Although I was born is Chicago, Illinois my family moved back to Southern Illinois when I was five years old.  We moved to Eldorado, Illinois where I attended both Grade School and High School.  My first encounter with Southern Illinois University came when Theatre students came from the Carbondale Campus and performed a Play for our little school…probably about the time I was in first or second grade.  I was awe struck with the performers talent and skill and their beautiful singing.  It must have been a musical.  I determined at that very young age that SIU must be a very special place indeed!

Later it was my good fortune to be employed at SIU in Carbondale.  As I watched many first generation college students have their lives changed by the transforming miracle of higher education…I experienced my life changing as well!

I observed first hand the open door of opportunity to all peoples and all races with equal access to obtain what… not long ago… was only was available to royalty…the rich…and those privileged by birth.

I witnessed many students in  wheel chairs …the deaf…those whose challenges met with only closed doors in society…come through the wide doors of opportunity at Southern Illinois University!

Could it really be true that educational possibility was available to all peoples and not just the wealthy upper class?

Last week we were shocked to hear that our beloved Junior College John A. Logan  was laying off 55 of its’ faculty and staff.  My son has a friend who received a lay off notice after seventeen years of service.  John A. Logan is a nationally recognized Junior College.

Yesterday we were appalled by the news that if the Governor of Illinois’ projected budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st, holds, the Southern Illinois University system’s budget will be cut by:

SIUC – $22.856 million

SIUE – $14.074 million

School of Medicine – $8.799 million

System – $807,000

The budget reductions for next fiscal year come on the heels of an unprecedented “no budget” for this fiscal year that began July 1, 2015.  Yes, there has been no state money for state schools for over eight months…with no end in sight!  Many believe that there will be no state budget prior to the November elections.

Included in the draconian results of Southern Illinois University’s reduced budget for next fiscal year are according to the SIU System Connection:

“-The elimination of 180 faculty, Administrative Professional, and Civil Service Staff-

-Eliminates academic programs, reduces more than 400 classes, and increases time to  graduation-

-Reduces support services for students, particularly underrepresented populations-

-Reduces student employment that helps students pay for their own educational expenses-

-Merge four colleges into two colleges-

-Reduction of hours at Morris Library-the building will be closed up to 28 hours per week, including all day Saturday-”

Recently Chicago State University sent 900 lay off notices…their entire faculty and staff, due to the democratic senate and house not being able to agree on a budget with our republican governor.

Eastern Illinois University laid off 198 staff members in February due to there being no state budget.

Western Illinois University projects at least a lay off of 50 staff due to there being no state budget.

Our democratic House of Representatives is currently on a months’ recess.

Our Governor will escort, Friday, Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz to a Chicago fundraiser honoring the Governor where tickets begin at $500.00 apiece and going up to $40 thousand dollars to be deemed a Gold Sponsor which includes a photo opportunity and  a one year membership in the “Governor’s Council.”

A great blog from Rob Goldstein

According to the SHOAH Resource Center the following definition of  the,”(Sturmabteilung, Storm Troopers), also know as ‘Brown Shirts’ the Nazi Party militia that helped Adolf Hitler rise to power in Germany.”

Wikipedia says that, “The [‘Storm Detachment’] functioned as the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party.  Their primary purposes were providing protection for Nazi rallies and assemblies…”

According to Catlin Cruz of TPM, “Racist and bigoted language has become common place at the rallies, both from Trump supporters and the candidate himself.   But so has violence and degradation against protestors who dare to disagree with the GOP’s heir apparent.  The toxicity seemed to peak Monday night in Las Vegas, where Trump supporters reportedly yelled a Nazi salute and called for a protestor to be set on fire.”

“November 21: Birmingham, Alabama – A Black Lives matter protestor was kicked and pushed as he was forcibly removed from a Trump rally in Birmingham: Trump yelled from the stage ‘Get him the hell out of here.'”

“November 18: Worcester, Massachusetts – Trump mocked a protestor who he considered ‘seriously overweight’ as the protestor was expelled from the rally.  ‘You know it’s amazing, I mentioned food stamps, and that guy who’s seriously overweight went crazy — amazing. Amazing.’  Trump said to cheers.  ‘That’s an amazing sight’.”

When asked if he disavowed the support of David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Donald Trump said that he did not know who Mr. Duke was and would have to do some research before deciding whether or not to accept his support.  However Mr. Trump is on record as indeed knowing who Mr Duke is.

It is yet to be determined whether  Donald Trump truly believes the hate speech that he utters and supports or if it is a political act designed to get him the maximum votes possible from  his supporters.  The more frightening question is the measure of the discontent and social unrest that is manifesting as a strong component of our society.

For many political cycles both primary political parties have been more concerned with pandering to their supporters often narrow political interests in order to get elected.  Once elected big business, Wall Street, lobbyist…money…has controlled the political agenda of the majority of the hacks and sycophants that hold the austere seats of what was once occupied by statesmen.

Now the potentially dangerous situation has arisen where people who have been ignored and forgotten for generations have found a spokesman who speaks to their fears and prejudices.

Rome at one time ruled the world.  Germany’s industrious people blindly followed a charismatic leader who promised a return to greatness and prosperity if they would give him the power to make the hard decisions.

Isn’t it all right to have surveillance of your home and phone and to sacrifice privacy to be safe from terrorism?  Then, is it not needed to accept the misogyny…xenophobia…hate speech and ridicule of anyone who disagrees with the anointed leader who will return us to greatness?

According to Meriam Webster dictionary the definition of Xenophobia is, ” Fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.”

The more that I have been privileged to meet and talk with people who are different from me the more enriched I become.  I wrote in my last post regarding our eternal search for peace and the shortcomings of narrow religious dogma’s role in preventing us in obtaining our goal.  On the other hand faith can aid us tremendously in finding our elusive peace.

The Bible quotes Jesus, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so must you love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  (NIV)

When I became a christian the captivating draw for me was the love and concern that fellow christians showed for me.  My life experience has illustrated time after time that we members of the human family are all seeking meaning in our lives.  Nothing says that you care for a person that comes from a different faith than yourself or a different ethnicity than your genuine desire to learn about them and your interest in their well being.  We all hunger for respect and worth.

The famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “I really do not care how much you know until I know how much your care, about me.”

I traveled with Professor friend of mine who was of the Hindu faith.  What a wonderfully compassionate and sweet gentleman!  I drove him all over Springfield, Illinois in the mission of finding a restaurant where he could be served a vegetarian dinner.

During Mary Jane and my travels to several European countries the concrete fact that always emerges is that people are consistently helpful and kind whatever language, culture, or religion that they are part of.

We visited Tunis, Tunisia soon after the Arab Spring.  One of the kindest tour guides that we have ever met led us through the city.  This man wept when he spoke of his love and appreciation for the United States!

I had the privilege of working with an African American colleague on my leadership staff for several years when I was at Southern Illinois University.  She was one of the wisest women that I have ever known!  She told me once that she thought that I had come from another planet because she had not worked with someone who she could not detect prejudice in.  I was honored and humbled by her sincere comment.

Harsh words that are full of hate…misogyny…xenophobia…speech that marginalizes is frightening and it matters.  Words matter!  Political candidates that cavalierly say destructive comments to the cheers of thousands…is chilling!

We must listen to the easy promises of people who “on the face” seem to have very quick full-proof answers.  We must ask how are they going to accomplish the trite self assured answer they give to solve desperate complex problems?

Have you ever been marginalized?  Have your ever been the person who was left out?  Have your ever been on the outside looking in?  Remember that feeling the next time you see the homeless, the handicapped, the foreigner who has been chased from their home by violence…fear…genocide.

This Sunday morning as we go to our individual churches to worship Christ with our friends and neighbors…speak to the lonely new person who is setting in the back of the sanctuary… who does not have the best clothes…who needs a shave and a haircut…who is quietly watching the religious program…speak to Jesus.