Omertà

Rob Bernshaw at the 1929 Original Wall where St Valentines day massacre occurred
Wed Jan 16 2013

Rob Bernshaw, Columnist, Pincher Creek Voice

One may ask why the title of this column in this day and age of perceived openness and transparency that all governments are touting as the flavor of the day?

Are we so different in  2013 with its political intrigue and party partisanship then what was happening in 1950 and 1951 in the United States of America? (There were special hearings then and special hearings now, that are not necessarily related as to content or reasoning.)

History as the old adage goes always repeats itself. Now whether or not something is learned from history is debatable in most circles. One would think if history repeats itself why is it always repeating the same song expecting different results.

History is continually created even as we speak quietly about what we don’t want others to know about. What kind of secret backroom deals are continually brokered that adversely affect our taxpayer pocket books even at this very moment?

With these secret closed door meetings that can effect change either for the good or to the detriment of society what are the optics of perception at work here? What is that saying about how we are governed by people supposed to be openly representing the best interests of all taxpayers not a select few as the optics of these closed door meetings suggest?

Now let us be perfectly clear here this writer is only pointing out that the history of silence and closed door meetings is not always in the best interest of everyone and the optics of perception are always present in everything we do.

Now onto our history lesson:

On May 3, 1950, Vice President Alben W. Barkley, sitting in his role as President of the United States Senate, cast the tie-breaking vote and the Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce was established. 

~source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Special_Committee_to_Investigate_Crime_in_Interstate_Commerce

Television(TV) and radio is well established in 2013  and in 1950 TV was coming into it own right and was broadcasting to the world stage along with radio stations of the day, special hearings investigating organized crime regarding Interstate Commerce. These hearings were named after Senator Estes Kefauver(spent his dash from July 26, 1903 – August 10, 1963 ) referred to as the Kefauver Hearings.

During 1950 and 1951 These hearings were held in 14 various cities across the United States including Las Vegas Nevada. The 7th of these nationwide hearings was held in the courtroom of the federal building in Las Vegas where this writer had the distinct opportunity to sit in that original courtroom   watching the multimedia presentation of the hearings that were broadcast nationwide with radio and TV of the day.

Mob Museum in Federal Building built 1931 Las Vegas Nevada
taken Sat Jan 12 2013 by R. Bernshaw

In Las Vegas, the hearings were conducted in the courtroom in this very building on November 15, 1950. The courtroom has been recreated to appear as it did back then, a true portal to a time when the Mob “ran the town.” 

~source: http://themobmuseum.org/inside-the-mob-museum/the-building/

Did this writer have to stand and wait in the queue as the rest of the patrons or was there some queue jumping involved? Maybe a little bit of both due to connections made while in Las Vegas?

Now because of the nature of this column and the proceedings taking place this writer will direct you to the t-shirt this writer is wearing in the above photo that will answer all questions regarding the possibility of queue jumping.

If there are any other concerns or further questions that may be raised because of this column please continue to refer to the t-shirt.

As the reader will need to make the necessary observations according to how they perceive what they have read or seen here today. Any similarities to current events is purely coincidental and possibly only in the minds and eyes of the reader.

Rob Bernshaw  Mob Museum courtroom in Historical Federal Building
 Las Vegas Wed Jan 16 2013

Here is a short dissertation taken from the media presentation in the restored courtroom of the federal building in Las Vegas.

The Mafia...FBI director. J. Edgar Hoover downplayed its very existence.
Yet by 1950, organized crime was raking in over 15 billion dollars a year... much of it from illegal gambling.
For the average American organized crime was in its own world very far from Main Street USA. But then...
Kansas City mob boss Charles Binaggio was found murdered at Democratic Party Headquarters. Suddenly, crime and corruption were right in the heart of middle America.
Virgil Petersen of the Chicago Crime Commission shines a spotlight on the connection between criminals and politicians.
Organized crime cannot exist without an alliance between those in control of rackets and those in political authority.
The inner workings of this secret empire were more closely guarded than Fort Knox.
Who would fight back against the racketeers, the criminals, and the corrupt politicians?
In May of 1950, a special Senate Committee was formed to expose and destroy organized crime in
America...led by a fiercely ambitious Senator from Tennessee, Estes Kefauver
The Kefauver Committee would crisscross the country, stopping in courtrooms and hearing rooms in 14 cities, including this very room in Las Vegas(referring to the restored courtroom)
Once the subpoenas started flying, many mobsters went into hiding to avoid testifying
I don’t recall.. I wouldn’t remember...I can’t recall.. I don’t remember... I have no recollection... I don’t recall such a conversation...

The last few lines are composed of famous buzzwords that many people live and swear by in hearings and inquiries throughout the centuries including modern day society.
Question for the audience.

In our present day society have you recently seen or heard any words similar to the ones in the last three lines of the above dissertation? Remember the t-shirt you don’t have to openly answer that question if you so choose.

Remembering that we are all connected in one way or another and that the communities we live in whether big or small are effected and impacted by forces around us at any given moment in time.
After visiting this great museum one comes away with the appreciation that as time passes one realizes all societies go through life with similar trials and tribulations. It is how one deals with them that is the key and maybe looking at the past mistakes and accomplishments we as a modern day society can learn and progress without repeating what has already happened in the past.  We need to also realize that there were bullies then as there are bullies now. There are gangs then as there are gangs now. There are people preying on the weak and helpless then as there are now. This is about similarities in our societies then as there are now and that is why the statement of  history continually repeats itself and obtaining what results?

Literally swearing a blood oath of Omertà was the only way one could join this very secret organization and the only way out was in silence as well but not in a very appealing way to the individual so choosing to leave for whatever reason.

Related links:
http://themobmuseum.org/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/02/las-vegas-opens-new-mob-museum-video/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Special_Committee_to_Investigate_Crime_in_Interstate_Commerce
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omert%C3%A0