GOD HAVE MERCY ON US

I saw the obituary for a high school friend in the paper. It made me sad and just a bit shocked. The reminder that people my age and I are reaching the last few years of our lives also delivered a jolt. Younger folks are tired of hearing about “Baby Boomers,” and I somewhat understand that. We’ve been center stage for a long time. What those “young’uns” might not know is that we old folks have witnessed plenty of rotten things during our years.  

I remember polio, not because the disease afflicted me but because I knew young people who had been struck with it. One boy lived in our neighborhood and wore braces on his legs. Children got vaccines before they entered school, or they lined up during the first day for them. A few years later, entire families lined up to receive polio boosters that were placed on sugar cubes. 

Children also had to be tested for tuberculosis. Again, at school we lined up and waited for an injection under the skin on the backs of our forearms. A few days later, we showed our arms to a nurse who pulled some students out to further examine suspicious looking places.  

Before vaccines were developed, we suffered with chicken pox, measles, and mumps. They were part of growing up. Kids would miss several days until the rashes or swelling abated. Then, feeling weak and exhausted, they’d be back at school and ready to make up the work missed.  

My generation lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis. Younger children didn’t grasp the fact that diving under a desk during a practice drill was of little use if a nuclear weapon were exploded over Oak Ridge. I suppose none of us realized that walking home drills after a pretend attack was improbable since everyone and everything around here would have been vaporized.  

Older and younger children did understand the tragedy of President Kennedy’s assassination. The country shut down, and a heavy pall fell across the land. Things weren’t much better a few years later when Martin Luther King, Jr. And Bobby Kennedy were also gunned down. We worried about the direction of the country and its future. 

Our teenage years brought the chances of being drafted to fight in Vietnam. That war was fought on the backs of young folks, but most of the generation never did understand exactly what soldiers were fighting or why they were doing so. We just knew that young men were shipped to a country far away and too many of them never came back. Even the soldiers who came home weren’t welcomed with parades and cheers; they were instead met with jeers and taunts.  

The attack on 9/11 shook us to our foundation, and the citizens of this country joined in one voice to announce that we would not be defeated by such cowardly acts. More wars ensued, and young people were killed and maimed. This time, those soldiers were our children instead of ourselves, and we would have gladly traded places with them. 

Now, we face this damn virus. It respects neither age, sex, nor status. It only wants to spread. Our country first met the challenge with strength and determination to defeat the problem. We stayed home, socially distanced, and followed the rules set by health officials. 

When cases began to ease, we too quickly returned to life. It was a tragic mistake. Now the virus is attacking again, and as many as 75,000 cases are reported each day. The death toll rises and now includes small children, as well as Baby Boomers.  

Virus fatigue keeps too many people from fighting again. The answer to the problem is still adequate and accurate testing, social distancing, and mask wearing. However, too many people refuse to wear masks. It’s such a small thing to do, but folks scream and holler and complain that doing so violates their rights. What I say to them is that their rights end where mine begin.  

Yes, we old people have faced many difficult times in our lives. This pandemic, however, is the scariest thing I have seen. The American will has been dulled, and citizens lack the determination or sacrifice necessary to stop the virus. For the first time in our history, America might lack the courage and leadership to save itself. I hope God has mercy on us.  

GO GRUBBY

Amy bought me one of those micro-shavers that trims and shaves and cuts. It’s a neat little gadget that gives me a break from the shaving ritual that I’ve followed for decades. This new razor would be nicer if I used it to cut the scraggily parts of a beard, but my wife told me years ago that I needed to shave off the beard I’d grown and that I should never grow another. The fact is this one daily activity is not much fun anymore. 

Not long after puberty arrived, I got excited about being able to be a real man and shave. As soon as a bit of fuzz appeared on my cheeks, I loaded an old razor with a double-sided blade and proceeded to scrape the areas. The fuzz disappeared but was replaced by a dozen small red rivers caused by the nicks from a razor crossing skin at awkward angles. I exited the bathroom with small wads of toilet paper plastered to the wounds, and, yes, there was much laughter from family members.  

Sideburns were fashionable my high school senior year, and I grew a pair that reached half-way down the sides of my face. I’ve never been good making things like that match, and on occasion, one strip of hair was longer than the other, and my whole head looked cock-eyed.  

My first year in college, I thought I’d look great with long hair, a moustache, and chin whiskers. Those areas weren’t shaved and remained “rough.” Before long, I shaved my chin, but I kept the moustache and kept my upper lip covered for years. 

During my early years as a teacher, I also grew a beard. It was spotty and had two gray streaks on my chin. My students nicknamed me “Skunkie.” With that name and a bit of more-than-gentle persuasion from Amy, I made the decision to shave that beard. Doing so unleashed a whole lot of ugly, and my skin suffered from a severe case of razor burn.  

The moustache stayed for several more years. It eventually came in solid gray, and I whacked it away. When people asked why I’d shave it, I told them that when it couldn’t be seen any more the time had come to get rid of it. The stares from family and friends ended before long.  

For the last 20+ years, I’ve shaved this mug and kept it free of hair. To me, it’s looked the same during that time. However, sometimes, I wake up enough to see the face looking back at me and wonder who the old man is. I look at the top of my head and see that it is too quickly becoming as bare as my face.  

Since I’m retired and only substitute a few days each week, shaving is no longer something I have to do every day. In fact, during the summer, I only break out the razor when I my face is covered with white stubble or I must be in public. The excitement of shaving that came in my teens has long since disappeared. I complete the task as quickly as possible and hope too many places haven’t been missed.  

The luckiest men are those who have little or no beard. They can skip one daily chore or perform it only a couple of times each week. The rest of us will have deal with the cold steel against our faces or go “grubby.” I, for one, am thankful that I’m not expected to shave my legs and armpits.  

WHO HAS THE RIGHT?

ericans baffle me. We never seem to stay on an even keel. One minute we are excited about the wonderful things in this life; the next, we are bemoaning the terrible fates that have befallen us. What we might do before the whining begins is realize that most of our problems are the results of our own actions.  

Too many of us instantly buck any attempts to tell us what to do, especially when those guidelines cause inconveniences. Consider social distancing. It amounts to staying separated from others by at least six feet when a crowd has gathered. It also means that we should stay home as much as possible to keep from infecting or being infected with Covid-19.  

All folks have to do to see terrible behavior is make trips to the grocery store or Walmart or Home Depot. Plenty of people are shopping in those places. Many of them are unaware of anyone else; they are more focused on getting items and checking out. Stores mark aisles “one-way,” but shoppers pay no attention to the instructions. They don’t want to walk the extra steps that are required to keep others a safe distance away. Instead, they want their rights to move freely. How dare anyone suggest or demand that they alter their lives in the slightest just to protect other people. Videos on social media show offended individuals throw fits and punches when another asks them to move back or go the other way. 

Even worse are the reactions to wearing masks. Science shows the distances the coronavirus travels when a person sneezes, coughs, or sings. That threat of infection to another person is seriously blunted by using masks. Wearing one is also a common courtesy, and it shows a concern for others.  

For some contorted reason, a large group of Americans revolt against the wearing these things. They go about their affairs without ever covering their faces. If a business or another person should ask any of them to wear a mask, these self-absorbed humans begin yelling and screaming and cursing. The first statement out of their mouths is, “I have the right to not wear a mask or covering!” Then the attacks that label those on the other side as leftists, rioters, looters, and un-American scum rain down.  

Here’s the scoop on mask wearing. Doing so is being required in more places and situations with each passing day. There is an order to wear them in the local area. Those who disagree should realize that their rights always end where another person’s begin. I have the right to be in public or a business without having to worry about whether someone who is asymptomatic is infecting me as he or she stands in line behind me. Wearing PPE is an act of kindness that can protect strangers and family alike.  

Too many folks in this country are spoiled, entitled individuals. They care about themselves and no one else. That’s too bad because a society exist for the benefit of all. Perhaps those who throw tantrums should recall the final reason for doing something that parents always seemed to give. Here goes: 

Socially distance yourselves and wear masks to stop the spread of this pandemic...BECAUSE I SAID SO! It’s about saving others and the country.  

BEST HOUR OF THE WEEK

This coronavirus has kicked us for half a year, and most folks are losing patience with it and the restraints that it demands of us. Some people handle things better than the rest of us. I feel for young people the most. They’ve lost graduations, birthday parties, and sports. We who are older struggle as well, but maybe not quite so much. A hidden nugget sometimes appears in the pile of bad. 

One thing that bugs me is television. I have cable; in addition, we subscribe to Netflix, Prime, and Hulu. That is mind-blowing when I remember that only three channels aired on television when I was a boy. Most days, I can’t find anything to watch. My list of favorite shows completed their seasons not long ago, and the replacement programs fail to capture my attention. As a side-note, I’d like to know why people are so interested in reality shows and game shows. Don't they realize that not much “reality” is involved with them? 

Most of my viewing time is dedicated to news. No, that’s not a good thing. By the end of the day, I’m thoroughly disgusted with conservatives and liberals, and I long for moderations. At the same time, I see that the objectivity that once was a mainstay of journalism is slipping away. Too much injection of opinion creeps into stories. Emotionally charged words are included in stories so that the slant, either liberal or conservative, is achieved.  

Movies aren’t much better. Too many of them are more concerned with promoting a social cause than entertaining. Searches for good comedy or action movies come up with short lists. I’m a fan of “Dead Pool” and “Avengers.” The plots are mindless, the dialogues are funny or limited, and the characters are far from believable. That’s why I watch them; I’ve had enough real-life shows. 

I enjoy reading when I can find a good book, and I like “The Atlantic.” My old eyes hold out for just so long before they strain to see the text. Music can soothe the soul, but the same playlist can become boring.  

A couple of those nuggets I mentioned have become a part of life. One is sitting on the front porch in a white rocker and watching cars go by or storms roll in. The rhythmic movement of the rocker acts as a sedative. Sadie lies next to my chair and waits for an occasional pat on the head or treat from the chip bag. We are also fortunate to have a pool, and everyday my son Dallas and I find some time to jump in and just soak. We talk about plenty of topics, most of which have no earth-shaking value. Just hanging out is good. 

On Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m., Amy and I are parked on the couch with the television turned on. We watch the latest installment of “Opry.” The Circle Network airs the show live from the stage of the  Grand Old Opry. Two or three artists fill an hour with their songs. Some entertainers return for second appearances, but new talents, like Keb Mo, have performed and gained new fans.  

The increase in cases of the virus might signal a setback for the country. We’re in real trouble due to a lack of leadership at the top levels. So, all of us will have to hunker down and socially distance and wear masks to save ourselves. It’s not an ideal situation, but we have to do it to protect everyone. Amy and I will continue to stay around the house as much as possible, and we’ll watch the Opry every Saturday night. It’s the best hour of the week for us.  

THREE SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

The fuel to many problems right now is anger. It is the stuff that stokes the flames of unrest. I don’t blame folks for being furious for the mistreatment of individuals in the hands of some police officers. They have grievances that need to be aired. Right now, however, the temperatures of too many factions are dangerously high. Our world is not perfect; it has its problems and always has. Three things can bring about change and a cooling on all sides.  

First is education. For too many people, the outlook is bleak. They have little about which to be excited. Subsistence levels are all for which they can hope. Many of them lack the education to be able to get ahead. The reasons for that lack of learning are many. Some children were too concerned with daily existence to worry about school. Others found the curriculum fell woefully short of addressing the lives that they experienced each day. Sadly, too many children were left to their own devices and simply faded away from school. For them and their families, education was of no value and simply took up their time. Maybe some parents had too little education themselves to be able to help with homework, or moms and dads had to work in order to provide the basics of life and could not provide the support and help that little ones need as they tackle educational skills.  

Regardless of what has gone on before, the fact remains that education is key to doing well in this world. Skills are demanded to compete for good jobs. Children must dedicate themselves to learning so that they can enter the workforce doing something more than flipping hamburgers. Quitting school or giving little or no efforts condemn any person to a second-class life that is filled with financial struggles.  

The second thing that leads to a better world is family. Children need strong bonds with both parents. The lessons that moms and dads can teach are the foundations for a good life. Yes, that includes discipline when it is needed. Children decide what is appropriate behavior based on the actions of their parents. All of us have witnessed our children saying or doing something that is less than flattering, and we immediately know from where that word or deed was learned. Parents are busy in this world, but they must find ways to be actively present in children’s lives. That doesn’t mean running interference for them; it means just being there to guide young souls toward better ways of living.  

The last thing that can help our world find its footing again is respect. Every individual of this country must begin to respect the existences of others. No one has to agree with someone else, but a man must respect the right of another’s choice. Color, religion, sexual preference, or any other thing does not cancel that. Respect includes an attempt to understand the views of another person and why she holds them. It is slow to condemn things that have been part of life for years. Most of all, respect comes from listening to another side. When the mutual appreciation for others takes hold, the tit-for-tat petty actions that we take, the names that we hurl, and the destruction that we commit will cease once and for all.  

Listing three things as keys to a better world can seem overly simplistic. So many people on both sides are hypothesizing and analyzing and demanding to the point that confusion and hardening views are growing. Maybe it’s time to try a simple solution. Education, family, and respect are already a part of our lives. Perhaps what we have is the solution for what we want. All of us might do better to meet in the middle. 

THE BLAME CAN BE SHARED

Enough! It’s that simple. This country already has plenty of problems without piling on more and more. Now, this might not make anyone happy, but the truth is that all sides share some of the blame for the mess we are in. It is also true that the extremes on the left and the right will work to keep any progress from taking place.  

We do have a racial problem. The black population has been for too long been treated like second class citizens. Fear of losing power has caused many white people perpetuate this fact. Some folks are simply ignorant in their assessments that blacks are of an inferior race. The murders of black individuals have horrified us once again and have sparked one of the largest, multi-racial protest in our country’s history. The deaths are terrible, but the call to action is a good thing. 

Peaceful protests are the right of citizens of this country, and many have led to better conditions. These most recent ones might well lead to positive steps toward ending discrimination. The majority of Americans hope so. When looters and rioters set out to destroy businesses and steal for their own gain, the positive message of protest is blunted. How does burning down the community help the plight of its residents? 

At the same time, this new call to action might lead the way to police reform. Too many times, black individuals have been accosted, arrested, and murdered by rogue officers who fail to recognize the humanity of all persons. Those individuals must be held accountable to the same standards that all citizens are held. Murder is murder, regardless of whether it is citizen on citizen or officer on citizen. 

What we must realize, however, is that not all police officers are bad, and we must use common sense to acknowledge that not all acts by the police are evil. The “Defund Police” movement is dead in the water before it begins simply because of the name. If people literally want to defund the police, they should demand that those officers not enter their communities. Problems then can be handled by the very residents that decry the people who protect and serve. If the intention is to move money to other places where it can be more effectively used to handle problems with which police should never deal, then I will be the first to support it.  

I have black friends. One of my favorite students of all time is April Woodward Sampson, who works at the Richland County Justice Center in South Carolina. Millions of white people have black friends. We feel their pain, although we can never understand it. We want all to work to put an end to the inequalities of this nation. A new culture in all communities must grow if the problem is to be solved. That means white folks need to work to give black folks the same opportunities. It also means that black people realize that not all white people are to blame for the poor conditions in which they find themselves.  

We can solve most of the problems of our country. We must do it through electing officials who will invest in improvements. We must do it through peaceful protests that quickly prevent any looting and arson and stealing. Most of all, we must do it through the knowledge that the God that created the world created and loves each of us. “Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight.”