‘The MS St. Louis was a ship [holding] primarily Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939.  So this is after Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, when some folks saw the writing on the wall and thought: ‘I have to get out of here to be safe.’  These were folks who booked tickets; they had applied for visas to the United States, and the ship was going to go from Germany via Cuba to the United States, thereafter. The Cuban government held their documents on the way from Germany to Cuba, which basically stranded everyone on the ship.  Even though these people had applied for visas, the United States would not grant them entry.  The ship afterward went from port to port in Europe [dropping off the passengers].’

‘Approximately half of these refugees [among the 620 who were returned to continental Europe] ended up being murdered by the Nazi death machine over the course of the war.’   Russel Neiss   The Atlantic

‘The Vietnam War saw the highest proportion of blacks ever to serve in an American war.  During the height of U.S. involvement, 1965-69, blacks, who formed 11 percent of the American population, made up 12.6 percent of the soldiers in Vietnam.  The majority of these were in the infantry, and although authorities differ on the figures, the percentage of black combat fatalities in that period was a staggering 14.9 percent..’   John Sibley Butler   Modern American Poetry

I watched the Nightly News with Walter Cronkite…nightly…when I was in grammar school and high school  There was a running death toll…every night…and it was surreal.

9/11, devastated our Nation.

We went to war in Afghanistan…and sought Osama bin Laden…he was the mastermind of the attack…and our best intelligence told us that he was hiding in there.

After that…we went to war…to finish the job…that was not finished by President Bush…senior.

As President Bush…junior…said…’Saddam Hussein tried to kill my father.’

We found Saddam…we did not find Osama.

I worked with several young men…who suffered with PTSD…from the War in Iraq.

Now, we face an imminent threat…that if the wrong decision is made…could yield the most terrible carnage and death…in modern history.

The concern…is world wide…if a rash decision…or a petulant or uninformed or unstable decision is made.

‘During the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively.  The United States had dropped the bombs with the consent of he United Kingdom as outlined in the Quebec Agreement.  The two bombings, which killed at least 129,000 people, remain the only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history.’   Wikipedia

‘President Donald Trump said he wanted what amounted to a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal during a gathering this past summer of the nation’s highest-ranking national security leaders, according to three officials who are in the room.’   NBC News

‘The July 20 meeting was described as a lengthy and sometimes tense review of worldwide U.S. forces and operations.  it was soon after the meeting broke up that officials who remained behind heard Tillerson say that Trump is a ‘moron.’  NBC News

Republican Sen. Bob Corker runs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is widely seen as a moderate and sober voice on national security issues, and has won the respect of both Democrats and Republicans for his handling of thorny issues like Iran and Russia.’

‘He is now warning that President Donald Trump is setting the US on a potential ‘path to World War III.’     Vox

‘First they came for the Communist

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the Trade Unionist

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Trade Unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me,

First They Came – Pastor Martin Niemoller

Is the only news…that is true…the news that our President tells us?

‘The 39 Steps is a 1935 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll.  Very loosely based on the 1915 adventure novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan, the film is about an everyman civilian in London, Richard Hannay, who becomes caught up in preventing an organization of spies called the 39 Steps form stealing British military secrets.  After being mistakenly accused of the murder of a counter-espionage agent, Hannay goes on the run to Scotland with an attractive woman in the hopes of stopping the spy ring and clearing his name.’    Wikipedia

Thirty-nine years ago today I was hired as a Building Service Worker I at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Prior to my SIU hiring…I had worked in a factory and in a furniture store and selling World Book Encyclopedias, door to door, and in a janitorial service, and laying carpet.

Carpet laying was probably my favorite, as I was working with my good friend, Brent.

I had only been married, for a few months, when I lost my job with the janitorial service.

Mary Jane admonished me to go to Personnel Services, which is what it was called at the time, and take a civil service exam for Building Services.

I asked her, angrily…and somewhat hurt, if that is all that she thought that I was capable of…being a janitor?

She responded, very calmly and confidently, that I may not understand what a good job Housekeeping was.

And, so, I went…reluctantly.

I met with an African American Counselor at Personnel…that asked me if I really needed a job and if I would feel that custodial services was beneath me?

I responded that I desperately needed a job and that I was newly married and that I had a house payment.

She stared out of her window…for what seemed to me several minutes…and then looked at me again and told me that I should answer each essay question, of which the entire exam was comprised of, completely and note at the bottom of the question to write, ‘see back’, and continue my answer on the back of the page.

I did what my Counselor suggested.

Personnel, also told me that there were over 700 persons competing for the position of BSWI.

I took the exam and thought little more about it…there were over 700 on the list.

Two weeks later I received a note, in the mail from SIU Personnel, that informed me that due to my test score of 100,  I was eligible for an interview for the position of Building Service Worker I.

I called George O’Hara, the Superintendent of Building Services, and set up an interview for the next day.

The interview…was going well…Mr. O’Hara was very nice to me and I had the distinct impression…that he might hire me.

Toward the conclusion of the interview, Mr. O’Hara, said that he had several 5 to 1 work shifts, that needed to be filled , and one 11 to 7 shift, that was vacant.

I, immediately thought that I would say that I was interested in the 5-1 shifts…as I was sure that no one would want a 5am starting time.

When I announced my brilliant answer of 5am to 1pm…Mr. O’Hara’s face fell…and he closed up his interview notebook…and he said that only the most senior staff were eligible for the most desirable work shifts…on days.

I coughed and sputtered and extolled… that there was only one thing that I enjoyed more than getting up early to go to work…and that was working in the evening.

George laughed…a month later…I was hired.

So, what about the 39 Steps?

Each year, since my fortuitous hiring…39 years ago…I have made Steps…that have changed who I am.

I watched my wonderful boys…be born…and grow…into men that I am extremely proud of.

I have had my wonderful wife…stand by me…through the difficult times…and the joys of our life together.

My opinions and my beliefs…have been vastly broadened and my acceptance of all people…has never been greater.

I have been, blessed, to be a part of, many members of the disabled community hired into a career position…that changed their lives.

I have witnessed so many of my colleagues rise up thorough the ranks of the University, my friend, Elizabeth…being a great example.

I have seen those, hired…and promoted…, that perhaps would not have been…because they were evaluated on their ability…and not their skin color.

I have had great leaders…as my friend.

I have been a recipient of the opportunity that SIU affords.

I was 20…when I was hired…I will be 60…in two weeks.

I would like to do another 40!

It has been enlightening…it has been fun!

I  was able to shoot several close-ups of Deer…right on the SIU Campus…behind the Student Center.

I often ponder…what a privilege it is to be so close to deer and other wildlife…and their seeming acceptance of me as part of their ecosystem?

I think that the happiness of human life is in direct proportion to the happiness of wildlife and nature.

‘Ashes to ashes…dust to dust.’

I witnessed a miracle…

In fact…I witnessed the same miracle…many times…over numerous years…among hundreds of people.

When I first saw the miracle…I could not believe what I was seeing!

My life experience before the Miracle had been that the people that I knew and interacted with…for the most part did not change from year to year.

During my formative years…I and my friends, pretty much stayed within our group…be it school…or church…or family…and did not think, often, of others that were not in our group.

When I began working at SIU, 39 years ago tomorrow…and also on a Tuesday, I soon became acquainted with my co-workers…of whom many were former coal miners and farmers and railroad workers and factory workers.

I, soon, was accepted as the ‘Lad’ in the group…and by and large treated nicely.  For some time I was the youngest person in the department.

But, back to the Miracle…

I observed, the first evening that I worked on October 10th, 1978, that many of my fellow student custodial crew were international young people, and one was from Africa and one was from Asia and there was a Japanese staff member and a student from Turkey.

My Supervisor, Don, was a native Southern Illinoisan, and he liked all of his students and they liked him.

When I became a custodial crew supervisor…I had students from Nigeria and Mexico and Japan and Iran and Mexico and Malaysia.

They told me about their countries…and I had an education that I never dreamed that I would be exposed to.

Time after time…I marveled at the acceptance and love and caring that my full time staff exhibited for their international students and their African American students.

Our Housekeeping organization was large.

We had over 30 Custodial Crews with over two hundred students on our staff.

Invariably…the full time staff of former coal miners and farmers and railroad workers and factory workers…took their international students and their African American student staff…under their wings.

Many of the Crew Leaders brought their students food nightly and they invited them to their homes for holidays and they cared for them and they loved them and race and religion and country of origin…had no relevance or barrier.

Everyone loves Michael Jordan and Ernie Banks and Beyonce and often…former President Barrack Obama.

My friend, Gerald, worked in the Parts Department of a local car dealership…before he came to SIU.

Gerald, began the Thanksgiving Dinner for our student custodial staff…and he loved the students and he rejoiced in their obvious happiness…at the feast!

We were one family in Building Services.

We knew each other…our happy times and our struggles…and our shared humanity…and we cared for each other…and we loved each other.

Working together and breaking bread together and learning about each other and caring about each other…creates understanding….and family.

Jonathon and I were talking, yesterday morning, regarding why so many members of the human family…can not…or will not open their mind or at least listen to an opinion that is different than theirs.

Each of us are reared with certain biases and prejudices…that are taught to us by the people that we interact with.

Often, our reality, is what our mothers and fathers have told us and our limited exposure to the wider world.

Mary Jane, often tells of her mother mentioning to her that the owners of a clothing store, in DuQuoin, Illinois, were dirty.  When she and her mother went into the store to shop…she told her mom…they do not look dirty to me.  Her mother told her to be quiet…and they exited the store quickly.

Two African American Cheerleaders, for the Football team, at SIU…took a knee during the national anthem…recently.

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)

They have been excoriated by many…and the worst of comments have been made…without giving, even limited inquiry, as to why they felt the need to do what they did?

Many have called them cowards.

I would have to disagree with that assertion…as it takes courage to speak out or go against the majority.

The young women explained that they were not protesting the flag or the anthem…but that they were in support of Black Lives Matter.

If you were an African American…you might understand…but what is wrong with really listening and contemplating…their life experience and their views?

Why do so many people want to diminish those who are not like them?

Why do we seek to compare ourselves to others who we think are lesser than us…or who have a different faith than we do.

Why is the color of our skin important?

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)

When a foreigner engages in terror…we must close our borders…we must restrict entire races and religions…from entering our country.

When a white man kills 58 people and injures nearly 500…we just do not know the answer…and we are admonished to pray for the families.

When the hurricane devastated Puerto Rico…our President contrasted it to Katrina’s large number of deaths…and noted that there were only sixteen dead in Puerto Rico.

He spoke of the Budget being, ‘Out of Whack’, due to the devastation and destruction.

Perhaps we can just throw paper towels at the disparity and the prejudice and the bias…ingrained in our Country…for its’ own citizens.

I believe that African Americans love their country…as do Puerto Ricans…as do Muslims…as do Jews…they just want to be loved back.

‘A Brooks Tale’

It was the Christmas Holidays.

I loved being off school for over a week!  It was, first of all fun, to experience Christmas…with our aluminum Christmas tree…and the red balls that hung on it…but alas…no blue light to illuminate it.

My favorite Christmas toy was Laughing Santa.  He was a jolly, little, stuffed fellow…with a crank on his back, that when turned, the most joyful sound of uproarious laughing…emitted…from Santa’s belly.

I had received Santa in my hometown of Chicago…in happier times.  We moved from Chicago to Eldorado, Illinois…when I was five years old.  Not long after that…Mom and Dad divorced.

We had roast beef for Christmas…it was Mom’s speciality.  Also, coffee cake…which was to die for…as my buddy Ron would say.

My aunt Wanda and my cousins, Billy and Brenda, were there.  I liked Brenda…she was my babysitter.  And, my aunt Guelda, who I swear was Jewish, and Vema, who I did not like, and her husband Ed.

I had asked for a Polaroid camera, called a Big Swinger…as opposed to the Swinger, and what do you think happened…a Christmas Miracle…I received the Big Swinger!

I took a lot of Polaroid photos.  They were a big hit with the Christmas crowd.

The day after Christmas, I caught my neighbor Lanny for a ride into town…to see a movie.

Lanny was a few years older than me and he could drive and he could drink.

One time,

Lanny told me that he would introduce me to a girl, who was his age, and that, ‘she gives’…I wondered if he meant Green Stamps?

On the way to the Orpheum…I noticed a small bottle that was sitting next to Lanny and I, in the front seat of his car.  It had on the label, Peppermint Schnapps.

I asked Lanny if I could have a drink…and he said drink up…but be careful…as that stuff will, ‘knock you on your butt.’

I drank a long swig of the delicious elixir…it was heavenly…and it made me cough.

Next to the bottle of Schnapps was a bottle of vodka.  I took a couple of full drinks of that bottle…as well.

Lanny, pulled up to the front of the Orpheum…and he asked if I was alright…I said that I was never better…and I exited his car and felt like I was walking over railroad ties.

Earlier, in the Holiday Season, I had attended a Christmas showing of Mary Poppins at the Orpheum Theatre.

After the Holiday Performance…the Lions’ Club had the most magnificent baskets for each of us…that were full of candy and fruit and small gifts.

I have admired the Lions’ Club ever since.

Mom, extolled…yea commanded…that no one visit her from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day.  Her reason was that she needed the time to prepare for Christmas.

When I first heard her impassioned plea…I thought that there must be a tremendous workload in the preparation for Christmas Day.

I, could not help but notice that the primary preparation was mental pondering.  Mom took a nap each afternoon…and often prior to the nap…she would tell me what was ahead…in preparation for the big day.

It entailed, house cleaning, of which I assisted, and the preparation of the Holiday Feast, and the important, construction of the aluminum Christmas Tree.

Aluminum Christmas Trees…were very popular in the 60’s.

We did not celebrate Thanksgiving…it was the first day for the ultimate preparation…for Christmas!

One Christmas Season…Mom announced that, ‘This Christmas…we are going out for dinner!’

Earl, my stepfather, replied that, ‘June…there will not be any restaurants open on Christmas Day.’

Mom announced, ‘Two Tony’s…will surely be open…and that is where we will go for Christmas Dinner.’

On Christmas Day…we drove to both of the Two Tonys’ Smorgasbords that were in our region…they were closed.

We drove all over; Eldorado, and Harrisburg, and West Frankfort…and more…no restaurant was open.

We finally found…Poor Boy’s Market in Harrisburg…open…at about 6:00 P:M:.

We purchased some hamburger and buns.

Our Christmas Dinner was Hamburgers and french fries…and it was good.

This past Sunday, a madman, murdered 58 people who were attending a Country Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Four hundreds and eighty nine people were injured, out of a crowd of over twenty two thousand that were attending the last night of the Festival.

‘Authorities say the 64-year-old gunman, Stephen Paddock, fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino at a crowd attending a music festival below.  When police entered his hotel room, they discovered Paddock had killed himself.’   CBS This Morning

This massacre has become the new…deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

So, what is the answer?

Many of our political leaders have said…that we must pray for the families of the fallen…

Gun enthusiasts extol the virtue of the second amendment and our right to bear arms.

Many tell us that our right to bear arms…protects us from the evil and criminal…that will purchase guns regardless of what the law is.

‘According to the Congressional Research Service, there are roughly twice as many guns per capita in the United States as there were in 1968: more than 300 million guns in all.  Gun sales have increased in recent years.’   Guns in America, By the Numbers: NPR

I believe in the second amendment.

I own a few guns.

I have a FOID Card.

Imagine…you and your family…attending the Country Music Festival in Las Vegas.  Many of us love Country Music.

I can visualize; Mary Jane and Aaron and Jonathon and I…first hearing what sounds like firecrackers…and thinking that it must be part of the performance.

I can viscerally feel…what it must have been like…to witness…persons at your left and your right and in front of you and behind you…being shot…with a hail or rain of bullets from the sky…and the blood and the fear and the confusion.

I can see the fear in my wife’s eyes and my boys…and feel the terror…in my heart.

We must do something as a nation.

If guns make us safe…we should be the safest nation…on the Globe.

Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, says that there will, likely, be a vote on ‘bump stock’ after Las Vegas Shooting.

The ‘bump stock’ is used to convert a semi-automatic gun into an automatic gun…which are outlawed in the United States.

Australia has outlawed automatic and semi-automatic weapons since, ‘Martin Bryant went on a shooting spree in Tasmania and killed 35 people with a semi-automatic rifle.’   CNN

There have been no mass shootings in Australia…since this law was passed.

‘The lead guitarist of a country music band playing Route 91 Harvest festival, where a gunman murdered 58 people on Sunday night, has said the horrific experience of the attack has changed his views on gun laws in America.’

‘I’ve been a proponent of the [second] amendment my entire life, ‘Caleb Keeter posted on Twitter.  ‘Until the events of last night.  I cannot express how wrong, I was.’      The Guardian

I walked around Campus Lake, today, on the Campus of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

I am still amazed and awestruck…by the natural beauty and wildlife that can be found on the Campus.

I began walking the Campus Lake Path in 1986…or thirty one years ago.  In 86′ I made it around the Path in 36 minutes…now it is nearly an hour for this 60 year old.

Although, since my retirement…I stop and take several photographs.

SIU has been historically renowned for its’ natural beauty.  I can personally attest that I have visited every university campus in Illinois…and SIU is the most beautiful…but…I am somewhat biased.

As the years have gone by, so very quickly, I have learned that nature is a great calming influence…a peaceful interlude…and a healing presence.

Former University President, Delyte Morris, brought trees from around the world to the SIU Campus.  His appreciation of the gift of nature has made the Carbondale Campus…a unique combination of the classroom and the natural environment.

SIU has had a constant appeal to students from urban settings.  The contrast from the hustle and bustle of their homes in the cities…and the idyllic songs of our Campus’ natural environment…is compelling.

In today’s world…we are never out of touch…or truly off duty…or enjoying a movie at the cinema on the weekend.  Email and texting and Facebook and cell phones…have…indeed…kept us in touch…24/7…and we are exhausted and emotionally spent.

How about…unplugging for awhile?  Why not study Philosophy…and then take time to ponder what you have studied…in the midst of the Earth’s wonders?

So often, we are told from our childhood…that we must study hard to obtain a good paying job to ascend the corporate or education ladder to be all that we can be.

But, there is life…and relationships…and children…and love and illness and sorrow and happiness and suffering and faith and doubt…and the lessons that nature can give us.