Today is my son’s birthday.  He is 36…and I am so proud of him.

Thirty-six years ago today…Aaron’s Mom and Dad…were excited beyond belief!

I fed him his first bottle and he had on a little blue hat.

When Aaron was very young, his Mom was at work, and I was with him at home.  I asked him if he could keep a secret…and he assured me that he could.  I then proceeded to tell him that Momie was going to receive a delivery of live flowers, that she loves, tomorrow…and that he must not tell her until they arrived.  He again assured me that our secret was safe with him.

That evening, while I was at work, Aaron asked his Mom if she liked live flowers.  She replied that indeed she did.  He then proceeded to tell her that tomorrow she was going to get a surprise!

The Nurse in charge of the Nursery at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois said that he was a baby with a lot of character…she was so right!

There are so many things about Aaron that I like, it is difficult to name just a few.

He is a natural artist.

He is a photographer.

He is a leader of men and women and his maturity in handling problems and challenges that he encounters is something to behold.

Aaron has faced requirements and hurdles in his employment that I do not think that I faced throughout my carer.

I see myself in Aaron…I see my Dad and his Grandfather in him…and I see the single-mindedness and practicality of his dear Mom and my sweet wife.

His uncle Brock and he…look like brothers.

Springfield, Ohio “69”

When I was much younger I often heard men and women speak about their reliance, upon their grown children,  and the  support and encouragement  that they received from them…I now know what they were speaking of…when I look at my first born…#36…Aaron David Brooks.

And…it is a neat trick having a son that is 36…when you are only 42…yourself. 🙂

During the past few weeks we have witnessed, almost daily, new accusations of sexual harassment and rape…coming forward from many women…regarding powerful men in both the entertainment and political realms.

The Twitter and Facebook title, #Me Too, identifies women who have been sexual harassed, often many years ago.

I think that the sexual harassment of women begins with objectifying them.

To believe that a person…a fellow human being…exists for your personal gratification…is to de-humanize the person being harassed.

I would ask, a sexual harasser, how would you feel if another human being required you to undress and then subject you to their physical gratification…as the price you had to pay for a job…a carer advancement…the ability to continue to work and support your family…and the power broker who is abusing you…only sees you as a object of sexual pleasure?

To extrapolate on that idea further.  What if your education and your work experience and your good ideas that would benefit the organization…were simply not considered…until you de-humanize yourself and subject yourself to being treated as an inanimate object…devoid of feeling…other than the perverted abusers projected fantasies?

Men…what if you were being abused…as the price of admission to the workplace…or the continuation thereof…and you have illness in your family and your are battling debt of depression or your own devastating medical diagnosis…and the person who has power over your future…sees you as having the value of a piece of furniture?

How would sexual harassment and misogyny be if you were; ‘darling’ or ‘honey’ or your worth portrayed by a ‘wolf whistle?’

Would that be alright?

Would you feel complimented if women…looked you up one side and down the other and mentally undressed you with their eyes?

Would you feel empowered?

Would you be at the ready for love making…when it was required for you…to have money for the light bill and the mortgage and some groceries?

How would you feel if you had the required work experience and the required education and you had demonstrated flawless dedication to your chosen profession…and you saw a man get the job that had less work experience and less education and virtually no dedication to the profession…but he was friends with the boss…and they golfed together…and he was a good old boy…’a hale fellow…well met?’

My Mom raised me.

I witnessed men speak to her in a harassing fashion.

Before I retired as Superintendent of Building Services at Southern Illinois University, I had promoted five women to the highest rank, other than management, in our organization.  There were eight of these positions and five of them were filled by extremely qualified women.

When I retired…I recommended two of the five women, that were on my staff, to be promoted to the Superintendent and Custodial Supervisor of the organization.

These are the two management, and the highest positions in the organization.

I applauded the women that have had the courage to identify their harassers.

The veil of darkness that has covered these powerful men’s misogyny…is being lifted.

It is not alright for our most powerful leader to get a pass…or ‘he was better than the alternative,’ when he bragged about his ability, due to being a celebrity, of being able to sexually harass women!

It is not alright for one of the preeminent actors of our time and a two time Academy Award Winner, to be allowed to sexually harass and abuse countless young men…we can not look the other way!

It is not alright to look the other way and say that he is better than the Democrat… for a Senatorial Candidate who several young women…including two who were under age at the time of the accusation…and who the Candidate admits to knowing the, slightly, of age girls…but not the underage girls… and he retorts…’that he usually got their mother’s permission to date them when he was an Assistant District Attorney in Alabama and the girls in question…were in High School.

It is not alright to bring forward the analogy…that Joseph was older than Mary…and she was the mother of Jesus!

We just had another outstanding visit with Brock and Marcy!

Each time that we are together I can not help but feel like we have always known each other.

Of course, for those of you that do not know the story…we first met Marcy and Brock in August of 2016 at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

Our Dad, and my mother, divorced when I was six years old.  I grew up an only child.

To have the blessing of Brock as my brother and his wonderful wife Marcy and their two outstanding children, Jeb and Jamie…is a special gift in my, now, golden years.

We traveled to John A. Logan College for their annual Craft Fair.  Brock purchased this most excellent pen for my sixtieth birthday.

I like the skull…so much…and it feels so appropriate for my Big 60.

Every time I am with my brother, Brock, I see new similarities that we share…and this time I could not help but notice the familial resemblance between he and my son Aaron.

Jonathon told me that when he went to bed, last night, that he had left Uncle Brock in the basement recliner..and that when he got up this morning…there was Brock in the recliner…and that we brothers had another similar like…that of the basement recliner.

Every time that I talk with Marcy…I want to refer to her as my sister…as she is such a lovely person and so considerate.

As we were traveling through the Craft Fair, a gentleman told Brock and I that he loved our hats…I responded that we were brothers…and he said that he thought so!

Have your ever known someone that you not only felt like that your had lived with your entire life…but also that you wanted to be around…all of the time?

That is Brock and Marcy!

For over 40 years we have had a Volunteer Armed Services.

Most of us have gone about our safe and free lives…making money and talking care of our families and enjoying the fruits of our labors…while many thousands of brave, young men and women have gone to war on our behalf.

Most of us are so removed from the horrors of combat…that it is another world to us.

My father was a WWII Veteran and my stepfather was a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.

This was Dad’s birthday. He was 57. Taken in Tennessee

Mary Jane’s Dad, and his twin brother, were WWII Vets.

When I was in school, my cousin was drafted as was most young men…not long after High School Graduation.

I fully expected to be drafted…and just missed being so, due to the draft being discontinued in the early 1970’s.

The terrible effects of War are indescribable and not fully understood by anyone who has not experienced armed conflict.

The men and women that are returning with PTSD and missing limbs…and the increased rate of suicide in  the Veteran Community…are illustrative of the Hell…that War is.

Have you ever known a Veteran that has seen Conflict?

They do not brag.  They do not want to tell war stories and extoll the virtues of beating back the enemy.

Veterans are humble and quite and often they have a ‘long away stare’ in their eyes…when asked about their service…

Our region, Southern Illinois, has taken to flying WWII Veterans and others to Washington D.C. to visit the war memorials.

When they return…they are greeted with bands playing and scores of grateful people  who are thanking them for their service.

This program is one of the greatest ways that I have witnessed…to thank our precious Veterans.

We are free and comfortable and secure in our wonderful Country…while many of our fellow citizens are in extreme danger and injury and death…to  ensure our freedom.

Several years ago Southern Illinois University decided that it would close it’s doors when Veteran’s Day occurred between Monday – Friday…in honor of our citizens who have and are sacrificing the most for the rest of us.

I was never prouder of our University…than when they chose to recognize our wonderful Veterans!

In Flanders Fields

By: John McCrae

‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That marks our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.’

‘Scholars have long maintained that each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all epochs.  In German, such a spirit is known as ‘Zeitgeist,’ from the German words Zeit, meaning ‘time,’ and Geist, meaning ‘spirit’ or ‘ghost.’   Merriam Webster Dictionary

I have been hearing the term Zeitgeist being spoken, often by newscasters, a lot, of late.

I think that it could be said that part of the spirit of our time is a technological renaissance that is unlike any that has occurred in history.  I recall the invention of the personal computer.

I remember when a person that had a telephone in their automobile…was obviously wealthy and or important.  I recall when people would place a fake telephone antenna on the back of their automobile, when they did not have the money to really have one in their car, in order to appear richer than they really were.

In the the 1990’s, I so desperately wanted to have an internet connection for my IBM Computer that I had purchased at my favorite department store, Famous Barr…in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

My little village, Elkville, Illinois, did not have an internet provider.  When I finally was able to connect, through my telephone modem at 14 kb, I was not only thrilled but willing to wait for minutes for the front page of the New York Times to download…and forget video.

My provider, who was in Murphysboro, Illinois, notified me after the first month, that he was being forced to discontinue his Internet Service as the connection that he was offering me was three times more expensive for him…than he had been originally told that it would be.

My supervisor, who knew how badly that I wanted internet connection, encouraged me to apply for an opening for Superintendent of Building Services at SIU in Edwardsville…as they assuredly had a good internet connection.

I read, recently, that the majority of people believe that there is intelligent life on other planets.

I wonder if we will see, in our life time…the discovery of Aliens from other worlds…and will they deem us…intelligent?

There is a spirit of discovery and learning and wonder…in our current generation…like that I have not seen before.

However, there is a corresponding lack of support for our young people and their higher education and a hardness and a bitterness in our political discourse.

The spirit of our time could be described in one word…fear.

Terror invaded our lives beginning with 9/11.

Since that terrible time…politicians have used that fear to their own advantage and political gain.

Our government began spying on it’s own people…and we said…ok…if it will keep us safe.

We fought a bloody war in Iraq…that left countless thousands dead and maimed and marked with physical and emotional and mental disabilities…that accomplished nothing toward the war on terror.

We are still at war in Afghanistan…and it may never end.

Our current President was elected on a sprit of fear!

In his Inaugural Address he spoke of, ‘American Carnage.’

I watched an instructive movie, Tuesday afternoon, Suburbicon, by the Coen brothers.

In the movie, an African American family moved into an all white suburb, and the ensuing uproar of the ‘good christian white residents’ became more and more caustic and disruptive and dangerous.

The African American families’ neighbors consisted of a husband and father who subsequently had his wife murdered in order to be with her twin sister and the attempt to also have his son murdered, by the mob, in order to cover up his crime.

At the conclusion of the movie the wife’s sister and both of the killers had been murdered and the mastermind evil husband…and the neighbors were seen being interviewed by a local television station saying…that nothing had ever happened like that before the African American family moved into the neighborhood.

Our political leaders would have us seek ‘straw men and women’ to blame for the many ills that befall us.

We are at the crossroads of humanities both short and long journey.

We can give into the spirit of fear or we can choose to unite as a family of human beings on a beautiful planet…that offers us abundant gifts.

Of course…evil has to be sought out and punished…but can we not do that much better by uniting with all of our fellow members of the human family?

‘Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet.  We all breathe the same air.  We all cherish our children’s future.  And we all are mortal.   John F. Kennedy

New York, UNITED STATES: TO GO WITH AFP STORY “Americans mark 9/11 anniversary with new questions on vulnerability” – This 11 September 2001 file photo shows Marcy Borders covered in dust as she takes refuge in an office building after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed in New York. Borders was caught outside on the street as the cloud of smoke and dust enveloped the area. The woman was caught outside on the street as the cloud of smoke and dust enveloped the area. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

We either live at the dawn of the golden age of man and the realization of what God intended for his creation…or we live at the precipice of Armageddon.

‘ One of the key insights that Albert Einstein used to develop his theory of relativity was that light within a vacuum always moves at the same speed.  The particles of light, photons, therefore move at the speed of light.  This is the only speed at which photons move.  (Note: Photons do change speed when they pass through different materials.  This is how refraction occurs.  It’s the photon’s absolute speed in a vacuum that cannot change.)’   ThoughtCo.

Light travels at a 186,282 miles per second.

Our perception of our surroundings is controlled by light.

Of late it has become popular to denigrate and make fun of our free press.

‘Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved.’   Benjamin Franklin

‘The liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state.’   John Adams

‘Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.’   Thomas Jefferson

‘In galvanizing public support for the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson uses the orchestrated Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through Congress just three days later.  Stone is the first reporter to question the credibility of  the government’s account, and he criticizes the mainstream press,  omissions, lack of curiosity and susceptibility to official propaganda in reporting on the event.’   investigating power.org

‘ Isidor Feinstein Stone (December 24, 1907 – June 18, 1989), better known as I.F.Stone, was a politically radical American investigative journalist and writer.’   Wikipedia

The other night I saw the most interesting documentary regarding I.F. Stone and his contribution to investigative journalism.

‘ He is best remembered for the newsletter, I.F. Stone’s Weekly (1953-71), which was ranked in the sixteenth place among ‘The Top 100 Works of Journalism in the United States in the 20th Century’ by New York University’s journalism department in 1999, and in second place among print journalism publications.’   Wikipedia

‘The journalistic professionalism and integrity of I.F. Stone derived from his intellectual willingness to scour and devour public documents, to bury himself in The Congressional Record, to study the transcripts of obscure congressional committee hearings, debates, weekly newsletter-such as contradictions in the line of official policy, examples of bureaucratic mendacity and political obscurantism.  Stone especially sought evidence of the U.S. government’s legalistic incursions against the civil liberties and the civil and political rights of American citizens.’   Wikipedia

Stone, was dedicated to doing the hard and painstaking work that was required to be  a true investigative journalist.

At times,  reporters, who are assigned a Beat…such as the Pentagon or the Capitol, take on the speech patterns and much of the beliefs of the agency that they are covering.

Often reporters are reluctant to share everything that they see and everything that they hear…because of being afraid that they will be ‘shut out’ of further reporting opportunities or due to have been subtly co-opted into the company mindset of the organization that they are charged with reporting on accurately.

You may recall Michael Hastings, June 22, 2010 article for Rolling Stone, where he accurately described some disparaging utterances, made by General Stanley McChrystal who was the head of military operations in Afghanistan, in private in a hotel room in Paris, France, before a speech the General was to make.

The opening for the article by Mr. Hastings was: ‘Stanley McChrystal, Obama’s top commander in Afghanistan, has seized control of the war by never taking his eye off the real enemy: ‘The wimps in the White House.’   The New York Times

Light is vital to our navigation of our world and our appreciation of it.

Real investigative journalism is vital to our continued viability as a free and thriving Country.

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s dogged persistence in discovering the truth of Watergate was beautiful to behold and a bulwark against the powers of dictatorship and reliance on a Strongman to solve our problems.

Nazism and Fascism…we thought were relegated to the dust bin of history…but they are not.

A free people must have those who will take the time and be unafraid of the  ramifications of telling the truth…no matter where the light shines.

I had a minister, many years ago, who regularly admonished me to, Stay on Track.

His analogy was that of the locomotive, who, if we can use our imaginations, wanted to travel though the fields and forests and cities and villages, it can not due to the restriction of the railroad track.

Indeed, success in life or school or relationships are predicated on a  certain determination to follow a path that yields a successful outcome.

A Faith Path is important to negotiating the deep valleys and the high mountains of life.

Often, when I see a person who believes that they have no hope…I know that their life has ‘jumped the track ‘ of a belief that there is a purpose for each of us.

During the many disappointments that I have encountered in my life…I have always had an inner compass that will not allow me to vary to far astray.

I marvel at the dedication of the Jewish Faith.  Their commitment to eating certain foods and to the Sabbath and their commitment to help their fellow man.

My Muslim friend, Alfie, prays seven time a day.

Scripture and prayer and a belief in something greater then you…is an amazing centering and peace bringing enterprise.

A belief and a dedication to the fact that all human life is sacred…and to be cherished.

We members of the human family are here but a moment…what if the secret of happiness is loving and helping others?

UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 11: People seek refuge inside a bank building after the first tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

So many, extremely troubling and violent occurrences are happening in our country and across the world.

They illustrate hopelessness and desperation and chaos.

Terror has a face…and it is evil.

The purpose of terror is to make us all afraid to associate with anyone who is not like we are.

The purpose of terror is to give us a bunker mentality…to purchase more guns…and huddle behind larger walls…to only associate with the good people…but who is that?

‘ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’   Romans 12:21   KJV

‘ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’   John 13:34   KJV

‘ An eye for an Eye will Make the Whole World Blind’    Mohandas Gandhi

I just finished a documentary on Netflix entitled, ’11-8-16.’

In three days…it will be one year since Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States.

I recall having dinner with our good friends, and solid Democrats, a year ago, and their assurance that Trump could not possibly win the Presidency.

During that, enjoyable dinner, I was the lone voice that asserted that Donald Trump could win.

My friend assured me that the ‘Blue Wall’ would prevent him from doing so.

The ‘Blue Wall’ was breached.

There are numerous reasons why we have a President Trump..but the documentary, 11-8-16, covers several very clearly.

For instance, coal mining communities, in Virginia and Kentucky and Southern Illinois…have been devastated by the economic downturn in the need for coal.

I grew up in Eldorado, Illinois…and coal mines are what built the town.  At one time the little town of Eldorado had three movie theaters and was a booming rural town.

When I graduated from high school, in 1975, my aspiration was to become a coal miner, as that was a job that had a good salary and benefits.

My little town did not have a lot of opportunities.

Today, Eldorado, has turned into an Antique Store Meca…as many rural communities have been forced to turn to Antique sales…do the lack of real economic opportunity.

Politicians, from both parties, have lied to us.

They have assured us that they cared for the poor of the land and the middle class…and soon after taking office…have ignored us…until the next election.

There is a profound disenchantment with our politicians, from both parties, due to their habitual lack of even attempting to fulfill their election promises.

And, so, the forgotten of the land…and the disenfranchised and the poor and the needy and those who had no hope….voted for Donald Trump.

The American people were so disillusioned that they voted for someone who blatantly lied to them about his concern for the middle class and the poor and the forgotten…because they had been lied to…so many times before.

President Trump’s history did not illustrate any examples of his care for the middle class…or his empathy with the working people of America…but rather clearly showed the opposite.

Yet, the mist and the fog was just to great…in the trust factor…

for Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.

During my lifetime our Country has lauded and applauded the economic success stories of our land.

Money, equals power and prestige and voice in the critical decisions that comprise our government.

Even, on our current Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University…economic success is the primary criteria in the selection of who sit’s on the Board.

Now, it does not take much examination to concur that most academic scholars…are not rich.

Capitalism drives politics.

Humanitarians are not the first choice for political leaders.

Bigotry and Misogyny and Xenophobia are on display in the current administration…and many who voted for our current President…are not of these awful proclivities.

They, are, however, beyond despair…with the multitude of lies…and broken promises…and forgotten dreams…that have been assured them by both political parties.

You know, we see the world, from where we live.

If I have been treated in a biased and prejudicial manner…I see the world as biased and prejudiced.

If I have never know anything but economic depravation…I perceive the world as a hard and extremely difficult place to survive.

If I am told that I am not the right color…or the accepted religion…or have the preferred economic status…or the correct education…I see the multitude of doors that are being shut in my face…and I look for an alternate leader…or an obscure political philosophy…that explains my situation.

Jonathon and Aaron and I enjoyed some beer at our favorite watering hole.

I have been there so many Saturdays, of late, that the bartender said to me, ‘Dragon’s Milk,’ and I responded in the affirmative.

I do not drink many…but I throughly enjoy the ones that I drink!

I am certain that what I enjoy, much more than the milk of the dragon, is the fellowship with my two, of my three, favorite people in the world…my sons!

I have noticed, over the last several Saturdays, that there is an old couple, about my age, that sits across from us.

Today, the bartender told us that the couple that I have observed, each Saturday, are regulars on Saturday.

I have referenced, before, my new, portable record player, and my growing collection of vinyl LP’s.

Today, Jonathon and I, made our way to Plaza Records, who were having a Mega-Sale.

Each time that I purchase an, old time, vinyl record, I am taken back to my youth when I was a member of the Columbia Record Club.

When I was a member of the Record of the Month Club…I purchased everything from Andy Williams to Boots Randolph, I played the Tenor Saxophone when I was in sixth grade, to Dianna Ross and the Supremes.

I bought my first Long Playing Album in Evansville, Indiana…and it was Good Times…with Sonny and Cher singing.

Today, I obtained; Muddy Waters and Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin and a Christmas Album.

They were gently used and on sale.

The enjoyment of taking the vinyl album out of it’s paper sleeve and placing it on the turntable then…gently applying the needle to the first groove on the disc…is the 1960’s all over again.

There is something calming…and a slower pace…and reminiscent of a less complicated time…that Vinyl gives to the listener.

We are all seeking a calm and more measured and more peaceful approach to the frenetic pace of our daily lives.

We desire a surety…and a reliability and a pleasant memory…that can be saved and perhaps relived.

The slow pace of the 33 an 1/3 Long Play Album…is a good place to start.

There is a comfort in the familiarity of a bar, ‘where everybody knows your name,’…if your know your limits.

Tradition adds meaning to our lives, that so rapidly pass…as the ‘weaver’s shuttle,’ and it is good to remind ourselves, daily, why we are here and where we have come from and where we are going.

‘Everyone in this world is somehow connected.  So why not just be nice to everybody.’   Richard Simmons

‘It’d be nice to be what they call a Renaissance man.’    George Takei