, to Australia, thru the Panama Canal, and, stopping at a couple of very exotic South Pacific, storybook Islands, along the journey. 

A lot of American Made machinery and products for “Free Trade”, on those Voyages, carried on "American Made" ships, and with American Seafarers.

Or, maybe, a South Atlantic, Equatorial, crossing, to Luanda or Dar es Salam, in Africa. 

A lot of “Hands Across the Oceans”, AMERICAN Foreign Aid gifts to people all over the world, sharing in America’s bounty, on those Voyages. 

I was always proud to deliver those essential goods to those in need, be it food or critical equipment . 

What the Average American did not know, was that sharing our bounty with “Nations in Need”, was a two way street. 

Our ships did not come back “empty”.

America’s economy could not flourish without “raw materials “, exclusively “native” to certain areas around the world. 

Such essentials as Copper, Coffee, Teas, as well as exotic spices from memorable ports like Mombassa or Istanbul.

Those “Hands across the Oceans “, traveled in both directions. 

I recall loading one partially exotic cargo in the island of Zanzibar. 

The aroma of Cloves, permeated the ship, the enter home bound voyage. Especially, in the Hot , steamy tropics, crossing the Equator. 

Sadly, that “Two Way Street “ has gone away. 

Today, here in America, we no longer “Export” our bounty of Agricultural and Manufactured products. 

We have no need to “Import” Raw Materials, because we no longer manufacture our own goods, let alone , products for “Export “.

The ONLY item, we “Export “ , today is our “$ cash”, and we don’t need ships or Seafarers, for that. Just “a wire”.

We “Import” EVERYTHING , and it’s all “Made in China”.

Sadly, we have erased the term “Free Trade”, and replaced it with “Free Stuff“, only , it ain’t “Free”.

[w1...@cs.com]

Sad but true DR (the last ten lines)

Glad I'm an old guy.

73,

BB

KHLD '87-'90

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