Dear Mayor Cooper, I want to begin by thanking you for the work that you and other city leaders are trying to do to balance the pressure between keeping the people of Nashville safe from the COVID outbreak, and the call to keep businesses open so that our citizens are fully employed and able to … Continue reading An Open Letter to the Mayor on Bar Closures
Category: Politics
The TN Legislature up to its normal ways
A couple of days ago, I got a message from my friend Joseph. "Have you signed the petition on permitless carry?" he asked me. I had no clue what he was talking about. Now I will fully admit that gun control laws are not at the top of my priority list for advocacy. While I … Continue reading The TN Legislature up to its normal ways
Who or what do you worship?
Last night, we saw the president of the United States stroll across a public park after having both police and military use tear gas and rubber bullets to clear that park of peaceful protestors. There was a curfew at 7 p.m. and it's likely that many in the crowd would have left on their own, … Continue reading Who or what do you worship?
Community Oversight Board Interviews
This past Thursday night (January 17, 2019) I sat before a sub-committee of the Metro Nashville Council to be interviewed as a part of the discernment process for election to membership of our new Community Oversight Board, which will work with our police to make sure all are treated equally and with respect. We were … Continue reading Community Oversight Board Interviews
The Room Where It Happens
The city of Nashville has a long legacy of city leaders gathering in back rooms to determine the future of their neighbors. From the Watauga Club downtown to the West Nashville Mafia gathered in a booth at Wendell Smiths to the sheriff and his friends talking in the lounge of an East Nashville funeral home, … Continue reading The Room Where It Happens
Dying in the streets….
I would see her walking down the street, using a red wheelchair as a walker . . . a pushcart filled with everything she owned. I would learn her name was Janice, and she'd been on the streets for a while. She was an elderly African American woman, who was full of herself. One day … Continue reading Dying in the streets….
An Open Letter to Donald Trump
Dear President Elect Trump, The day has finally come and in just a few hours you will be standing on the steps of the Capitol, making your pledge to defend the Constitution of the United States. At that moment, a transition happens – from one president to another, from one vision of the nation to … Continue reading An Open Letter to Donald Trump
Competence Is Boring…
A little while ago I was watching a press conference with John Brennan, the counter-terrorism guru for the Obama administration, on the latest terrorism scare related to cargo from Yemen. I was struck by how different this press conference seemed from earlier terrorist scares. Here was a person who shared what he was willing to … Continue reading Competence Is Boring…
And we listen to Pat . . . why?
Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess and others scoffed at comments by nationally known televangelist Pat Robertson on his 700 Club program Thursday that Muslims could bribe local officials to expand their influence. "It's entirely possible," Robertson said during the broadcast following a report from his show about the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro's plans to build … Continue reading And we listen to Pat . . . why?
How Soon We Forget
There are more stories about other groups that are part of the paranoia and fear that periodically rear their ugly heads among us to demonize the newly arriving stranger, the "other" in our midst, this time Muslims. And what distinguishes each movement is that charismatic leaders incite the worst in us. via Edward Schumacher-Matos - … Continue reading How Soon We Forget
The School Speech
In my last posting, I talked about the backlash of those who were upset that President Obama was giving a speech to public school students tomorrow. The concern seems to be that the speech would be political in nature, “indoctrinating” kids toward a more liberal (socialist?) point of view. I felt a little vindicated today … Continue reading The School Speech
The End of National Respect – A Letter to Jim Greer
"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, … Continue reading The End of National Respect – A Letter to Jim Greer
The End of National Respect – A Letter to Jim Greer
"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, … Continue reading The End of National Respect – A Letter to Jim Greer
The Music City Center Skeptic – Part 2
The last time I wrote on this topic I focused on the financial subterfuge in which we seem to be participating here in Music City. Of course there are many who would say that I am splitting hairs, and I’m willing to plead guilty to a bit of fiber carving. Yet let’s be honest in … Continue reading The Music City Center Skeptic – Part 2
The Music City Center Skeptic – Part 2
The last time I wrote on this topic I focused on the financial subterfuge in which we seem to be participating here in Music City. Of course there are many who would say that I am splitting hairs, and I’m willing to plead guilty to a bit of fiber carving. Yet let’s be honest in … Continue reading The Music City Center Skeptic – Part 2
Another Music City Center Skeptic – Part 1
One of the ongoing recent debates in my hometown has been the development and creation of a new convention center for our city, known as the Music City Center. As a former meeting planner responsible for a large denomination meeting, I understand both the need and desire for a new convention center in Nashville. Our … Continue reading Another Music City Center Skeptic – Part 1
Another Music City Center Skeptic – Part 1
One of the ongoing recent debates in my hometown has been the development and creation of a new convention center for our city, known as the Music City Center. As a former meeting planner responsible for a large denomination meeting, I understand both the need and desire for a new convention center in Nashville. Our … Continue reading Another Music City Center Skeptic – Part 1
Let’s Talk Rezoning
Currently in Nashville there is some debate about a proposed school rezoning plan. This issue has been tough for me, for I have good friends on both sides of the debate. The main point of contention is that this plan, which attempts to move kids who live an a chronically impoverished area of town from … Continue reading Let’s Talk Rezoning
Let’s Talk Rezoning
Currently in Nashville there is some debate about a proposed school rezoning plan. This issue has been tough for me, for I have good friends on both sides of the debate. The main point of contention is that this plan, which attempts to move kids who live an a chronically impoverished area of town from … Continue reading Let’s Talk Rezoning
What I would Have Said
This morning, I watched the inauguration of President Obama with 400 neighbors and friends at the Belcourt Theatre in Hillsboro Village. The viewing “party” was sponsored by Nashville for All of Us, the group leading the opposition to the English Only amendment being voted on in Nashville this Thursday. I had been scheduled to speak … Continue reading What I would Have Said
Only Wonder Understands 