Toomer's Corner: A Rivalry Poisoned

The rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University has a colorful and storied history that goes beyond what happens on the field of play. Indeed, within days of moving to the state my sophomore year in high school, it was impressed upon me that I had to choose sides. I tried to remain indifferent for a while, but at one point, in a spirit of playfulness designed to poke the ire of a dear friend of mine (and fellow clarinetist - you know who you are), I aligned myself to Auburn and really, never looked back.

I've seen the best the rivalry has to offer, and until recently, thought I had seen the worst. People take their football passionately down here, and anyone who follows the college sports world knows that the Auburn-Alabama rivalry can get pretty intense. Most of the time, it's all talk and bluster and bravado. But this past season, it took a dark turn, based in part on Auburn's successful run to the BCS National Championship trophy.

Toomer's Corner has long been the site of many Auburn celebrations, with cherished trees that are lovingly rolled with toilet paper following an Auburn victory. For many Auburn fans, Toomer's Corner is sacred ground. And despite the fact that repeated rolling and hosing down of toilet paper in itself takes a toll on the trees, the spot remains a precious treasure in the hearts of Auburn men and women. We do care about the trees.

And now those trees are going to die.

They are going to die, because according to reports, a man claiming to be a devoted Alabama fan called into a local radio show to announce that he had dumped lethal doses of a herbicide called Spike 80DF at the base of the trees. Yesterday, Auburn University confirmed that after soil testing, the man's claim was true.

The famous live oaks at Auburn University's Toom­er's Corner have been given a lethal dose of herbicide and probably can't be saved, university officials said Wednesday.

The soil around the ap­proximately 130-year-old trees, an icon of the univer­sity, registered up to 65 times the normal dose of the herbicide Spike 80DF, Au­burn spokesman Mike Clardy said. Auburn city po­lice are investigating and faculty and grounds crews are trying to rescue the fragile trees but say it's unlikely. …

Auburn officials sampled the soil around the oaks Jan. 28, a day after a University of Alabama fan identifying himself "Al in Dadeville" called in to Paul Finebaum's syndicated radio show and claimed he had poisoned the trees the weekend after the Nov. 26 Iron Bowl game.

"It was kind of hard to take it seriously, and then as he went on it started sounding more serious," Finebaum said. "And now that we've played it back, there's no doubt that he was absolutely serious."

Apparently so. Today, police announced the arrest of a 62-year old man, who describes himself as a former Texas state trooper, on a Class C felony.

Without question, this rivalry has taken a terrible turn. Numerous Alabama fans are themselves aghast at this act of vandalism, which goes far beyond the ordinary pranks that crop up from time to time. I confess to being worried that some similarly destructive individual might seek to retaliate.

What's done is done. Auburn will move on, and I'm certain that in one form or another the Toomer's Corner tradition will remain intact. The rivalry will survive, but make no mistake - the poison seeping through the roots of those beloved trees is also seeping through the hearts of fans on both sides. Unless, and until, people start to put things in proper perspective, the bitter poison will continue to ruin this rivalry. And that's a shame.

Seriously?

A few days ago, in a post about the recent unrest in the Middle East, I wrote:

Are we on the verge of a broader Middle East war, perhaps within the next year or two? Or will the alarm and unrest pass? The winds seem ominous to me, but again, I'm not sufficiently educated or even armed with enough facts to speculate.

Tonight, as I read reports of Iranian ships seeking passage through the Suez Canal en route to Syria, reports that the new foreign minister of Jordan (which has a peace treaty with Israel) calling Israel an "enemy and terrorist state," and reports of continued unrest in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen … I can't help but to think that the timeline to the next Israeli war is much shorter than we think. And then I read this:

The U.S. informed Arab governments Friday that it will support a U.N. Security Council statement reaffirming that the 15-nation body "does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity," a move aimed at avoiding the prospect of having to veto a stronger Palestinian resolution calling the settlements illegal.

Seriously? This is the response from our government? To join an anti-Israel bias in the U.N. condemning their right to build settlements within their own recognized territory? Here is Israel, being visibly hemmed in on all sides, with open hostilities a real possibility, and we're going to pile on by rebuking our ally for building apartments?

This article does go on to imply that this is just a "diplomatic ploy" to keep from having to issue a rare Security Council veto. Perhaps I'm being too naïve to expect us to take a honorable, principled position - but condemning an ally simply to make ourselves "look better" to the Arab world is nothing short of an act of fear. I'm not buying the spin that we need to do this to be perceived as an "honest broker." I'm not suggesting we blindly support the internal policies of our allies, necessarily. But when the lone representative democracy in the region is facing a truly existential threat, you would think that the only major superpower in the world would have the moral courage to stand up in support. At a minimum. A strong statement of support would do more to stabilize the situation than playing shell games with U.N. resolutions.

Israel is running short on friends these days. I used to think the U.S. was one of them. Now I'm not so sure.

Update 2/17: Iranian Ships Cancel Trip Through Suez.

Cagney: The Fighting 69th

My all time favorite movie - and the one that inspired my hobby to collect all movies starring James Cagney - is The Fighting 69th. Cagney plays Jerry Plunkett, a punk with a tough-guy act and cowardly soul who ultimately redeems himself through a final act of valor on a WWI battlefield. Among the cast are such stalwarts as Pat O'Brien (as Father Duffy), Alan Hale (the father of the actor many of us watched on Gilligan's Island), Frank McHugh, and Dennis Morgan (Christmas in Connecticut) as Lt. Ames. I treated myself this afternoon to watching this old favorite.

The movie as a whole pays tribute to the 69th Infantry Regiment, and in particular to Father Francis Patrick Duffy. Duffy Square, the northern half of Times Square, is named after him. The poet Joyce Kilmer was a sergeant in the 69th, and died on the battlefield in 1918. The movie includes a spoken excerpt of his poem "Rouge Bouquet," written to commemorate the loss of 21 soldiers of the 69th. So while the movie is a fictionalized account that centers around Cagney's character, many of the periphery events are factual.

I was first introduced to this movie in a high school history class. I'm not sure why it captured me and birthed a fascination with Cagney. A couple of years ago, I even went so far to buy online a piece of movie memorabilia from this film, an authenticated still photo of the scene where Cagney and Hale first face off as Cagney receives his uniform (below).


I think part of what drives my love of this movie is my appreciation for the roles Cagney and O'Brien play. Cagney's Plunkett is a malcontent who has major problems with authority, who despite his bravado finds himself making a huge mistake, resulting in the deaths of several of his comrades. Later, while on a recon mission, Plunkett panics and tries to run away, crying out and giving away their position to the enemy. After a court martial that results in an execution order, a major battle ensues that gives him a final chance for faith, courage and redemption, all of which he takes. O'Brien's Father Duffy, however, really captures my attention. The scripture he quotes and the prayers he utters all throughout the movie, although delivered in typical 1940's movie stiffness, nevertheless ring authentic and true. Duffy goes after Plunkett as he would the lost sheep, leaving the other 99 for the sake of the one gone so far astray. Nobody is beyond hope, despite all appearance and evidence to the contrary.

The movie ends with O'Brien reciting a prayer, as faces of the fallen march by. I cannot find the scene online, and don't have my system setup to capture it myself at the moment. Nevertheless, the words are powerful, and are a fitting end to both the movie and this post:

Oh Heavenly Father,
Here I beseech you the prayer of this America's lost generation.
They loved life too, O Lord,
It was as sweet to them as to the living of today.
They accepted privation, wounds, and death,
That an ideal might live.
Don't let it be forgotten, Father.
Amid turmoil and angry passions,
When all worthwhile things seem swept away,
Let the tired eyes of a troubled world rise up,
And see the shining citadel of which these young lives
Form the imperishable stones, America.
A citadel of peace. Peace forevermore.
This I beg of you,
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

A Different Paradigm

Quite obviously, the big news of the day is the surprise resignation of Egypt's president-for-life, Hosni Mubarak. I say surprise, because just yesterday he gave a defiant speech declaring his intent to stay in power until elections are held in September. While the details are still fluid, it appears that between the predictable outrage of the crowds in Tahrir Square and understandable misgivings of the top brass in Egypt's military, Mubarak's hand was forced, and now the military is in control. There appears to be a fair amount of jubilation over this outcome, despite the fact that turning over power to a council of military leaders in itself apparently represents a violation of Egypt's existing constitution. Moreover, there seems to be some sentiment that this event, which by some accounts could be argued as a non-violent military coup, is somehow a great victory for freedom and democracy. What a strange notion that a military takeover of a government can be viewed as a victory for democracy.

Egypt (like its regional neighbor Turkey) has a military that historically is a strong player in national politics, most notably beginning with the 1952 Revolution in which the military overthrew the British-backed monarchy. In a fascinating article about the role of Egypt's military in the current crisis, Ellis Goldberg writes:

The Egyptian political system under Mubarak is the direct descendant of the republic established in the wake of the 1952 military coup that brought Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Free Officers to power. Nasser and the officers abolished Egypt's limited parliamentary monarchy and ousted an entire generation of civilian political and judicial figures from public life. They created their own republic stocked with loyal military figures. Their one experiment with technocratic governance, allowing Egyptian legal experts to write a new basic document, was a failure. The experts' draft had provisions for a strong parliament and limited presidency, which the officers deemed too liberal. They literally threw it into the wastebasket and started over, writing a constitution that placed immense power in the hands of the president.

Such an arrangement would prove to work out well for the military, as every Egyptian president since 1953 has been an army officer. For two generations, the military was able, through the president, to funnel most of the country's resources toward national security, arming for a series of ultimately disastrous wars with Israel. These defeats, combined with the government's neglect of the economy, nearly drove the country to bankruptcy. Popular revolt erupted between 1975 and 1977 over the government's economic policies. To regain control, the military turned its attention away from war and toward development. It gradually withdrew from direct control over politics, ceding power to domestic security forces and the other powerful backer of Egypt's ruling party -- small groups of civilian businessmen who benefited from their privileged access to government sales and purchases to expand their own fortunes.

Now, of course, the military has stepped back into direct control. While it certainly can be argued that this move at least brings temporary stability and limits the potential of terrible bloodshed in the near term, claiming that this is a victory for democracy as we understand it is a bridge too far. It would be highly unusual for a military coup, bloodless or not, to lead to a true representative democracy that would in any way diminish the role of the military. This may be a good thing for regional stability, with a nation that is vital to U.S. national interests, but that does not in turn mean freedom for the people. Read the whole thing, but as Goldberg concludes (emphasis mine):

The Mubarak regime as it has existed for the last decade -- an increasingly corrupt and incompetent government that has conferred immense economic advantages on a handful of politically connected businessmen -- has been shattered. A more open political system and a responsive government that ensures its own safety by trimming back the power and privileges of the military could still emerge. And the army may step in as a transitional power and recognize that, as much as it might like to, it cannot return to complete control. The Egyptian military is far more professional and educated than it was in the 1950s, so many officers may recognize the benefits of a democracy. More likely, however, is the culmination of the slow-motion coup and the return of the somewhat austere military authoritarianism of decades past.

Contrast this now with the model of the U.S. civilian-military relationship. By no means am I an expert in any of this, but it is clear that our paradigm for this relationship is far removed from the model typical in several Middle East nations. With the foundation of civilian control of the military, we are accustomed to a grand "bargain" that, while not without tension, has maintained a unique equilibrium between the people, the civilian government and the military. In a post on Powerline earlier this morning, before news broke about Mubarak, Mac Owens summarized his new book, U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating the Civil-Military Bargain. Owens writes:

The United States has been fortunate in that its military has successfully defended the Republic on the battlefield while avoiding threats to civilian control, the most extreme and dangerous forms of which are coup d'état and praetorianism. But tensions have always existed and are manifestations of the fact that from the time of the Revolution to the present day, civil-military relations in America essentially have constituted a bargain among three parties: the American people, the government, and the military as an institution.

The goal of this bargain is to allocate prerogatives and responsibilities between the civilian leadership on the one hand and the military on the other. From time to time throughout U.S. history, certain circumstances--political, strategic, social, technological, etc.--have changed to such a degree that the terms of the existing civil-military bargain become obsolete. The resulting disequilibrium and tension have led the parties to renegotiate the bargain in order to restore balance in the civil-military equation.

He goes on at length from there, asking some fascinating questions that he addresses in the book. It's lengthy, but a good read that makes me wonder if I should buy the book sometime. In the end, I find it worthy of reflection, if not essential to our understanding, of just how fortunate we are to not have the civil-military relationship so prevalent in places like Egypt. Military rule is authoritarian, and cannot by definition be democratic - yet to survive, a democratic form of government depends on military strength, with appropriate roles and responsibilities, checks and balances. For all of our flaws, we truly have a remarkable system.

Another Inch, Another Lost Day

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man ... a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is … Winter in Alabama ....

Once again, North Alabama is a blanket of white wintery wonder. While heavier in some places, the inch plus that fell nearby last night hit the road, melted, and froze. An inch of snow on the grass, a quarter inch of pocked ice on the driveway and neighborhood roads. Schools that were only to be delayed this morning have closed due to numerous accidents across the county this morning. With the temperature not expected to get close to freezing until late in the day, once again the powers that be have closed roads and are recommending we all stay home.

I learned to drive in the frozen wastelands of North Dakota, and it is tempting to think that with a little extra time, I could find my way into work this morning. However, after taking a running slide down the driveway, and coupling that with the fact that I have telecommuting privileges, I suppose it is best to stay clear of less experienced drivers and trouble spots.

So I'll make some coffee, throw a log in the fireplace, and get back to work on my research assignment while stealing glances out the window at the world of white.

And through that window, looking back at me across space and time, I just know that Rod Serling is waxing poetic.

Sing it Proudly, Sing it Right

While I am no longer a rabid fan of the NFL, I do pay attention during the playoffs, and usually watch at least part of the Super Bowl. Much to my distress, I watched tonight as yet another recording artist found a way to mangle the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Some years, the arrangements are designed to draw attention to the artist. Other years, whether out of nervousness or plain lack of preparation, they trip over the lyrics. I don't want to be too harsh here, but I really wonder if we're raising a generation that can't be bothered to learn the words and music to our precious national songlist.

Browsing around tonight, I found that there many people expressing their frustration at tonight's rendition, and nearly all of them pointed back to the 1991's Super Bowl XXV as the best they ever heard. In 1991, of course, the Gulf War had just started, so there was something extra in the air. Nevertheless, the performance by Whitney Houston is simply powerful. She doesn't perform the anthem, she sings it. As I view it, she's not drawing attention to herself, but rather she leads the crowd in a large group revival.

The point is, the Star Spangled Banner is an American treasure, and should be treated as such. Sing it proudly, sing it triumphantly. And above all, sing it right.


(h/t): Everybody.

Preclearance: A Perpetual Punitory Practice?

In the recent November election, the people of the State of Alabama chose to put a Republican majority in the state legislature for the first time in 136 years. On top of that, we elected Republicans to Governor, Lt. Governor and a majority of other state offices. Needless to say, after generations of Democratic leadership, changes are to be expected.

One of these initiatives involved the passage of a new law in December designed to break the hold of two powerful unions - the Alabama Education Association (AEA) and the Alabama State Employees Association (ASEA). Prior to December, public employees were permitted to contribute directly to these unions through payroll deductions, very much a conflict of interest given the role these organizations play in the political life of the state. However, the argument either for or against this legislation is not the topic at hand.

According to the Associated Press, this new law has to be approved by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) before it can be put into effect. The reason? The 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Arising out of the civil rights conflicts across the nation - and most famously in the South - the Voting Rights Act followed closely after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The primary intent, according to the text of the Act (Section 2), is to ensure:

SEC. 2. No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.

Again, as a reinforcement of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, there is really little here to argue, nor would I presume to do so. There is another section however that is much more punitive and controversial, and becomes more so after 45 years and counting:

SEC. 5. Whenever a State or political subdivision with respect to which the prohibitions set forth in section 4(a) are in effect shall enact or seek to administer any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting different from that in force or effect on November 1, 1964, such State or subdivision may institute an action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for a declaratory judgment that such qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure does not have the purpose and will not have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color, and unless and until the court enters such judgment no person shall be denied the right to vote for failure to comply with such qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure: Provided, That such qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure may be enforced without such proceeding if the qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure has been submitted by the chief legal officer or other appropriate official of such State or subdivision to the Attorney General and the Attorney General has not interposed an objection within sixty days after such submission, except that neither the Attorney General's failure to object nor a declaratory judgment entered under this section shall bar a subsequent action to enjoin enforcement of such qualification, prerequisite, standard, practice, or procedure. Any action under this section shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges in accordance with the provisions of section 2284 of title 28 of the United States Code and any appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court.

In practice, this is known as the Preclearance Requirement. Basically, the passage of any state law that intersects ever so slightly (even changing a polling place from one location to another) requires approval from the federal government. But note, this requirement doesn't apply to all states. Instead, it applies only to what is called the "covered jurisdiction." That covered jurisdiction is illustrated in the map below (click for larger version):


Arguments have been made that this is an infringement on state's rights. Likewise, arguments have been made that the only way to enforce the Act was to impose Preclearance on those jurisdictions guilty of prior abuse or neglect of the 15th Amendment. After 46 years, has the culture of these states changed enough that the scarlet letter can be removed? Or are past infringements completely unforgivable, such that the towns, cities and states must forever get permission to pass laws that have no bearing or application at the federal level? For now, the punitory practice continues.

According to the Alabama Attorney General, submitting such laws for review per the Preclearance requirement is routine. After 46 years, that's not surprising. What is surprising is the continued acquiescence after so much time. All it would take would be a politicized DOJ to arbitrarily block state legislation from being enforced. And only some states at that. Clearly, not all states have sovereignty.

But I suppose there is nothing to worry about. The DOJ would never allow itself to become politicized, playing favorites or selectively enforcing some laws and not others, right?

Red Moon Uprising?

I haven't been in the mood of late to delve too deeply back into the world of politics, and in a way I am loathe to do so now. I still keep up with the news of course. I could expound on my thoughts about the litigation working its way through the courts on the healthcare law, or on the economy, the budget deficit and whether the new leadership in the House can actually accomplish anything. But as it is, bigger events are happening on the world stage, and we here in the U.S. may finally be starting to take notice. Maybe.

I read with interest a few weeks ago about the uprising in Tunisia, which resulted in the overthrow of the government and ongoing instability there. The government of Lebanon came under full control of Hezbollah. Rockets continue to rain down on Israel from Hamas. The big news this past week has been filled with an uprising in Egypt, which seems likely to end the 30-year reign of Hosni Mubarak.

And today, the King of Jordan, perhaps trying to get ahead of a possible uprising in his own country, preemptively dismissed his entire government and set about trying to form a new one.

Egypt and Jordan are by far the most alarming developments. These two countries are the only ones in that part of the world that have diplomatic relations with Israel. In Egypt, if the Muslim Brotherhood organization gains control of the government, peace between Egypt and Israel may not last. Jordan, which like Egypt also shares a border with Israel, is important because if it were to fall, Israel would have adversaries literally on every side. Furthermore, Jordan borders Iraq and provides supply lines to the American forces still in country.

I'm not smart enough to comment on these developments authoritatively, and from what I see and read, I'm not sure anyone really is. It is too difficult to know what is really happening on the ground. Most governments, including our own, are mostly just issuing public statements of concern that carry little weight. We can hope that the State Department and the White House are actively working behind the scenes diplomatically, but I imagine there is concern about our ability to be effective in the face of an uprising that does not view the U.S. with friendly eyes. One lesson seems clear: Autocracies (even friendly ones) are rarely stable for more than a generation or two, and they are usually replaced by new autocracies after a violent revolution or rebellion.

Are we on the verge of a broader Middle East war, perhaps within the next year or two? Or will the alarm and unrest pass? The winds seem ominous to me, but again, I'm not sufficiently educated or even armed with enough facts to speculate.

One thing seems certain: major change is coming to the region, and may already be underway. How we respond and how it affects us remains to be seen.

Remembering Challenger

Twenty-five years ago today, the Space Shuttle Challenger came apart and exploded 73 seconds after launch, raining the ocean in a shower of debris, taking from us the lives of 7 courageous men and women: Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, and Teacher in Space Christa Corrigan McAuliffe. This tragedy dealt a major blow to the false perception that manned space travel could be reduced to anything routine and safe. It never was "safe." But pushing the boundaries of the final frontier doesn't have to be safe to be worthy and worth doing.

The depth of my memories of that day have faded over time. I was in an 9th grade English class on that cold January morning (like it is anything but cold in North Dakota in January). Word filtered quickly down the hall, and we ran to one of the few television sets on top of a push cart to try to tune in to the NBC broadcast. Other than watching the available footage over and over, marvelling darkly at the understatement of the moment ("we have experienced a major malfunction"), most of that day has been lost to the recesses of my mind. I do remember President Reagan's address from the Oval Office, but that memory has been augmented by the wonders of YouTube. I remember the loss of Columbia much more clearly, but of course that wasn't all that long ago.

My hopes of getting my family down to a launch have pretty much been retired, as the final schedule just doesn't seem to work with our calendar. STS-133 (Discovery) is preparing to roll out to the pad for the final time, to launch February 24. STS-134 (Endeavour) launches for the last time April 19. Finally, in June, the launch of STS-135 (Atlantis) will bring the space shuttle era to a close, and quite likely the end of manned space flight for the foreseeable future.

Where NASA goes from here is still to be determined. One president casts a vision and the next cancels it. In an age of mounting national debt and increasingly polarized politics, USA manned space flight will stay grounded as we watch China and perhaps India pursue the moon. Without at least some latitude for privatization and entrepreneurship, we may spend our days looking back at the past while others pursue the future. Manned space flight is a luxury that has to give way to the burden of our debt and entitlements.

For the crew of STS-51-L, I raise the proverbial glass to you in memory and thanks. "We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'"

My Fascist Cat

Have you ever been driving along a familiar stretch of road, and at some point on the journey you have a slight jolt of panic when you realize that you don't recall the past couple of miles? That feeling is similar to what I felt this afternoon, when I realized it had been a week since I last stopped to put pen to paper, as it were. Where have the last seven days gone?

Work responsibilities and assignments are picking up, and once again the pinewood derby season is in full swing: these perhaps account for portions of the missing week. Peeing felines, typical household chores, and a delightful dinner date with my wife were also highlighting events, although I must say that there is a dramatic difference between enjoying a meal at Outback and having to stick my nose in a couch cushion to see if I could still smell pee from a suddenly territorial and bullying cat. Ahem, perhaps it is now time to redeem this post from the litter box of history, to a more genteel level of discourse.

I also took time this week to finish a book I started a few months ago by Frances Stoner Saunders, entitled The Woman Who Shot Mussolini. In her work, Saunders investigates the life of the Honorable Violet Gibson, daughter of Edward Gibson, Baron Ashbourne, Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1837-1913). Violet Gibson, for reasons known only to her, conceived and undertook a daring attempt to assassinate Benito Mussolini in 1926 Rome. She missed, clipping him only on the nose, and was thereby thwarted in what could have been a striking redirection of history. The failed attempt further secured the megalomaniacal rise of Mussolini and his brand of Italian fascism in the era between the first two world wars. Remarkably, Ms. Gibson was not executed, being instead declared insane and deported back to a British mental asylum for the rest of her life.

What I enjoyed most about the book was the way the author weaved in so many threads and colors of the period, such as the early adoration that Western leaders - including Churchill - had for Mussolini as the "Savior of Italy," the politics of the elite aristocracy and their fascination with fascism and socialism, an outbreak of Irish nationalism, and the prevailing ideas of psychiatry and the treatment of those who were truly mentally ill (and the scandal that many who were committed to such lunatic asylums suffered from nothing more severe than having "wrong political ideas," weak constitutions, and occasional bouts of depression). Indeed, some well-to-do families took advantage of the system to get rid of their more "socially unacceptable" relations. The book leaves open the question as to whether Gibson was as mentally ill as she was purported to be. Me, while I suspect some level of dissociative disorder, there seems to be plenty of evidence of a politically savvy and perceptive woman. This picture of Gibson, and whatever mental instability she may have had, was laid next to a picture of the narcissistic and paranoid Mussolini, leading one to wonder just who was in greater need of psychological attention.

This is what I love about history. There are so many influences pressing together at a moment in time, that while we can look at the basic facts of a single missed shot, the tapestry is far more complex, and far more telling, when taken as a whole. So while it is tempting to position the magnifying glass or the microscope over a single point of color, like a Seurat, it is worth the time to step back and view the brighter colors of the whole.

January 17, 1991

War. It is remarkable, in a way, that our preoccupation with ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan the past 10 years remains uneasy. Perhaps it just goes to show that try as we might, we cannot compartmentalize everything. All of us are only a few degrees of separation - if that - from a very personal connection to the wars we fight. We go on living life, as we should, but the shadow that at times seems utterly detached from our personal reality continues to hover nearby. I am glad for it, because it is important to remember, to retain the intermingled awareness of guilt and gratitude for those who keep watch on the battlements, in the skies, and across enemy lines.

The new academic quarter had started at Auburn, and after a week or so, I was just settling into a new schedule and routine. For months, the troops had been deploying to Saudi Arabia, preparing to force Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. B-52 bomber squadrons were also sent abroad, some to operate out of the island territory of Diego Garcia. Everyone within my safe little bubble knew that war was coming, yet still we were caught off guard on that cool January evening when the air campaign began. Classes done for the day, I had run by Hardees to grab a quick bite to eat on my way to the student center to play a little basketball. I flipped on the radio, expecting music, but instead heard the voice of Peter Jennings providing coverage of the aerial assault. I drove while transfixed, even in shock, until I reached the parking lot. I sat there for a while, before turning it off and heading inside. Everywhere I turned, you could see students spreading the news: "It's started." We played our game of hoops, but our hearts weren't in it. Our thoughts were far away. My thoughts were with my dad, serving at Diego Garcia as a mission planner and B-52 navigator.

Being at college, I felt a million miles away from my family, and frequent phone calls and letters from abroad, while treasured, did little to bridge that gap that I felt so acutely every day during that conflict. I still had to go to class, I still had to go through the routines, engaging in relationships with friends. CNN was one of those "friends," at least for a time. Each community had its own unique way of expressing solidarity with those deployed in the fight, but of course the most common of these was the yellow ribbon. In those days, we didn't have the nice, stylish magnetic ribbons that people stick on their cars and trucks today - and indeed, has been copycatted so many times for so many "causes" that the sentiment loses something in the repetition. After the war started, I went down to K-Mart and bought myself some good, old-fashioned yellow ribbon, cut a 12-inch piece and tied it to the antenna of my Ford Fairmont. There it flew for months, until the war was over and the majority of our service men and women had come home, including my father. Severely weather-worn, it crossed my mind only briefly to discard it - a thought I am sure was dismissed in less than a second. Instead, I affixed the ribbon to a small American flag I'd picked up somewhere, and put it in a stand on my desk. Twenty years later, that same flag and that same tattered yellow ribbon sits on my desk at my office. I have been asked only twice in twenty years about my humble display. It serves me well, reminding me not only of the sacrifices of yesterday's wars, but those of today. It reminds me of the agonizing hours and days I spent weighing the call to military service (both before college and again following the start of the Gulf War). It reminds me of the gratitude I have toward those that did answer that call. It reminds me of my indebtedness to those who willingly stand in the gap to ensure our freedom.

Twenty years. A lifetime that seems like only yesterday.

And on the 7th Day …

The snow finally began to melt apace. The field behind the house is still a plain of white, but on the hill the grass is beginning at last to reappear from beneath the snow. In spots, it still measures a couple of inches. Friday, we finally saw the temperature rise above freezing, and today it is a pleasant 46 degrees (with a chance of freezing rain in the early morning, of course).

The boys made a wonderful time of it all, being held out of school for the entire week. The roads were iffy through Wednesday, but improved in the days afterward. However, the school parking lots and several neighborhoods were still subject to ice, which (for North Alabama) causes safety issues. So after 4 days back at school following the holidays, the return to routine suffered a serious blow. What's more, school is out again tomorrow for MLK. I suffered a bout of cabin fever, and slid my way into work on Thursday and Friday. I still feel quite out of sorts, and long for our typically crazy, but predictable schedule.

Tuesday, with any luck, we will reboot the routine and get this year on track.

War Eagle! National Champions 22-19!

 Auburn Wins! 

I was there for perfection in 1993 as a student, as Auburn marched to a probation limited, 11-0 season. In 2004, I again saw perfection as Auburn amazed with a 13-0 season, only to be denied a chance to play in the big game. Tonight, for the 3rd time in 18 years, I saw perfection again. And while not always pretty, 14-0 and the first national championship in 53 years - the 2010 Auburn Tigers won it all and take home the crystal.

I believe in Auburn, and I love it!

Snow of the Century

For North Alabama, I'm not exaggerating too much with a title like that. I was here in 1993, when it snowed 7+ inches and shut down the area for almost 4 days. Starting around 9pm last night and continuing through mid-morning today, we got hit with almost 9 inches of snow. 9! Shortly after it began, it was coming down over an inch per hour. School was out today, and is already cancelled for tomorrow. It has been incredible. Combined with Christmas, we've had 13 inches of snow at my house this winter. In Alabama! Unreal.

We did some sledding, built a big snowman, and had a good time. Nine inches of snow makes a big difference with the performance of the sledding, as compared to the fun we had last February. It wasn't all fun: I elected to go ahead and shovel the driveway. Given the likelihood of a slow melt over the next week, I figured it would be better to shovel the sloped driveway now rather than let it get too icy. It was a nice workout, to say the least.

Here's a small sampling of the pictures we've taken. Enjoy! Click each to enlarge.

On Revising Huck Finn

In the original game of Trivial Pursuit, the brown pie piece represented the category covering Arts & Literature. I've often toyed with appropriating those categories for my own use on this blog, because sometimes the topics I cover don't fit within the categories I have. Today's Arts & Literature question (for the brown pie piece) is a subjective one: Does the publication of a revised Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to remove a certain offensive racial term detract from its overall value and importance as a major work of American literature?

According to Publisher's Weekly, NewSouth Books plans to release a new edition of Mark Twain's classic that removes all references to the notorious "n-word." (Yes, let's just get this out of the way: I see no reason to type out a word that I personally don't use. I don't mind being called a squish on this one). The primary intent (besides making a little extra money) is to reintroduce Twain's controversial work back into schools and libraries that have banned the book over the last several decades. Admittedly, it has been over 25 years since I read Huckleberry Finn, so I had to peek at its page on Wikipedia to refresh my memory on its major themes.

In principle, I am generally opposed to the attempt to alter an original work by one of the most acclaimed American authors. Twain's works were often controversial because the man himself was controversial. He held very strong views on a number of subjects, and his works were in part designed to illustrate those views through entertaining storytelling. Indeed, it is the controversial nature of Finn that necessitates its inclusion in the classroom, because the debate it engenders forces a hard look at the values of yesterday, against which the values of today can be compared (or contrasted). (Indeed, the hardest book I've ever read on racial topics was Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Hard, but eye-opening). If we whitewash the fence (ahem) that is Huckleberry Finn, we risk doing to Twain the same thing that has happened to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Few of us think of Swift's work as the satire and parody it was written to be. The context, without educational aids and discussion, is lost to us. Twain's work is not so far gone, but there are those who would just as soon see Twain disappear behind a vault as mysteriously as did Disney's Song of the South. Granted, not all works have redeeming value in and of themselves, but works that expose life as it was (and is) can be redeemed in the sense of what we learn from them. Twain could have softened his vernacular, yet he did not. From an artistic standpoint, what matters most is not just the words he used, but the story and the commentary he wanted to convey.

However, if by some chance this scrubbed edition of Huckleberry Finn changes the minds of book-banning administrators (still a difficult challenge, I think), then the question remains, will it detract from a substantive review and discussion in the classroom? I used to read through various volumes of the Reader's Digest abridged books. I did not know what I was missing because honestly, how could I know? I remember as a preteen reading an abridged Robinson Crusoe, but until a few years ago did not fathom just how much of the book's heart was actually "abridged." If Finn is exposed to the intellect of a new generation in a serious way, is that not a good thing even if the artistic vernacular is watered down so as to be less offensive? I'd like to be a steadfast purist on this, but I confess that I take a contrarian position with movies on TV that contain dubbed-over dialog. Such editing allows me to watch these movies with my kids, whereas I would be much less likely to allow them to watch the same in their original released format (until they are older anyway). With the dubbed-over language, the movies are more accessible to a broader audience. Therefore it is not such a stretch to think the same argument can apply to a book like Huckleberry Finn.

In the end, I find myself coming back to the position of the textual purist. While I can acknowledge the incongruity of taking this position with my leanings in the preceding paragraph, I believe we do a disservice to Twain's legacy to take his work and refashion it in our own image to fit our modern sensitivities. Although, if the author were alive today, I don't doubt for a moment that he might himself amend it if doing so helped him sell more books (he wasn't exactly proficient at managing money). It just seems to me to be an infringement on the artist's original intent. Still, if the end result of this new edition is that Huckleberry Finn finds itself in the hands of a greater number of students than before, I'll certainly find it difficult to grieve over such a perpetuation of a classic of American literature.

Let's Call it a Year

Despite the fact that I am sure tonight's New Year's Eve festivities will be filled with fun, family and games until sometime after midnight, I cannot help but resonate with today's Family Circus:



After 2010, that pretty much sums up how I feel: tired. At least 2010 ended on a good note, including a wonderful Christmas snowfall (3 inches) that stayed on the ground for 4 days before fading at last, as if it never was. Nevertheless, it is time to look forward to 2011. I'm not much into making annual resolutions, but here's a list of things that either will happen, or need to happen in the coming year (in no particular order).

1. I turn 40. Whoopee.

2. I need to lose 20-25 pounds. This is quickly becoming a "have to" now.

3. The completion of my bonus room over the garage. I made a good deal of progress the past couple of weeks, hanging ceiling fans and doing a lot of painting. Just need to follow through, finish, reappraise, and get the PMI out of my monthly house bill.

4. Weathering another dramatic change in church leadership. This time, it's more than a new pastor. Now we're being absorbed by another church altogether, becoming a satellite congregation. It'll be interesting to witness, to be sure.

5. My children continuing to grow up before my eyes.

6. A long overdue getaway with my wife, celebrating anniversaries 15, 16 and 17.

7. A family vacation of some sort - one that doesn't involve a certain Orlando attraction.

8. Carving out time for, dare I say it … golf?

9. Charting out a course for this blog. I always write better when writing with a purpose.

10. Finally, despite #9, spending more time unplugged from the computer, from the phone, and from the TV. There are books to be read, games to be played, household projects to complete, and even exercising to do (see #2). Most of us could stand to spend some more time unplugged. I know I could.

Happy New Year to you and yours, and God bless!

For Unto Us

Adapted from a devotion published in 1997.

I was up late one night this past week admiring our Christmas tree. No doubt, it is the best one we've had since we've been married. An artificial Douglas Fir, the tree is adorned with wonderful decorations. There is the angel on top, lightly glowing; there are a number of glitter-speckled balls; an iridescent garland wrapping around the tree; and a number of specialty ornaments of both the unique and cute variety. With Christmas music playing softly in the background, I watched the colorful lights light up the room, some flashing slowly, others staying brightly lit. It was a peaceful moment, and as late as it was, it wasn't long before I allowed my imagination out to play.

I was very close to the tree, looking deep inside its branches, past the garland, past the ceramic angels, past the glittery balls and lights. Suddenly I was passing through a galaxy of lights and decorations, speeding ever faster toward the heart of the tree. All came to a stop, where before me was a simple, nondescript ornament hanging in space. It wasn't flashy or shiny, cute or iridescent. It lay there silently, almost hidden from sight. But once past all the distractions, the worries, and the substitutes, I could see it. A lowly manger, with a Child and his earthly parents. Yes, in that moment, the true meaning of Christmas filled my senses.

What about you? Has Christmas become too routine, filled only with the annual rush and the shiny, flashy façade? I pray that you will find a quiet moment to look down, deep into the heart of Christmas, and rediscover the true meaning and hope of this special time, meant for you and all the world. For unto us, a Child is born, and a Son is given.


The heart of Christmas is the hope and promise of one man, one Lord, and one Savior, Jesus Christ.

"The angel reassured them, 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!' Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the armies of heaven -- praising God: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors'" (Luke 2:10-14, NLT)

May you each have a blessed Christmas!

Originally published 24 December, 1997. Encounters! Ministry, Copyright © James A. Chase

Christmas Snow

What a beautiful sight. As late as midnight last night, the forecasters were calling for a light dusting at best, if anything at all. Looks like they missed this one. I awoke around 6 a.m. to check on my son (now apparently fever-free), and walked into the living room to a glow emanating through the windows. I opened the shears to see a sea of white, with the snow still coming down. Three deer were picking their way across the yard, only visible in the still dark hours because of the deepening blanket. I watched them for almost 15 minutes, just enjoying the moment.

Four hours later, the snow continues to fall, with the "forecast" now updated, calling for 2-4 inches before the day is out. According to the ruler, I figure we've had 2.5 inches so far. It really is a pretty sight, and a wonderful Christmas surprise.

Christmas Eve Forecast - 101 degrees

Sadly, that is the morning temperature of my younger son, making for a not so happy Christmas Eve. Hopefully, it will pass soon, but it means that he and I will have to miss the Christmas Eve service tonight. I'll send my older son and my wife on to worship. Needless to say, my young one is pretty bummed right now. But I'm sure he'll perk up soon. A little temperature is not going to rob him of his Christmas joy.

On an unrelated note, I got a good laugh out of this picture I saw posted online today.


I wonder what my neighbors would think if I did that. Hmmm ....

Far Superior to a Cocker Spaniel

For most of my adult life, I've wanted to be a tenor. Look around: most male solo artists are tenors. Unfortunately, while I surmise that I have an above average voice talent by some measures, I am most assuredly an ensemble baritone. In other words, I have a mid-level range that is best reserved for group or otherwise blended arrangements. I just don't have the right timbre for anything else. And I'm okay with that, really (in a pig's eye).

Bing Crosby had a wonderful baritone voice that rivaled Sinatra and Martin on the A-list of crooners. "White Christmas," initially performed by Crosby in the 1942 classic Holiday Inn, remains today as one of the standard tracks of the Christmas music genre. Twelve years after its initial release, Paramount made a movie named after the song. High on the list of my holiday favorites, White Christmas tells a story about a song and dance act (Wallace & Davis, played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) who find themselves at a hotel in Vermont run by their former WWII Army commander, M.G. Thomas Waverly. In an effort to boost the business for the hotel, which is suffering due to lack of snow (and thus patronage), Wallace and Davis concoct a plan to bring their entire act to the hotel, as well as all the former Army buddies they can gather together to honor General Waverly. It really is a great movie, although it is probably one Vera Ellen dance scene too long (shortly before the movie's climax).

This used to be a dry-eyed movie for me, but as I've grown older, I find that my eyes tend to leak toward the end of the movie - the look on the face of the General at the sight of his men, and at the falling of the snow in the final minutes.


Of course, I would be remiss if I did not also post the title track from the movie. The video below is long (it includes portions of both the opening and ending of the movie), but it seems to be the best quality of what I've been able to find on YouTube. Of course, if you prefer, there are any number of videos with Bing singing the song on his Christmas specials. The song picks up at around the 6:55 mark. Enjoy.


May we all remember those who cannot make it home for Christmas this year, in particular the men and women serving our Nation around the globe. God bless.