The Most Important Person

As 2012 comes to a close, the newspapers, magazines and television will show the leaders and celebrities that have died during the year.  They will be the "important" people that will be "missed" as we move into 2013.

What I have discovered as each year passes is that it really determines where you are or what your situation is in determining who the most important person is.  On Friday evening, on her way to a friends wedding, my daughter's car decided not to crank as she sat at the gas pumps at Obie's Chevron in Clinton.  She called me and stated in a matter of fact way, "My starter has blown up on my car.  It won't crank".  Fortunately, her car was right next door to my office and fortunately starters don't blow up.  I went next door with jumper cables in hand.

Upon quick inspection it became apparent that the battery clamp was broken.  I looked up just in time to see David, a mechanic at Obie's as he stepped out the front door of the convenience store on his way home.  I asked David if we tried to duct tape the clamp to the battery if it would work.  He stated that it might, but that it also might catch on fire and then he said, "Pull it around to the back."

David in quick manner replaced the clamp and advised us to run by when the shop was open and pay for the clamp.   David worked on the battery clamp when he really didn't have to.  At that moment, it was obvious that David was the most important person in the area.  Had the Governor driven up with his motorcade to fuel up, for my needs, David would have still been the most important person there.

Each and every day, we meet people who are important in their own right.  Perhaps it is the cook that prepares our meal or the housekeeper that cleans our hotel room or the nurse who keeps our loved ones well.  Maybe it is the teacher that educates our children, the public works employee who helps to keep our city running smoothly or even something as basic as a good mother or father.  All just doing their jobs.  Generally, these are people of very little power but people who make a big difference and who are important.

Let the networks and the rest of the media spotlight the most known and "important" deaths of 2012, but for all of us, it is important not to look at wealth, power and prestige in determining the importance of a person.  Let's not judge importance by celebrity but by the true worth and character of a person.  Each person is important to someone or some group of people for one reason or another.  We should always celebrate these people with kindness and thanks and even a good tip.  We should do this because it is important.  In doing so, we celebrate the importance of the living rather than the dead.

An Idea On Limiting Gun Violence

After the shooting at the Connecticut elementary school, many are asking the questions, why and how and what is the solution to making sure that this never happens again.

I have listened as many of the talking heads immediately go to some sort of gun control as the solution.  I watch on Facebook as others state that when God was taken from the public schools, it opened the door for this type of thing to happen. 

We all know that a twenty year old man with a history of mental disorders, took guns that his mother purchased legally, went to the local elementary school and began firing with an automatic weapon, killing twenty-six people, twenty of them children.

Michelle Mcloughlin / Reuters

What could be done to make sure that this never happens again?  Sadly, I think very little, however the odds of it happening again could be reduced. 

One idea might be to tie the purchase of a gun directly to your health records?  Instead of simply running a criminal background check (which would have done no good in Connecticut or most mass shootings), also have the purchaser sign a medical release form to order their medical records (with a $50 fee for the records).  If the records come back and have any type of mental condition, mood disorder, anxiety, etc, then that person would not be eligible for a weapon.

What about people who simply needed an anti-depressant during a rough time in their lives?  Place a ten year waiting period from the last prescription written before they can purchase a gun.

This step would not take guns from people but would help in not arming someone whose mind is not well.  It is my opinion that this one step would help.

As for God not being in our schools, I don't buy that.  God is within each and every one of us.  When a child or teacher filled with God enters a pubic school, then God is a part of that school.  When love and compassion is shown to a student by a teacher or one of their peers, then God is there.  When anyone can attend our public schools whether rich or poor, of whatever race or gender, of whatever background or family situation or whether handicapped or able, then God lives in our schools.  When we allow people of all religions and faiths to be a part of our public schools, then God lives in our schools.

Pray for our schools and for the safety of the children in each and every one.  There is no way to make our schools 100% safe.

Mississippi's Original: The Magnolia Flag

This rainy day turns out to be Mississippi's 195th anniversary as a state.  When established back in 1817, there was no official state flag.  In fact, Mississippi didn't have a state flag until just after the date of it's secession in 1861.  Within days, the Magnolia flag was introduced.  The Magnolia flag is symbolic in that it has the Bonnie Blue flag in the top left corner.  The single star was symbolic of Mississippi removing it's star from the union.  The white field stands with a Magnolia tree in the middle.  It is a very distincitve and historic flag and is partly how Mississippi became known as the Magnolia State. 

In 1894, shortly after rewriting it's state constitution, Mississippi also changed it's state flag.  This flag change is unfortunate as this change was made at at time when whites who had been defeated in a war and suffered under reconstruction began to try and "normalize" their way of life.  It is also unfortunate because the Confederate flag which sits in the left corner of our current flag is perceived in modern society as one of ignorance and racism.  I hate that perception as I think our current flag is recognizable, attractive and historical. On top of that, my Mississippi heritage records that some of my ancestors were Confederate soldiers.

BUT, it is time to change.  That is my thought today and was my thought back in April 2001, when we voted on whether to keep our current flag or to move to another.  At that time, I voted for our current flag because it was historical in nature and the other flag was... well, it was something that was just made up and really had no historical signifigance.

Our state is approximately 37% African American.  Of that 37%, probably a large majority would be in favor of changing the flag that some find offensive.  Of the remaining 63% of Mississippi's population, I think if given the chance to chose a flag that was historical in nature with a link to the Confederacy (as is the Magnolia Flag),  I think they would have no problem with changing our state flag to the Magnolia Flag.

Repbulicans now hold the Governor and Lt. Governor's office as well as the majority in the House and Sentate.  They need to step forward with the proposal to make this change.  From an economic development and public relations standpoint, it has to be better than the flag we have.  Also, from a political standpoint, while it will probably not change much in getting minority votes for the Republicans, it just seems like the right thing to do.

It is time for a banner that represents all Mississippians.  It is time to change back to the Magnolia Flag.

Hannah Rachel

Well, it is one week away.  On Saturday, December 15th, Hannah Rachel Cardin (HR) will walk down the aisle at Galloway Memorial Methodist Church.  It is not that many steps from the back door of the sanctuary to the front but it has been a journey that has taken 23 years to get to this occasion.  Her father, Tommie, will escort her and take his place between she and her future husband, Conner Smith before speaking the one line that a father is given in a wedding,  "Her mother and I do".

Emily and Hannah Rachel

Hannah Rachel is a dear friend of the Nations family and has been my daughters best friend since sixth grade.  I have watched as Hannah Rachel has grown from an adolescent and into a beautiful young woman.

Somewhere around my daughter, Emily's sixth grade year, she and Hannah Rachel Cardin (HR) became friends.  Best friends.  Both of them could be classified as nerds and oddly enough, that was part of what made their friendship.  Always competitive, they challenged one another in who had the highest grades in one subject or another or who could become President of a certain club or organization.  Emily, more the athlete and loud, Hannah Rachel, more the refined, girls choir type, they have both kept up with one another and supported each other through thick and thin.

Upon graduating from Clinton HS, both girls made their way to Mississippi State with both of them pledging the Chi Omega Sorority.  For their final two years of college, Emily and HR lived under the same roof at the Chi-O sorority house.  Not only were they Chi-O pledge sisters, they were sisters of a deeper kind.

This past June, Emily married Michael Bufkin.  Of course, Hannah Rachel was there.  She was Emily's Maid of Honor.  She executed her duties flawlessly and was just what Emily needed during that hectic and nerve racking time.  On Emily's wedding day (6/2), the countdown had begun and HR stood only six months and two weeks from her own wedding.

Hannah Rachel continues on with her education, attending graduate school at MSU, while her soon to be husband, Conner, attends veterinary school.  As Emily continues her own education, going to medical school, HR has mailed Emily a card of encouragement each and every week.  Now that's a friend.

I can remember many New Year's Eves with HR.  We would always get an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.  HR is a sucker for ice cream cakes.  We would wait for the clock to strike midnight before breaking out our Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice and toasting in the New Year.  Such good memories.

As we approach wedding day, my only advice to Conner is simply this: Take care of Hannah Rachel.  You are getting a really good girl and a wonderful young woman.

Last To Secede From U.S.: The Conch Republic

After the presidential election, there have been a number of petitions signed asking for different states to be given permission to peacefully secede from the United States.  So far, Texas and Louisiana have the most signatures of any states.  A couple of weeks ago, Mississippi has just over 18,000 of the 25,000 signatures needed to be reviewed by the President.

This past June, I had the pleasure of visiting Key West, FL, the last place to secede from the United States.  As I stepped off the airplane and on to the runway, I looked at the big block lettering near the top of the exterior airport wall, "Welcome to the Conch Republic".

Of course everyone is familiar with the Confederate States of America and their secession from the United States but many are not familiar with the Key West secession.  The following is a brief description of the Key West secession from a blog by Rob Lammie titled, 8 Secessionist Movements in the American History:  I

In the early-1980s, the U.S. Border Patrol set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the Florida Keys in an effort to stop illegal drugs and immigrants. The time to check everyone’s identification at the checkpoint resulted in a 20-mile traffic jam that turned tourists away, thus damaging the economy in the Keys. After numerous legal attempts to have the checkpoint removed, on April 23, 1982, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow declared the Florida Keys were seceding from the Union.

Moments later, now-Prime Minister Wardlow symbolically declared war on the U.S. by breaking a stale piece of Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. One minute later, Wardlow turned to the Admiral in charge of the U.S. Naval Base at Key West and surrendered, thus ending the Conch Republic’s Civil Rebellion. He then immediately asked for $1 billion in federal aid to help rebuild his war-torn nation’s economy. While officially the Republic only existed for one minute, the tongue-in-cheek spirit of the rebellion lives on. Today you can buy Conch Republic citizen and diplomatic passports (both of which have been used for international travel, though they are not intended to be official documents) and even an official flag of the republic. 

The secession was successful and the Border Patrol ceased having checkpoints on Highway 1.  As the Conch Republic motto's states, "We seceded where others failed". 

The Only Certain Thing

Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close and hopefully we have all had an opportunity to gather around a table at Thanksgiving with family and friends where we have given thanks for the blessings that God has granted us.

For many folks down in our neck of the woods, part of what we count our blessings on fall inro three different categories:  God, politics and college football.  For some, this has been a rough month.

For instance, if you are a Republican and Romney voter, then politically, this was a bad month.  If you are a Mississippi State fan and just watched Ole Miss demolish the Bulldogs in football, this was a bad thing also.   If a person fits in both categories,  then they are in need of prayer to get them out of the depression that has either set in or is about to set in.  Soon, these doubly slammed people will have to read and hear about what bowl game Ole Miss will be attending and then about the second Obama inauguration.  This one, two punch that November has dealt will not go away soon.

I suppose the only certain thing that these people have to count on is God, their faith, their religious beliefs and the goodness of a good healthy church family (even if part of that church family pulled for Ole Miss and voted for Obama).

Today is Christ the King Sunday.  My pastor at Northside Baptist Church, Stan Wilson, preached on how Christ should have dominion over all places and over everything.  He told of a sign he saw in Picayune, MS yesterday that said, "JESUS IS LORD OVER PICAYUNE".  He told of how we should make our best effort to be obedient, to make sure that Jesus is over everything and in everything that we do.

What will be interesting over the next few weeks as we gather again with family and friends at Christmas, will we discuss with one another ways to help those who are without?  Will we talk about helping the widows and the orphans?  Will we help at a local soup kitchen, give a dollar or two to the Salvation Army, take canned goods to our local food pantry?  Will we volunteer to help tutor a student?  Will we discuss how we can promote the Kingdom of Christ in our own community and make Jesus Lord over all that is around us?

I can answer that.  Probably not.  What we most likely will discuss is how in the world Obama got elected again and how stupid some of his policies are.  And while talking about stupidity, who called the plays for Dan Mullen against Ole Miss?  If I know us like I think I know us, that is probably what we will concern ourselves with, down here in the Bible Belt, in the land of religion and politics and college football.

An Independents Advice to the Republicans

Just over two weeks ago, I sat down to watch the presidential election results.  I felt that with the poor economy, high grocery prices, high gasoline prices, increases in health insurance premiums and unemployment at a very high level, that Mitt Romney had a fairly decent chance of unseating President Obama.

First, and some may disagree, but I felt that Mitt Romney was a good candidate for the Republicans.  In fact, he was a much better candidate than John McCain four years ago.  His campaign was well run, his fund raising ability proved to be excellent and he did well in the debates.  

So why didn't he win?  

As an Independent, I would like to give my opinion on what I think are problems that the Republicans must overcome in order to win a national election.  First, from a demographic standpoint, the R's better become a bit more friendly to minority groups, especially Hispanics.  America is not getting any whiter and if a political party wants to stay in power, then they must make an overt play towards issues that might make them more appealing to those minorities.

Second, conservative social issues are killing the Republican Party.  The following are issues that very possibly may have turned off some Independents and destroyed Romney's chances of winning:

ABORTION:  While R's might oppose abortion, abortion will never be outlawed in the United States.   It is the law of the land and no President can overturn that law.  Even some who are against abortion have differing stances.  Some say that there should be no abortion under any circumstances.  Others, like Mitt Romney, say that in cases of incest, rape or health of the mother, that abortion should be allowed.  Each individual will have a different opinion on this issue.  In fact, perhaps the only people who should be able to make policy on this issue should be women... not men.  If an individual wishes to work towards discouraging others from getting abortions then that should be their right and their cause.  

IMMIGRATION:  There are millions of Hispanic workers within our borders.  Many of them serve a valuable service to our economy and for our citizens.  It would be stupid to think that the U.S. government will be able to herd up all of these Hispanic workers and their families and march them across the border into Mexico.  It is simply not going to happen and since it appears that the R's will never get over 15% of the black vote at most, for the survival of the Republicans on a national level, their must be a friendly compromise policy for all involved in this issue.  

GAY RIGHTS:  While many Republicans seem to have some problems with this issue on some level, I think that most Independent voters would have no problem with civil unions between gay couples.  If such couples are already living with one another and share a relationship and perhaps property ownership, then they probably should share financial benefits that other couples share.  In fact, I think that President Obama would have been much more productive had he supported civil unions instead of gay marriage.  I mean, what does the President's support of gay marriage really do?  The support of the President for legislation for civil unions as national legislation would have done so much more for gay couples.

RAPE:  While this is not an issue, it certainly tripped up two Republican candidates and did nothing positive for the Republicans nationally.  Once again, much like abortion, leave this topic as one that women are more qualified to speak on.  No man should answer a question on rape.

EVOLUTION:  From my personal standpoint, I believe in God and have no problem with the theory of evolution.  About twenty years ago, I sat in a Sunday School class with Dr. F.D. Hewitt, a seventy something year old man who had been a Chaplain in the U.S. Navy.  Reading from the book of Genesis as it describes the creation of the earth and man, our teacher asked how everything could have happened/evolved so quickly over a period of seven days.  Dr. Hewitt commented that when we put a Timex on God's wrist and try to make one of God's days a simple twenty four hours, then we have made a very small God.  I agree with Dr. Hewitt.

I would describe myself as an Independent who gave up on the Republicans and Democrats years ago, feeling that both had simply become self-serving.  All of the above is very much my personal opinion.  I feel that If the Republicans cannot transform themselves to be more attractive to minorities, young people and Independents, then I do not know what their long term future as a national party will be.  Once again, this is only my opinion.

A Bleak Thanksgiving: Death of the Twinkie

Just last week, I read about the death of the Twinkie and saw a photo of its funeral. A bankruptcy judge in New York tried to resurrect the Twinkie by bringing Hostess Brands and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) together for mediation, but it was too late.

Evidently, from what I could gather, the judge did not think that the union acted in good faith, having never filed a grievance to Hostess Brands in response to their offer to the union before striking.  To a southern boy who doesn't have that much knowledge about unions and how the whole process works, it's just a shame that Twinkie and his friends, Ding-Dong and Ho-Ho had to be casualties of this strike.

What is even worse is that 18,500 people are without jobs. Casualties of our current economy and perhaps even unrealistic expectations of the worth of their jobs.   

It is too late for Hostess Brands as we have known it for all our lives.  After the Hostess Brands employees gave their eight-two year old employer the finger, Hostess basically told their employees to take a hike.  The company has blamed union wages and pension costs for contributing to its unprofitability. Since last week, there has been a run on their remaining products with many reports of boxes of Twinkies being sold on ebay.com for as much as $300 per box (stupid).  Already, Hostess has received or is receiving bids on the various Hostess products.  I would imagine that whoever purchases Hostess or the rights to their products will not hire the 18,500 disgruntled employees.

Unfortunately, the union was unable to accept the fact that their wages and benefits will probably never equal what they did before.  It is part of life in America these days.  I suppose at least for the time being, the Twinkie has expired.

And for the employees of the 33 bakeries, 553 distribution centers, aproximately  5,500 delivery routes and 527 bakery outlet stores and for junk food consumers around the U.S., it will be a bleak Thanksgiving.  That is a shame.

Mississippi Demographics and the Future

After last week's election, we keep on hearing about a demographic shift within the United States that helped to re-elect President Obama.  Earlier this year on August 2nd, I had written about this shift within the United States and within our own state as it is occuring now.  I would encourage you to read this blog:

 For The U.S., Mississippi and Madison County, Time Will Tell (August 2nd blog)

The following is a breakdown of counties within the state of Mississippi where today's overall white population is greater than it's under age 5 white population.  The generational shift from majority white county to majority black county will most likely occur in all of these counties within the next fifteen to twenty years.

COUNTY	STATE	Population	% White	UnderAge5White/Difference
Amite County	Mississippi	13,064	56.70%	48.80%	-7.9
Attala County	Mississippi	19,466	55.10%	42.90%	-12.3
Calhoun County	Mississippi	14,917	65.50%	48.20%	-17.3
Chickasaw County	Mississippi	17,124	52.70%	42.60%	-10.1
Forrest County	Mississippi	75,842	58.10%	44.20%	-13.9
Grenada County	Mississippi	21,706	56.00%	45.10%	-10.9
Lauderdale County	Mississippi	80,475	53.70%	41.50%	-12.2
Lowndes County	Mississippi	59,671	53.00%	42.50%	-10.5
Madison County	Mississippi	96,941	55.80%	44.90%	-10.9
Montgomery County	Mississippi	10,872	52.30%	38.40%	-13.9
Neshoba County	Mississippi	29,818	59.70%	44.50%	-15.3
Oktibbeha County	Mississippi	47,741	57.80%	45.20%	-12.6
Scott County	Mississippi	28,388	50.40%	37.50%	-13
Walthall County	Mississippi	15,406	52.40%	41.10%	-11.3
Wayne County	Mississippi	20,589	58.80%	47.50%	-11.3
Winston County	Mississippi	19,069	51.50%	36.60%	-14.9

Since our parties in Mississippi and in the U.S. tend to vote along racial lines, I stated the following in my earlier blog:

Hopefully, and to be honest, I don't have a lot of hope, I would love to see two things:  First, a Mississippi Democratic Party that had the ability to truly organize itself and to get over the "we're going to get you back" mentality as it relates to race inside their party.  Second, a Mississippi Republican Party that has the ability to "get over itself" and take a stand that is somewhere right of right of center instead of the extreme far right.  Inclusion is the key word for both parties.

A black Democratic party and a white Republican party will not be good for Mississippi.  Time will tell and time is on the Democrats side. 

I said that then and based on demographics, I believe it now more than ever!

Let's Be Nice

Just this past Thursday, my friend from Mississippi College, Greg Miles, shared a post from a radio station called "Seattle Wolf".  The post was of a note and receipt that someone left on another person's car.  The note is in the picture to the right and is quite simply a very kind gesture.  The note reads as follows:

You do not know me but I saw that you needed some tires for your truck and I wanted to do something nice for a stranger because one day a stranger did the same for me.  The receipt is in the envelope and all you have to do is go by Warehouse Tire on 3rd Street and ask for Steven Hodges and they will be put on for free.  All I ask is that one day you do something nice for a complete stranger.

Later, on Thursday night, I found a posting on my Facebook from Beth Dickinson Campbell.  This posting simply showed an extension cord plugged into an electrical surge outlet in the area that was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.  The sign posted beside the outlet stated: "We have power.  Please feel free to charge your phone!"

These are two acts of random kindness.  As we approach election day in an election that has not been kind, let's remember that we do not know whether the "giver" in either of these acts of kindness was an Independent, Democrat or Republican.  And further, the "giver" did not care or specify which political affiliation one had to belong to in order to receive their gift of kindness.  I think this is very important.

As we draw to the end of this election, it might be nice if we all just kept our snide remarks to ourselves in relation to the election.  Graciousness and kindness and sometimes simply saying nothing either verbally or on social media seems like the proper response to the outcome of the presidential election.  Words can hurt.  Don't fan the fire of hate and meanness, let's be nice!

Katie Has A Baby: Introducing Abe Zinc

Just a couple of hours ago, Mary Lea and I visited Louis and Katie Zinc at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood.  Katie has helped to manage my office since Labor Day, 2009.  Mary Lea commented that it certainly was good to go to a hospital for a positive reason.  She was so right.

Just this afternoon at 3:51 PM, Katie gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy, Abraham Louis Zinc.  Weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz and 19 inches long, young Abe Zinc is a fine looking fellow.  I remember when my first child was born back in 1989.  There was a certain pride and thankfulness about the whole event.  Having a beautiful, healthy baby is a such a blessing.

Both times, when my children were born, I remember going to the hospital chapel while Mary Lea was recovering and turning to Matthew 6: 25-34.  Reading it gave me great relief as a new parent.  The following are  the verses from Matthew as preached by Jesus which basically says, "don't worry, trust in God":


²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Louis and Katie don't have a single day of on the job training as parents.  They really don't know what they are doing and yet, they will do well.  They will trust in God and work hard towards learning what it takes to be good parents.  They will learn by trail and error and in a couple of years, some of what they have been taught by medical professionals will change but their faith and love for God, each other and little Abe will carry them through.  After all, that is really all they need.

Abe Zinc is in good hands and a mighty good looking baby.

Home Training

When the schools integrated in 1970, I first heard the term, "home training".  I remember in one of my classes that year, an African American teacher shouted out at a student who was misbehaving, "Boy, act right!  Act like you got some home training!"

Hinds County Supervisor, Kenneth Stokes

Recently, Hinds County Supervisor, Kenneth Stokes made a fool of himself with his behavior.  At a recent Supervisor's meeting, while an attorney was speaking in opposition of a solid waste landfill near the city limits of Clinton, Stokes simply couldn't control himself. He shouted out to attorney, Mindy McKay Morton, "Can you guarantee (employees) won't lose their jobs?"  Morton replied that she couldn't.  In response, Stokes responded: "Well I don't want to hear it then.  What about the poor people?  I heard this bullshit all day, and I'm tired of it."

Board President Robert Graham immediately responded, "Hold on a second, (that's) completely out of order."

Stokes response was no better than his initial profane outburst, saying to Graham: "You called Kenneth Stokes name, I'm going to respond.  I don't give a damn who you are."

Most of the shocked crowd, filled with supporters against the landfill began to murmur loudly.  Stokes locked eyes with one of them and blurted out, "Yo Momma!"

What was especially sad was that Stokes had a chance to apologize on multiple occasions.  Instead of doing so, he remained defiant.  In an interview with WLBT, he stated: "The other alternative would be for me to get up out of my seat and go to a person in the audience who should not be making any comments and slap the bad word out of them.  Now, would you rather I had done that?"

It appears that Kenneth Stokes is lacking in home training and the ability to interact in a civil manner.  In less than three years, Stokes will run for re-election.  Hopefully a young, successful minority candidate will step forward to run against him.  A candidate that is for promoting Hinds County and not for self promotion.  If and when that candidate steps forward, we need to be willing to pull out our wallets and support this candidate.  Kenneth Stokes needs to be sent home.  He needs some home training!

A Good Thing

Last night I had the opportunity to go to Arrow Field in Clinton, MS to watch the Clinton Junior High Arrows take on the Warren Central JH Vikings for the Little Six Championship.  Both teams were undefeated but Clinton JH devastated Warren Central JH by a score of 44-6 to win the championship.  Meanwhile over in Vicksburg, Clinton's 9th grade school, Sumner Hill Jr. High, was taking on Warren Central.  Sumner Hill won a hard fought battle winning by a score of 16-8 giving Clinton it's second Little Six Championship of the night.

As good as it felt last night, it felt mighty good tonight when myself, George Dale and Gordie Harkins took our RA's from Northside Baptist Church to the athletic field house at Clinton HS to hear six members of the 3-5, Clinton HS football team talk to the elementary school aged boys about football, school and God.   

A lot is made of public schools and their lack of ability to say anything about God.  A lot is also made of the "dumb jock".  That was not what I experienced tonight.  Cale Luke, Clinton HS's quarterback, who has a 4.0 GPA and a 28 on his ACT told of playing football, play calling and the importance of having a relationship with God.  

Offensive lineman, Roosevelt Hawkins, all 6 foot 3 inches and 360 lbs of him, told about being an offensive lineman and his responsibilities.  Roosevelt, a 3.6 GPA student told the young RA's that school is what is most important and that football comes after school.

Running back, Demarcus Harried, told the boys how he prioritizes.  Quite frankly, he told them, "God first, school second and football third."

What was very impressive is that it was only students/players that talked to us, no coaches.

I really would love for the Clinton HS Arrows to be 8-0 right now, but I have to be honest, I can be satisfied with being 3-5 knowing that Clinton HS has smart young men who have their priorities in order.  These young men will do well in life beyond the game of football. 

Thanks be for young men who represent themselves, Clinton High School and Clinton, MS  in a positive manner.

A Good Teacher and Friend: Bill Lytal

Back in the late 1970's, in the day of 55 MPH speed limits and CB radios, my professor, Bill Lytal and I loaded into his truck and made our way toward Dallas, TX.  I remember the slow journey as we crawled across Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.  Dr. Lytal would ride closely behind eighteen wheelers in hopes of catching their draft and improving our gas mileage while I just prayed that the truck didn't brake suddenly.  You learn a lot about a person when you drive 55 MPH to Dallas and back.

It has been just a few days over two years since the death of Bill Lytal, a professor and friend of mine.    I came to know him when I transferred from Hinds JC to Mississippi College.  Unsure of exactly what I wanted to major in, I chose business and communications and became an employee of the Learning Resources Center (LRC).  It was in the day prior to VHS when large video cassettes taped shows from PBS and they were catalogued and placed into the Learning Resources Library.  Dr. Lytal reigned over the LRC and staff employee, Richard Ritchie and librarian, Wanda Mosley helped to run a very interesting place to work during my last two years of college.

A day at the LRC could range from anything from working in the studio, building sets (he was a good carpenter) for an academic challenge or coaches playback show , running camera or switchboard or editing film or video tape or simply working the counter and checking out video tapes.  Sometimes we would go into the field and tape a commercial for Mississippi College or some event that was happening on campus.  Once we bounced around Mississippi, taping a couple of MC professors, the late Ed Akin and Ron Howard, in a Mississippi History series.

For as much as I learned from Bill Lytal, perhaps one of the most important conversations that I had with him was near the end of my junior year of college, several months after my father abandoned my family and left me, my mother and sixteen year old sister to fend for ourselves.  I told Dr. Lytal that I was thinking of dropping out of college and getting a job.  I told him that I would work for a few years and then come back and finish my degree.  I remember Lytal telling me to step into his office.  He closed the door behind me and gave me what was some of the best advice ever given a college student:

"Ricky, you're not going to drop out.  You're going to come back and finish your degree next year.  From this point on, your major is graduation.  I don't care what your diploma says, your major is graduation.  When you get that diploma, someone will hire you and train you to do whatever it is they want you to do, however they want you to do it... but you have to have that diploma."

Thank goodness for Dr. Lytal and the advice that he gave me that day.  I did major in "graduation" and my class ranking was less than stellar, but I got a diploma from MC and everything that Lytal told me was correct.  

Mississippi College was the right place for me at that time and Dr. Lytal was the professor, advisor and friend that I needed.  God bless the memory of Bill Lytal and may his family forever be blessed with the memory of such a great man.

Danny's Bad Season

It starts on Friday night around 7:00 PM.  The Clinton Arrows take the field and the football weekend is kicked off.  Danny C. Davis will be on the public address system at the stadium.  He has been the voice behind the microphone for the Arrows for decades.  He has also covered and written about Clinton Arrow sports for The Clinton News for just about as long.

For many of us, football is fairly important.  Each year, during the doldrums of mid-season Major League Baseball, we begin to think about how long it is before the football season begins.  Somewhere around May to early July, I commit to the purchase of six season tickets for the Clinton HS Arrows and two season tickets for Mississippi State in anticipation of successful football seasons for both.

My friend, Danny Davis (the same one that is on the public address system) supports the Clinton Arrows, Southern Miss and the New Orleans Saints.  In 2009, the Arrows finished their season at 11-2.  In 2010, the Saints won the Super Bowl and last year, Southern Miss went 12-2 and won the Conference USA championship.  The recent past has been kind.  It has held good and fun memories for Danny Davis and the teams that he supports.  At least that is until this season.  Going into the month of October, The combined record of Danny's teams are:  1-13 (Clinton 1-5, Southern Miss 0-4, NO Saints 0-4).  Weekend after weekend, Danny suffers through a defeat on Friday night, more humiliation on Saturday and then the Saints go retro on Sunday and lose like the Saints teams of years ago.

For a true football fan, this is misery.  Having gone to the Clinton games this year and watching us lose in the fourth quarter to Provine and Jim Hill, teams that are usually victories with a moderate amount of effort, it has been painful.  Probably, grown men shouldn't become frustrated with 16-19 year old kids playing a game.

A look at the schedules of Danny's teams show no major relief in the next few weeks and the suffering will probably continue.  But this past Tuesday, Clinton's 8th grade team beat Madison 44-20 while the 9th grade Arrows beat Madison 34-14.  For a football fan, hope is a great thing.  Already, Danny and I can't wait until next year, and the next!  Help is on the way!

UPDATE:  Finally the seasons came to an end for all of Danny's teams.  The Clinton Arrows righted their ship shortly after the above story was written.  They finished the season winning six in a row, finishing second in the district and hosting a first round playoff game against Southhaven whom they defeated.  The Arrows season would come to a close in the second round of the playoffs against eventual state champion South Panola.  The Arrows finished 7-6.   For Southern Miss, the story was not so good.  The Golden Eagles finished with a winless season at 0-12 and fired their coach after just one season.  The New Orleans Saints had moments when they looked good but with a weak defense, they finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.  Overall, Danny's teams finished 14-27.

WellsFest, The Place to Be

Wells United Methodist Church does a lot of things different.  First, at a time when others have packed up and moved out of Jackson, Wells has stayed put.  Not only have they stayed in their original location but part of their church mission reaches into the surrounding area, to a community that does not resemble much of it's membership.   Indeed, Wells UMC is a strange bird.

Last year, while President of the Board at Mustard Seed, I was introduced to that "strange bird".  The Wells United Methodist Church, WellsFest committee, chose Mustard Seed to be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the 2011 WellsFest.  This is a great honor for any non-profit.

The people at Wells UMC have their act together and WellsFest is by far their biggest undertaking of the year.  Each year the committee goes over applications from different charities and non-profits, all from Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.  The committee narrows down the list and in the case of Mustard Seed, a site visit was made to learn more about our campus and the people that we serve.  Upon selection, there is much to be done, not only by the WellsFest committee but from the chosen charity/non-profit in order to maximize the benefit from WellsFest.

The staff at Mustard Seed did so much to help the WellsFest committee and volunteers and the 2011 WellsFest was a great success.  

Now in just two days (Saturday, Sept 29th), WellsFest 2012 will kick off it's 29th festival at the Jamie Fowler Bowle Park on Lakeland Drive.  This great shaded park provides a nice setting for something as wonderful as WellsFest.  This year, the beneficiary for WellsFest will be the Farish Street YMCA. 

If you have never been to WellsFest, I invite you to come.  It is a great place for families and music lovers and people who just like having fun.  Bring a folding chair and sit and listen to the mostly local music from the dual stage.  Also, as an added treat, Mac McAnally will there this year for your musical entertainment.   WellsFest will be the place to be this Saturday!

For more information on WellsFest, please click the following link:  www.wellsfest.org