Frank Morris and Stanley Nelson

A black man killed, burned to death in his shoe shop in 1964 by the KKK and a white man from the town where he died. If you haven’t heard of either, read the link. There is so much to learn from these men and their stories , and the little essays I write can’t do the job for you. In a nutshell here is what happened:
Frank Morris (wearing hat in photo) was a black shoe repairman living and working in Ferriday Louisiana and was killed in a fire started by KKK members. He was burned out because he had white patrons who respected him. The investigations at the time went nowhere and became a “cold case”. Stanley Nelson, editor of the small town weekly the Concordia Sentinel broke the story in January. The story? That the KKK member that was part of the gang that started the fire was alive and never charged with the crime.
Two heroes uncovered here: Frank Morris for being a black man in the South and daring to have white customers. A man of high principles, a father, husband, church goer. A threat to the bigots of the times; Stanley Morris for being a white man having the courage to pursue the story in the community where the killing occurred.
This is what courage and a free press is all about. If you get a minute, go to the Sentinel website and send Stanley a note of appreciation for his courage to face the community, the families and the killers and standing up. But don’t ever forget that there are two heroes here. Frank Morris and Stanley Nelson. Hey Obama, how about Freedom medals for these Americans?
Image (Morris): http://www.cnycentral.com/news/photos.aspx?id=566371
Image (Nelson): http://blogs.clarionledger.com/jmitchell/files/2011/01/nelson_stanleyBW_150.jpg
Background information at the Concordia Sentinel: http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?category=9

Got Guilt?

Well, there I was, sitting at the kitchen table looking out the two picture windows at dozens of birds feeding, several squirrels eating leftover seeds and chasing each other, and two lazy dogs asleep in the sun. Supper was ready to go. All was right with the world. Except.
I have learned to be wary of the word - - but - - or - -except - - or - - unless - - and other such qualifiers. They often are placed to either refute what just was said such as “All prisoners will be released - -Except - - you” or dramatically change the direction of the conversation such as “Of course you can go out for a couple of beers with the boys - - but - - don’t expect me to be here when you get back.”* So when the word “except” creeps into a story it usually signals a problem. And indeed there was a problem on that otherwise calm and beautiful afternoon.
Guilt. Just plain GUILT! Crap! Here I am retired, sort of. Working, sometimes. Playing, sometimes. So why should I feel guilty for sitting on my ass and enjoying the birds? Simple answer is “I shouldn’t.” That intellectual approach is really useless in this instance. And I think I know why. My mother was a lapsed Catholic who always felt guilty about it and that probably changed her genes thus giving me some “guilty” genes. I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood with Jewish mothers always somewhere nearby making me and my friends feel guilty about something all the time. “Well, I waited for you boys to come here after school for a snack. I guess you went to (fill in the name) instead. Sigh” or some such thing.
And at least two other guilt producing circumstances: Sally works hard all day and I don’t, and I was born with a penis (making me a male and thus guilty by birth.) Well screw guilt. I am going to go have a sit and a read. Right after I plant the potatoes and finish the dishes.

*(Let the record show this phrase doesn't relate to any current relationships.)

Image: http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u506/guilt_got-guilt-button.jpg

Islamic Revolution: A Lie for the People

Ask any young Persian and you most likely will hear the same thing: Protest at your Peril. Killings, torture, long jail terms, severe beatings and rapes all are used by the Iranian Government on its own citizens to keep them from expressing themselves in public. Peoples Revolution my ass. The radical Islamists in power are as corrupt and morally bankrupt as any dictator has ever been.
Praising the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt as “a triumph of popular support for Islam in the Arab world” the leaders in Iran now deny their own citizens the same right to protest. If there was ever a time to put pressure on the Fundamentalist Islamists it is now, when the peaceful protesters from Egypt and Tunisia set the standard.
Mohammed, blessed be his name, would be ashamed. And pissed off too. Wouldn’t it be really cool if Jesus and Mohammed got together and put a stop to the insanity of killing, raping and maiming in their names? Don’t hold your breath. This is something we have to do for ourselves. Time for the President to grow some balls.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/world/middleeast/15iran.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
Image: http://www.dipity.com

Cynical? Just Look in Their Eyes.

Heard a piece on NPR coming home tonight about the impact of the Egyptian uprising on the rest of the world. I thought “Yeah, I know. More uprisings and KABOOM, up goes the Middle East.” Not so said the voice of reason. This was a peaceful operation from start to (current) finish. No bombers blowing themselves up. No riot police storming the crowds and spraying bullets all over the place. Just hundreds of thousands of mostly young people standing around and demanding an end to tyranny. Then it hit me. Young people. Lifetimes ahead. Optimism in the face of the “Pharaoh.” And it may spread in the weeks and months ahead to many other countries. Hell, I thought, we started that way ourselves.
So I am forced to take off my cynic’s hat for a few moments and see through the eyes of the youth of Egypt. And I like what I see. But, and there is always a “but” for a cynic, there are still dangerous days ahead, and there are still eighty million Egyptians to feed and get work for, and there is still an Islamic presence that is a wild card.
Still ----- What the Hell ------ go for it Woody. Right now it looks good and hopeful. And I am hopeful for them.
Still - - - - -
Image: www. onemillionpeacesigns.blogspot.com