CIVIL WAR ONGOING

The Civil War ended almost 150 years ago. The slaves were freed. Persons of color were held to be equal to their white brothers and sisters.

 

Sounded good in theory. Black people continue to be treated poorly, however.

 

In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson was instrumental in the Civil Rights Law being passed. The law was all encompassing. Abuse of blacks was supposedly at an end.

 

2008 saw the election of our first black President. Many thought Obama's election symbolized the race problem had been put to rest. It had not. I suspect the reason many today dislike Obama is because of his color.

 

Something occurred in Crystal Springs, Mississippi recently which supports my premise the Civil War is still with us.

 

Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson reside in Crystal Springs. Both are black. They attend the First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs. They are not formal members. However, they  attend the Church on a regular basis.

 

First Baptist Church is predominately white.

 

Charles and Te'Andrea wanted to get married. They visited the Pastor of what they considered their Church. The marriage date was July 21, 2012. The Pastor booked the Church for them for that date. He also made arrangements for the Church portion of the ceremony. Charles and Te'Andrea sent out invitations inviting friends to their wedding at the First Baptist Church.

 

The day before the wedding, the Pastor spoke with Charles and Te'Andrea. He told them they could not be married in the First Baptist Church the next day. He blamed the congregation. He told Charles and Te'Andrea that the congregation had decided blacks could not be married in the First Baptist church. No blacks. The Pastor further stated that the congregation had told him that if he did marry Charles and Te'Andea In the Church, he would be voted out. A nice way of saying fired. Apparently Baptist ministers serve at the will of the congregation.

 

Would you believe it? in 2012! In a House of God. By people of faith.

 

I have said for years that we continue to fight the Civil War. Blacks have come a long way. A trip they should not have had to make in the first place.

 

The problem of race relations festers. It will not go away.

 

A shame.

 

A shame on the predominately white congregation of the First Baptist Church. A shame on the Pastor who did not stand and do the right thing.. A shame on the South generally that never  forgets nor wants to move on. A shame on us all that the issue of race relations is still with us. 

FORE FATHER TO THREE PRESIDENTS AND TWO ACTORS

The story of the Mayflower is known to all.

 

The vessel left England in 1620 for the new land and a new life. One of the passengers was John Holland. History spells he name two ways. Holland and Howland. I shall refer to him as Holland.

 

Holland was 14 years old at the time.

 

The Mayflower was not that large a boat. Large boats were not yet in vogue. The Mayflower was a mere 100 feet long. The wind powered the Mayflower by filling its sails.

 

At one point, the Mayflower engaged strong north Atlantic winter gales. Ferocious storms. Holland was thrown overboard during one of the storms. As he was going over, he grabbed some lose hanging sail ropes. He held onto them for dear life. Eventually he was able to pull himself up and back onto the Mayflower.

 

Holland had looked death in the face and survived.

 

Watching him almost meet his Maker was Elizabeth Tilley. Age 12.  At some time after the Mayflower reached Plymouth Rock, Holland and Tilley married.

 

The Hollands had 10 children. The 10 children produced for the Hollands 82 grandchildren. From that point, the descendants multiplied ad infinitum. They became too numerous to count.

 

The Holland descendants include three Presidents and two actors.  Presidents  Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the two Bushes. The actors Humphrey Bogart and Alec Baldwin.

 

A thoughtful pause. If Holland had not saved himself when he fell overboard, the three Presidents named would not have been. There would be no Social Security today. The Iraqi War would not have occurred. Casablanca might not have been the successful movie it is. 30 Rock might not be the Emmy award winner it is.

 

Holland did save himself and propagate. His blood continued to propagate over the years resulting in the Presidents and actors named. All because he did not die that fateful day.

 

Holland lived a long time. Historians do not know the exact age of his death. They describe it as in excess of 80 years.

 

Holland had a distinction in death. He was the last Plymouth Rock male from the original Mayflower to die. He who almost passed on at 14 outlived them all.

COCKFIGHTING

Cockfighting is or has been the sport of the ancients, Presidents and the common man. Yes, even today it is still considered a sport. Though an illegal one. To train roosters for two years to be killers. To train them to hate other roosters. To alter their natural spurs to add on razor sharp metal ones. To generally permit two roosters to fight to the death.

 

Cockfighting is referred to as a blood sport because of the preceding.

 

Cockfighting had its beginnings in ancient times. Around 400-500 B.C. It was considered a sport. The Chinese, Persians and Greeks were the first to become involved. The rooster owners were sportsman and trainers. The spectators those who paid a price to watch the fight and gambled on its outcome.

 

Three of the greatest Presidents of the United States participated in and enjoyed the sport. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.

 

Down through the years however, cockfighting has become illegal. Very illegal. Today every state in the United States bars cockfighting. Persons participating are not looked upon favorably. Jail is a predictable punishment.

 

Two reasons have lead to cockfighting becoming illegal. Gambling and animal cruelty. No question each is a signmificangt part of the activity.

 

Bush 2 signed a federal law in 2007 barring cockfighting on the national level and imposing federal punishments to what has become less and less of a sport and more of a crime. The federal laws are generally joined with state ones in the prosecution of cockfighting cases. Per the federal statute, any cockfighting implements are confiscated. The roosters themselves are considered implements.

 

Why do I write concerning cockfighting at this time? Simply, the Florida keys have historically been a home to the sport. The fights generally are conducted off the beaten path. Back in the mangroves.

 

Every few years, a cockfighting arrest is made in the Florida Keys. One was made last week which gives rise to this column. The raid was very close to home. It took place on Rockland Key. Rockland Key sits between Big Coppitt and Key Haven. I live on Key Haven.

 

The cockfighting arrests were incidental to a drug raid. The authorities were making a drug raid. They happened upon cockfighting implements as part of the drug raid. Two hundred fifty chickens were confiscated, together with other cockfighting paraphenalia.

 

I can only speak based on my limited knowledge of cockfighting in the keys. This arrest may deter, but will not stop the illegal sport. There have too many other arrests over the years. The fights continue to prevail. Cockfighting as such and as a money maker is too ingrained in the lives of the locals. I suspect therefore that cockfighting will continue.

 

The only admonishment to perpetrators is don't get caught. Jail is an almost certainty.

A STORY OF COURAGE

What follows is an amazing story.

 

Her name is Claire Lumas. Early 20s. Lovely. Long flowing blond hair. Lives in England. A professional horse rider. Competed in horse shows.

 

In a horse riding event five years ago, Claire was involved in a freak accident. She and her horse came in contact with a tree. Claire suffered multiple fractures. Several to her back. She was paralyzed from her chest down. A paraplegic. Never to walk again.

 

Claire spent five years in a wheel chair. Till January of this year. When she started walking again.

 

Modern science and medicine made it possible. Plus Claire's mental determination, of course.

 

Claire got robotic legs. A bionic suit had been designed with people like Claire in mind. Long pants. From the chest down to the ankles. Bulky. Thick. Reminds me of snow pants of old, but significantly larger.

 

The suit senses when Claire wants to walk. Shifts her weight to make her legs move in a walking fashion. Makes a discernible hissing sound with each step.

 

In her first attempt at bionic walking, Claire did 30 steps. Three weeks later, she was walking like crazy. Then last month she did the impossible. She ran the London Marathon. All 26.2 miles of it.

 

It took Claire 16 days to complete the 26.2 miles. But she did it!

 

You say WOW! I say WOW! Claire is a person of courage. One who faced the odds and would not give up.

 

Claire has tried to live life since her unfortunate accident. Three years ago, she got married. Then she got pregnant. Delivered a healthy baby girl who is now 15 months old.

 

The robotic legs cost $75,000. Her horse friends and other groups helped Claire raise the money. She is the first woman in England to walk using the bionic approach.

 

Claire is a winner! An example to the rest of the world. Never give up. Never say something cannot be done. Never say never.

 

Go Claire!