Hank Bracker > Hank's Quotes

“It was the economy that troubled most people prior to World War II. Europe, especially Germany, was dealing with a deep worldwide depression. Fascism was gaining a stronghold in Germany as well as in many other European countries. Although small and generally not popular, the Communist Party was the only organized group to stand in opposition to the Nazis. Small bands of these Communists occasionally attempted to disrupt the government by rioting in the streets. Occasionally gunfire would be heard, but very little could be done about it by a people that did not want to get involved. Hitler’s “Brown Shirts” were rapidly solidifying their position, and the Nazi Party was becoming stronger. Even though they frequently violated the National Constitution, they brought order to what had been chaos. The Treaty of Versailles, enacted after World War I, was hated by the German people, who felt that it suppressed them in a most demeaning way. However now Hitler was putting people to work building cars and an autobahn highway system that connected the larger cities. Modernization of airports and the development of a national railroad were all in violation of the imposed international regulations. Workers were again bringing paychecks home and could once more feed their families. Therefore, little thought was given to Hitler’s power grab. Germany was emerging from the dark era following World War I, and things were getting better. The Vaterland was regaining its strength, without regard to what France and other European countries thought.... After all, what could they, or would they, do about it?”
― Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One...."

“Canada is a long way to go to get Cuban Cigars” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“History is not owned solely by historians. It is a part of everyone’s heritage.” Captain Hank Bracker. This quote is from the flyleaf of the award winning book "The Exciting Story of Cuba.”
― Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“Curiosity can either open doors or blow you away!” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Aeschylus said, 'In war, truth is the first casualty.' now we can add politics." Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“In Politics we can be a Party member, but should never forget to put America first! Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Speech is how we convey our thoughts. Literature is how we convey our civilization.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Work is one of the joys of life. The feeling of accomplishment is priceless.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.”
― Bernard M. Baruch

“Watching sunrise from the wing of the bridge of a ship at sea…. It's inspirational!” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Scramble Books were written prior to the personal computer. For the most part they were used to supplement text books as a teaching and testing tool. I wrote a scramble book to help students understand the “Pythagorean theorem or Law of Pythagoras.” What made these books different from text books was that the answers to questions would lead you to different pages, which in turn would confirm that either your answer was right or it would direct you to another page explaining how to arrive at the correct answer.”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Life is like a voyage with a beginning and an end. It’s what happens between the two that counts.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“One of the best kept secrets is that everyone loves sex.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Others can make the rules, but it’s my decision whether to follow them.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Concerning Existentialism, I’ve heard many persuasive arguments; however with infinity in every direction, including time, what I don’t understand is why I won this crapshoot.”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Sadly the SS United States, the fastest Passenger Ship ever built, now rests in Philadelphia awaiting an unknown fate.”
― Hank Bracker

“From the Bridge” by Captain Hank Bracker
Appreciation!
Appreciation…. One of the nicer things we can get or give is appreciation. It makes what we do worthwhile! It inspires us to work harder, do better and above all, makes us feel better about ourselves. I feel appreciated when someone says thank you…. It’s as simple as that! Of course it’s also nice to receive an award for something I wrote. I recently won two awards for The Exciting Story of Cuba and it made my day! It felt even better to share the moment with my crew because they deserved it and I certainly appreciate them and their contribution, for the effort I got credit for. It’s really very nice when we appreciate people for what they have done for us and remember that it is better to give than receive.
Now here is an existential thought that I’ll run past you. You might have heard the ancient chestnut.… “Does a tree make a noise when it falls in a forest with no one around to hear it?” The answer is debatable, with no definitive answer that everyone accepts. Now let’s take this thought one step further by contemplating life itself. Is there really anything, if there is no one to appreciate it? Could this account for our existence? Do we really have to exist at this time and place, within this sphere of infinity, to appreciate everything we are aware of including the universe? To me it’s an interesting thought, since philosophically “I am!” More interesting is that so are you and everyone else. Without us, would there be universe? And if so, would it make any difference, because there would be no one to know. What makes the difference is that we are here and we know that we are here! Therefore, we can appreciate it!
I’m not a philosopher. I’m really just another “id” that is contemplating my existence, but what I want to impart is the importance of sharing this existence with others by appreciating them. The English poet John Donne said, “No man is an Island.” I guess the original content is found in prose, not poetry; however it’s the thought that counts. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytical theory of personality states that, “The id is the personality component made up of unconscious psychic energy that works to satisfy basic urges, needs and desires.” Now the way I see it, is that the reason that we are here is to appreciate each other and our wondrous surroundings. I might even take things a step further by getting religion into the mix. If we are made in our creator’s image, could that mean that our creator, like us, desires the appreciation of his creation and we are here to appreciate what he, or she, has created?
The way we as a people are polarized causes me to wonder, if we are not all acting like a bunch of spoiled brats. Has our generation been so spoiled that we all insist on getting things our way, without understanding that we are interdependent. Seeing as how we all inhabit this one planet, and that everything we possess, need, aspire to and love, is right here on this rock floating in space; we should take stock and care for each other and, above all, appreciate what we have, as well as each other.
So much from me…. I’ve been busy trying to get Suppressed I Rise – Revised Edition and Seawater One…. Going To Sea!, published before the holidays. It’s been a long time in coming, but I’m hoping that with just a little extra effort, these books will be available at your favorite book dealer in time to find a place under your Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush. That’s right! Just look at your calendar and you’ll see its October and that the holidays are almost here again!
Take care, appreciate each other and have a good week. It’s later than you think….”
― Hank Bracker

“Leif Ericson discovered Baffin Island, Labrador and Newfoundland, some 500 years before Columbus discovered America. Ericson sailed south along the Eastern Coast of America as far as Maine and perhaps beyond.” Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“Remember that on October 1, 2015, the American Container Ship El Faro with 5 graduates of Maine Maritime Academy was lost at sea." Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“From the Bridge” by Captain Hank Bracker
The Hurricane of 1502
In the time before hurricanes were understood or modern methods of detection and tracking were available, people were frequently caught off guard by these monstrous storms. One of these times was on June 29, 1502. What had started as another normal day in the Caribbean turned into the devastation of a fleet of 30 ships, preparing to sail back to Spain laden with gold and other treasures from the New World. Without the benefit of a National Weather Service, mariners had to rely on their own knowledge and understanding of atmospheric conditions and the sea. Sensing that one of these storms was approaching, Columbus sought shelter for his ships near the Capitol city of Santo Domingo along the southern coast of Hispaniola, now known as the Dominican Republic. The following is taken from page 61 of the author’s award winning book, The Exciting Story of Cuba.
“Columbus was aware of dangerous weather indicators that were frequently a threat in the Caribbean during the summer months. Although the barometer had not yet been invented, there were definitely other telltale signs of an approaching hurricane.
Had the governor listened to Columbus’ advice and given him some leeway, he could have saved the convoy that was being readied for a return trans-Atlantic crossing. Instead, the new inexperienced governor ordered the fleet of over 30 caravels, laden, heavy with gold, to set sail for Spain without delay. As a result, it is estimated that 20 of these ships were sunk by this violent storm, nine ran aground and only the Aguja, which coincidently carried Columbus’ gold, survived and made it back to Spain safely. The ferocity of the storm claimed the lives of five hundred souls, including that of the former governor Francisco de Bobadilla.
Many of the caravels that sank during this hurricane were ships that were part of the same convoy that Ovando had traveled with from Spain to the West Indies. However he felt about this tragedy, which could have been prevented, he continued as the third Governor of the Indies until 1509, and became known for his brutal treatment of the Taíno Indians.
Columbus’ ships fared somewhat better in that terrible storm, and survived with only minor damage. Heaving in their anchors, Columbus’ small fleet of ships left Hispaniola to explore the western side of the Caribbean.”
Hurricanes and Typhoons, remain the most powerful and dangerous storms on our planet. Hurricane Matthew that is now raking the eastern coastline of Florida is no exception. Perhaps the climate change that we are experiencing has intensified these storms and perhaps we should be doing more to stabilize our atmosphere but Earth is our home and the only place where proven life exists. Perhaps the conclusion to this is that we should take the warning signs more seriously and be proactive in protecting our environment! This is not a political issue and will affect us, our children and grandchildren for centuries!”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“Portland, Maine was the site of one of the northernmost battles of the Civil War.”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“Fidel Castro's justice, while seeking refuge with his rebel troops in the Sierra Maestra mountains, was harsh and the penalty for violating some of his rules was death.” See page 286, "The Exciting Story of Cuba”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“Stand by your own honorable convictions before the putrid stench of others permanently stains you.”
― Captain Hank Bracker

“President Kennedy stocked up on Cuban Cigars just before signing the embargo.”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“The first stacked dolls better known as Russian Nesting Dolls, matryoshka dolls or Babushka Dolls, were first made in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin. Much of the artistry is in the painting of the usual 5 dolls, although the world record is 51 dolls. Each doll, which when opened reveals a smaller doll of the same type inside ending with the smallest innermost doll, which is considered the baby doll and is carved from a single piece of wood. Frequently these dolls are of a woman, dressed in a full length traditional Russian peasant dress called a sarafan.
When I served with the Military Intelligence Corps of the U.S.Army, the concept of onion skins was a similar metaphor used to denote that we were always encouraged to look beyond the obvious. That it was essential to delve deeper into a subject, so as to arrive at the essence of the situation or matter.
This is the same principle I employed in writing my award winning book, The Exciting Story of Cuba. Although it can be considered a history book, it is actually a book comprised of many stories or vignettes that when woven together give the reader a view into the inner workings of the Island Nation, just 90 miles south of Key West.
The early 1950’s are an example of this. At that time President Batista was hailed a champion of business interests and considered this a direct endorsement of his régime. Sugar prices remained high during this period and Cuba enjoyed some of its best years agriculturally. For those at the top of the ladder, the Cuban economy flourished! However, it was during this same period that the people lower on the economic ladder struggled. A populist movement was started, resulting in a number of rebel bands to challenge the entrenched regime, including the followers of autocrats such as Fidel and Raul Castro.
Castro’s M 26 7 militia had a reputation of indiscriminately placing bombs, one of which blew a young woman to pieces in the once-grand theater, “Teatro America.” A farmer, who failed to cooperate with Batista’s army, was locked into his home with his wife and his daughter, which was then set on fire killing them all. What had been a corrupt but peaceful government, quickly turned into a war zone. Despite of Batista’s constitutional abuses and his alliance with the Mafia, the years under his régime were still the most prosperous ones in Cuba’s history. Of course most of the money went to those at the top of the economic ladder and on the lower end of the scale a house maid was lucky to make $25 to $30 a month.”
― Hank Bracker

“I want to put you all at ease. We will tolerate no guerrillas in the casinos or the swimming pools!” Fulgencio Batista as Dictator of Cuba, page 228 “The Exciting Story of Cuba.”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past

“In the early 1900’s, the beautiful movie star Tina Modotti appeared in several operas, plays and silent movies, one of which was The Tiger’s Coat, a clip of which can still be viewed on “YouTube.” Page 153, The Exciting Story of Cuba by Captain Hank Bracker”
― Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba: Understanding Cuba's Present by Knowing Its Past