Raise our candle and shed a little light.

"Each and every day, each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances, has a choice. We can squander our time fingering old welts, second guessing past decisions, and tormenting ourselves over the poor choices of others; or we can embrace a new day brimming with opportunities for doing justly, loving mercy, and building foundations for a bright, new tomorrow. Time is precious. Choose wisely." I wrote this years ago. I believe it's good advice. Addressing each day's negativity is robbing me of friends, family, and much of the joy I might otherwise experience. While silence is complicity and there comes a time to speak, it's easy today to become complicit by contributing to the gloom. Today's evils speak volumes for themselves. Rather than cursing the darkness, we might do better to raise our candles and shed a little light. SC

Evidently incapable of compassion

All of America's past Presidents, those living and those dead, must be saddened, repulsed, and embarrassed by today's America. We've gone from a shinning city on a hill, admired by the world, to a godless black hole in the heart of humanity, serving only mammon, heedless of God's call to mercy, and evidently incapable of compassion. Christ is surely in tears. SC

My Happy Place

 This is the pier at my pond at the Cannamire at Carman's Edge. 

Carman's Edge

It's a scary world, and I'm blessed. In the Ozark Mountains of Missouri are quite a number of National Forests. In the middle of one, is an eight-thousand-acre wildlife management area. I live at Carman's Edge. If I'm quiet, all is quiet. I love quiet, and I'm good at it. All is quiet here at Carman's Edge tonight. I'm safe, and I'm praying for the rest of ya. Sleep well. SC

The best defense against lies and ignorance is truth, told calmly & repeatedly until it spreads exponentially. SC

So, what is marriage today?

I feel moved today to share a few thoughts on the state of matrimony in 2025. I don't suggest I'm an expert, but having been married for almost 43 years, I feel qualified to share my views. There's a good deal of talk today about family values and traditional Christian marriage, as contained in biblical scripture. The following scrap of scripture comes immediately to mind. Years ago, Ephesians 5:22-24 was often contained in marriage vows. It says, "Wives, obey your husbands as you obey the Lord. The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church." Good luck with that. In The United States of America, in the year of our Lord 2025, this scripture is rarely if ever contained in marriage vows, and I'm going to guess it's even more rarely practiced.  Without this verse as its capstone, biblical marriage no longer exists. Add to this the fact that, while sex was once expected to be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage, today most consider sex little more than a socially acceptable pastime to be enjoyed between two consenting adults whenever the opportunity arises.  More and more, monogamy is an outdated concept. So much for Biblical marriage.

So, what is marriage today? Marriage today is one part relationship and one part partnership. For the relationship to thrive within a modern marriage, it's essential that each partner consider their partnership to be fair and equitable, with each partner sharing an equal part of the household responsibility. Ideally, each partner would perform those essential tasks at which they were best suited, thereby making the best use of each mate's abilities and maximizing the couple's potential. If this can be accomplished in communion with each individual's faith, so much the better, but today, most do not consider faith a prerequisite. Partnerships provide legal advantages, and a thriving partnership is conducive to a rewarding relationship. Under the very best of circumstances, modern marriage is challenging; statistics suggest more than half fail. Of those that survive, more often than not, they do so because they are bolstered by the couple's faith and the constant, dependable, and unwavering expression of love and mutual respect by each partner. Good luck! And may God Bless. 

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

FAITH

As a little boy, back in the 1950s, I became very ill. My mom and dad loaded me into the old Chevy and took me to the doctor. A spinal tap determined that I had Poliomyelitis. Following the diagnosis, I spent several terrifying weeks confined to a hospital ward at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo, California. There I saw other children struggling with the crippling disease. Some were in braces. Some were confined to iron lungs. Some never walked again. Some never left the facility. Some died.

One night, all alone in my room and scared half to death, I remembered one of my favorite books back home. The title of the little children’s book was “Jesus, A Boy’s Friend”. I began praying as only a terrified child can pray. I prayed and cried until I finally fell asleep. Several days later the doctor had good news for my family. My symptoms were gone. They were free to take me home.

As I left the hospital, hand in hand with Mom and Dad that day, I began a path that has led me to this day. Some days my faith is just as strong as the day I left that hospital. Other days, not so much, but from that day to this I’ve set out each day to walk the path I’m given, in the light I’m given. On my very best days, I share that light with others. Each of us walks a different path, revealed in a different light. As a result, we each have different perspectives, different convictions, and varying points of view. We need to show each other a little compassion and cut each other some slack.

I was only four, but I remember well the other kids in the ward with me in the hospital. I remember incubators, braces, buckets of ice, and being haunted for years by the horrific thought of spending my entire life in an iron lung. I remember missing Mom and Dad and praying like I'd never prayed before, from that moment to this day, for anyone who suffers such a fate. I remember when I first got sick, my folks bundling me up in the old Chevy for the two-mile trip to town. I remember Doctor’s Bliss and Elliot and the spinal tap that verified the prognosis. I remember being terrified and held down, and screaming “Daddy, Daddy!” at the top of my lungs, and the sound of a scuffle outside my door as they tried to restrain my father. I remember tugging my cowboy boots on and walking out of that hospital with Mom and Dad. And I remember being very, very thankful. I remember sitting in the bright sunshine back home on Reservoir Hill and pondering the whole experience over and over. And I remember all through school befriending other boys and girls, who walked funny or talked funny, or for whatever reason, didn’t quite fit in. And it warms my heart to this very day when I see folks accepted for who they are.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

Tomorrow is always a day away

 

Me and Grandad, early '50s 

In some ways, June of 2025 is very reminiscent of the summers of my youth, back in the 1950s and '60s. In some ways, it's very different. Still, I have dreams of the past and hopes for the future. We can't go back, but we can be good and faithful stewards of both the past and future. We can appreciate past blessings and pay them forward. We can make certain we learn from past mistakes. We can remember always that tomorrow is always a day away, and today is our best opportunity for insuring its promise. SC

The melodious rattling of my teeth

Here, for the few that will read it, is a little piece of nostalgia guaranteed to brighten your day. This little reminiscence was prompted by the fact that, while on the lawn mower, I just missed a phone call. Now, those of you whose lawn was bladed, tilled, raked and rolled prior to planting may well sail along at a good clip on a lawn that's smooth as cornsilk, with your beverage unmolested, your pompadour undisturbed, and your sacroiliac unscathed and entirely tranquil. I on the other hand have an Ozark lawn, brought into existence when I began transforming and mowing an old cow pasture. The resulting lawn, you may well imagine, is not smooth as cornsilk. it's bumpy, unforgiving, and rough as a cob! For those unfamiliar with the term, rough as a cob, imagine if you will, a day when toilet tissue was an unimaginable luxury, and once dried corn had been chucked and the kernels removed for hominy grits and livestock sustenance, the cobs were provided in the gentleman's retreat for derriere grooming purposes. Thus, the term, rough as a cob. Picture this at your own peril. The very thought causes my hemorrhoids to pucker! Long story short, I missed my call because, during the buzzing and whirring of my device, my ears perceived nothing but jarring bones and the melodious rattling of my teeth. SC 

A Scrap of Scripture

Yes. It’s absolutely true; taking any statement, particularly scripture, out of context, is dangerous. I fault no one for their faith or their lack of faith, as long as its peaceful and unconfrontational. I myself am a Christian. True followers of Christ do not attempt to force others; they lead others by example. As a Christian, I encourage each of you to read and study as much of the Bible as you possibly can. That being said, there are those among us who insist that, in order to be of any value, the Bible must be read in its entirety, with each word taken literally, and nothing taken figuratively. And these people are willing and able to defend their view loudly, passionately and unequivocally, till the cows come home! That’s their prerogative. I wish them well. However, not even the most foolhardy among us, if confronted with eating an elephant, would embark on this endeavor by attempting to swallow the entire pachyderm whole! To do so would be extravagantly imprudent, unquestionably lethal, and almost certainly ruin one's taste for elephant! If an entire elephant is to be eaten without discombobulating one's pallet, it must be taken one tiny bite at a time. Each bite must be methodically chewed and vigorously washed down with something equal to the task, in moderation of course. The same holds true for the Bible.

I’ve been a Christian for over sixty years. Christianity works for me. It doesn’t make everyday a picnic. When you truly care about Christ’s message, life breaks your heart. But daily applying Christ’s message to my life has given me hope, faith, charity, and occasionally joy. I’m not just messing with you. It actually has. If you believe something else works better for you, knock yourself out, but if you see anything in my life that suggests to you that Christianity works for me, and you’re interested in trying it, I have a suggestion. My favorite scripture is Micah, Chapter 6, verse 8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” That verse has served me well throughout my life. Take it and make it yours. Plant it in bright, sunny corner of your memory. Water it with your tears; feed it daily with your contemplation and encourage it with your most persuasive smile. See if it doesn’t take root and reveal new verses. It certainly did for me. Try that for a while and let me know what you think. If it doesn’t work, go ahead and swallow the elephant!

S. T. Casebeer

MY TWO CENTS WORTH. KEEP THE CHANGE.

First of all, set aside a bright, roomy section of your mind, and fill it with all your best memories. Visit it often. Keep it immaculate and it will serve you well. Share it with your Deity, whatever you perceive him to be. Sharpen your awareness of the natural wonders that surround us and encourage their appreciation by others. Be cognizant of life’s cycles, appreciating each new season in turn, while realizing fully that, despite our best efforts, time is resolute, and with time, each season will pass. Embrace each new season with hope and optimism while retaining all that’s best of seasons past. As a young man I tended to envision time as a vast, unlimited resource; time it seemed was an inexhaustible sea. Now in the autumn of my life, each hour is increasingly precious, and I thirst for each minute as it drips away from an alarmingly finite pool.

Do not be drawn into meaningless, futile, debilitating debates with loud, obnoxious people. Just consider the source and when possible, avoid their venting. Their noise is a noxious vapor, and repulsed silence is often the appropriate response. I have good news. Your loudmouth neighbor, your loudmouth in-law, and the loudmouth in your Sunday school class, all have one thing in common; they don’t know squat! They’re just noisy! Relax and ignore them, and don’t encourage their clamor. Be mindful of your example to others; it’s your most effective testimony. Value truth and consider the cost of deceit.

Many people have given their lives in order to secure the freedoms you enjoy today. Honor their sacrifice. Honor our veterans and all those who choose a life of service. Honor individuality, revere tolerance, and exhort all those who lift up the cause of freedom. Confront ignorance and be diligent in the advancement of knowledge. Ignorance and intolerance are almost inseparable, and despite what some will tell you, neither one is a virtue.

Cherish and reverently exercise your right to vote and keep this Country free! Clearly, America’s collective conscience, as reflected by our chosen leaders, requires constant scrutiny and surveillance. Even in a democracy of, by, and for the people, justice and equality are only as perfect as the conscience of that people. Even America’s grand and glorious democracy reflects not only our goodness, but our greed. Greed and corruption have reached epidemic levels in our society today. Certain individuals have amassed great wealth, and they abuse that wealth to cause discontent and manipulate elections. They do not do this for the good of our Nation, but to satisfy their own insatiable greed. Do not believe everything you’re told by the far fringes of our media. Media will say what the media is paid to say, all too often, regardless of the truth. More often than not, the wealthy own the media. There’s nothing wrong with affluence and wealth, but money buys power and too much power corrupts. Everyone knows what the bible says about money.

Pay attention, stand up and be counted. Freedom is not a privilege to be taken lightly. Freedom is a right and a responsibility, a perishable torch to be diligently tended and faithfully passed along. Freedom burns within our hearts, ignited by the founding fathers, and it falls to us to keep that flame alive. America’s most trusted and time-honored institutions are only as righteous as the hearts of our citizens, our most godly leaders only as just as the collective conscience of their constituents, and the most telling measure of a nation’s heart is the empathy of its people.

Positive outcomes are never achieved through negative actions. Respond to others, as you’d have them respond to you. Freedom is every heart’s desire and every just government’s goal, but it’s a mighty illusive concept when you’re at war. Freedom is nearly impossible when you don’t have peace. Freedom requires commitment, commitment requires perseverance, and perseverance requires the will to act. When freedom and justice are threatened, honorable men respond. But surely war is the last resort of those who know its grief. Surely for reasonable people there’s a better way.

Be open to affection but wary of unwholesome pleasures. And do not be deceived. Deceit is ephemeral; lies and indiscretions will eventually come to light. Every action has a consequence. When considering any action, before proceeding, think the scenario through to its logical conclusion. You can never undo a thoughtless deed, and carelessly sewn seeds produce a ponderous harvest!

Anything that you are unable to do in good conscience and moderation, do not do! Eat nutritiously and judiciously, consistently burning more calories than you consume, until you’ve achieved your ideal weight, and you will be healthier, more industrious, more prosperous, more popular, profoundly gratified, and gut wrenchingly contented. It’s what all the ages have striven for.

As we face an uncertain future together, let us do so with faith, optimism, attention to stewardship, and goodwill toward our fellow man. God grant us stamina to persevere, determination to prevail, and the wisdom to roll up our sleeves and work together.

In all things, promote liberty for all, and justice tempered with mercy. In this Country, everyone has the right to life, liberty and their pursuit of happiness. Celebrate ethnicity; take pride in your own heritage but value the traditions of others. Our country’s greatest strength is diversity; honor diversity and keep America strong. While I am generally conservative in my own actions, I am passionately liberal in defense of the choices of others. Personal choices, that’s what freedom is. Remember always that you are as good as any and better than none. Be just, merciful, humble, and be happy.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

So that I repented, counted my blessings, and backed away from the edge.

I’m often struck by the parallels between my life and that of Jimmy Stewart in his role in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’ve had much the same triumph, much the same joy, and much the same failure and debilitating despair. Probably most noteworthy are the many occasions when my Heavenly Father, in some form not unlike Clarence, has interceded on my behalf, so that I repented, counted my blessings, and backed away from the edge. SC

Wake me when it's over.

 

Cut each other some slack.

Each and every one of us is a distinctive product of our gene pool, our environment, our life experience and our faith. Our beliefs, our convictions, and our partisan leanings are inherent in the unique and singular individual which, through time, we each become. As a result, some of us lean blue, and others red. It’s not simply what we choose to believe. To a large extent, it’s what we’ve become. We need elected officials and government policies that recognize and allow for those differences. We need to accept that we’re different and cut each other some slack. There's a term for it; it's called "liberty and justice for all." SC

TRUTH or CONSEQUENCES

The presidency of the United States of America is no place for senile, old men who have a vendetta, a personal agenda, and an insatiable appetite for power. While partisan politics is an inescapable element of elections, once elected, in order to be effective, our president must govern with the sole purpose of serving the best interests of all Americans, regardless of party and partisan agendas. The foremost responsibility of our President is promoting the unity of our citizens and behaving in a way that is worthy of the respect of all Americans and the world. Our President is essentially the personification of America, our unwavering pursuit of truth and justice, and our determination to persevere as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If and when our president proves incapable of acting responsibly and serving the best interests of all Americans, our Constitution provides means for his peaceful and timely removal. As citizens, it falls to us to act in the best interests of all our fellow citizens and the unity and prosperity of our nation. SC

A MORE PERFECT UNION

America’s ideals of liberty and justice for all have been a work in progress for a long time. Progress has been tediously slow, but steady. Mistakes have been made. Setbacks have been painful and frequent. Progress has come only through determination, dedication, and constant struggle, but it has come. Democratic government requires pursuing the greater good and addressing the needs of a greatly diversified electorate, comprised of frequently opposing and passionately held beliefs. It’s a volatile and uneasy accord, which is achieved only through compromise and concession. Make no mistake. The decisions we make as we deal or fail to deal with the current kerfuffle will shape our children’s future for decades to come. Our democracy works as intended only when each of its three branches demonstrate a healthy respect for Truth, Justice and its fellow branches. Events currently unfolding will literally determine whether our democracy survives and whether our government of, by, and for the people will continue its time-honored pursuit of liberty and justice for all. Embrace the future, be civil, and participate in the essential process of democracy. A perfect union is a mighty lofty goal, but a more perfect union is attainable when we work together. SC

Years ago, I self-published a little book called GLAD DAYS LONG AGO. On the back cover I wrote the following. I believe it's true.

"Each and every day, each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances, has a choice. We can squander our time fingering old welts, second guessing past decisions, and tormenting ourselves over the poor choices of others; or we can embrace a new day brimming with opportunities for doing justly, loving mercy, and building foundations for a bright new tomorrow. Time is precious; choose wisely." SC 

Suffering and deprivation of biblical proportions

The current administration, for whatever reason, seems determined to defund, deregulate, and dismantle all America's essential institutions and any safeguards against government overreach. I want you to imagine America without taxes, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, affordable health care, worker’s protection, environmental protection, Public Schools, civil rights, coordination between states, repairs to our infrastructure, a reliable electrical grid, road and freeway repairs, or anything resembling a functioning democracy. It's not a pretty picture. It’s a scene of incomprehensible suffering and deprivation of biblical proportions. It’s terrifying. But it’s absolutely essential that you think about it. And then act. SC

It's costing lives as we speak.

"He drew a circle to shut me out Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in." These lines could easily be mistaken for a little scrap of scripture. Of course, they are not. It's a poem by Edwin Markham. Its message however is scriptural. Those of you who read your bibles will be familiar with 1 John 4:16 ("God is love"). Love of course, is synonymous with compassion, empathy, consideration and inclusion. Benjamin Franklin wrote "A stitch in time saves nine." Franklin's message observes that prompt intervention can provide an early fix to a problem before it grows exponentially worse. USAID (US Agency for International Development) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering foreign aid and economic development assistance outside the US. Among the goals of USAID is to assist struggling people of foreign countries so that they can remain where they live with some degree of security and dignity, and in this way avoid a grueling journey to the US or some other country where they are unwanted. This of course is the expedient thing to do. It's generally the most cost-effective solution to avoid mass migration of hungry, homeless, populations. It represents a prompt intervention to minimize a potentially devastating migration of displaced people. It's the loving thing to do. It's what Christ would do. Cutting funds to this program does not save money. It costs lives. It's costing lives as we speak. Cutting humanitarian aid is inhumane and betrays callous, unchristian, self-serving intentions and ignorance of biblical proportions. SC

American Patriotism

My little footprint on the Internet is not much of a platform, but it’s my platform, and I intend to use it to make my voice heard. My mom and dad were members of “The Greatest Generation”. They encouraged me to use my own voice and my own head. I owe this to Mom and Dad.

Back in the 1950s, when I was a kid, with the exception of the country’s Native Americans, it was fresh in the minds of most people that their families weren’t originally from here. They’d arrived here from foreign shores. In order to do so, they’d made sacrifices, unimaginable sacrifices, and they’d faced hardships. They counted their blessings. They considered their citizenship to be one of those blessings. They appreciated their freedom. They appreciated the opportunities those freedoms provided, and they appreciated the veterans whose efforts had made those freedoms possible. They were patriotic.

Their families had arrived in this country with little or nothing, and they felt entitled to nothing beyond the promise that America and democracy provided, that if they worked hard and participated in the preservation of our fragile Republic, great things were possible. They knew it was so; they’d seen others prosper. They were prepared and entirely willing to defend their freedoms and their democracy against all threats, both foreign and domestic. The United States of America and all the benefits inherent in the amalgamation of our states are only possible as long as we remain united, and the welfare of all our citizens is entirely reliant on the preservation of our Union. When that is gone, America is gone.

Throughout my life, the veterans and those who Tom Brokaw referred to as “The Greatest Generation,” comprised a large part of our citizenry. As their generation has faded away, America’s diverse cross-section of humanity has been transformed. The fabric of our great nation has coarsened, and our edges have frayed. Our appreciation and comprehension of Freedom, what it means, and what it requires, has been largely lost. For many, the patriotism of our forefathers is a foreign and incomprehensible concept.

Not until recent years has it occurred to most of us that, minus America’s time-honored institutions and those who continue to support them, it’s entirely possible that the America of our country’s founders and generations of veterans and patriots may cease to exist.

Our country's best hope for the future is not partisanship, It's citizenship. It's constant vigilance, civility, and dedicated participation in democracy and a government of, by, and for the people. Vote for Republicans. Vote for Democrats. Vote for Independents. For now, at least, it’s a free country. Vote as your heart and conscience dictate, but for God’s sake, vote! Be an advocate for those who support law and order and encourage scientific advancement and responsible stewardship of our planet. Speak out for those who advocate for an honest representation of our history, so that future generations can benefit from our many mistakes. Vote for those who support truth, justice, and the American way.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

Here's the good news.

Are you ready for good news? While it's likely there are dark days ahead, there is hope. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. Over the months ahead, the electorate will understand painfully well what they've traded away for a handful of empty promises and lies. They'll want their healthcare back. They'll want affordable groceries and merchandise. They'll want access to their national parks and the countless other treasures and benefits that have been privatized and relinquished to the privileged few. The upcoming midterms and the election of 2028 will not be won by sticks, but by carrots. They won't be won by misinformation and empty threats. They'll be won by incentives and positive measures to win back and earn the admiration and respect of the American people, our allies, and civilized society around the world. They won't be won by familiar faces burdened by old luggage, but by new faces with new ideas and realistic hopes for a bright future. Stay informed. Stay hopeful. And watch for those new faces. SC

The United States of America is only as secure as the Federal government which unites us and safeguards our freedoms.

"The main function of the U.S. federal government is creating and enforcing laws to ensure order and stability within society. The U.S. Constitution outlines the nation's law-making process and establishes institutions to carry out this function. Our Founding Fathers feared the concentration of power in a single individual or branch of government. To prevent this, they separated law-making powers among three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The legislature, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, creates laws. The executive branch enforces laws under the leadership of the president. The judiciary, which includes a federal court system headed by the Supreme Court, decides the constitutionality of these laws. This separation of powers prevents one branch from gaining influence over the others."

Our system is under threat. Our institutions are being dismantled and privatized. Our freedom, our democratic republic, and our American way of life are being privatized by the wealthy few in an effort to secure their power and end forever government of, by, and for the people. If you value your freedom, support the federal government which from our country's founding has valued and upheld the voice of we the people and secured the time-honored institutions which make possible one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. SC

The most alarming threat to life as we know it on the planet

Here, in Missouri, where I live, we've been experiencing multiple horrific weather events each week. "How long," one may well ask, "will this go on?" Most reputable scientists agree, there is no quick fix. Our best long-term hope is to elect officials who (unlike our current President) realize that the climate crisis is the most alarming threat to life as we know it on the planet. SC

Faith burns most brightly when all other hope is spent. Yesterday's dreams light the way to a bright tomorrow.

 

Regardless of your belief system and your faith or lack thereof, certain things are true. The universe exists. It did not always exist. The universe came into being as the result of the actions of some awesome, incomprehensible force. It's likely that force exists today. Time exists. Seasons come and seasons pass. There is darkness. There is light. There is truth. There is falsehood. There is good. There is evil. There is Justice. There is injustice. All actions and all inactions including yours have consequences. You can choose to live in harmony with these truths, or you can deny them. Each and every day, each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances, has a choice. We can squander our time fingering old welts, second guessing past decisions, and tormenting ourselves over the poor choices of others; or we can embrace a new day brimming with opportunities for doing justly, loving mercy, and building foundations for a bright new tomorrow. During my youth, I was unfailingly optimistic about the future. Music of the time told of a day when good would prevail over evil, truth over lies, and brotherhood over racism and bigotry. We've made gains, but fulfilling the dreams of our youth will require constant vigilance and unwavering devotion. I will never cease in my efforts to achieve the dreams of our youth. I will never give up. I'll die with that dream in my heart and the matchless land of liberty in my eyes.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

Its incomprehensible to me. SC

I'm saddened, sickened, and embarrassed that any informed person continues to support trump and his vendetta against "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—anything excellent or praiseworthy". Its incomprehensible to me. SC 

Step out and speak up for truth, justice, and America's institutions. SC

The United States of America is the most celebrated and incomparable club in all the world. As citizens, we receive benefits and, based on our ability, we pay dues. We pay dues in the form of taxes, and we receive benefits in the form of civil liberties, our grid, fresh air, clean water, our judicial system, law enforcement, National Parks, freeway systems, education, Social Security, and the list goes on and on and on. This club is not self-sustaining. It requires work and investment. It's worth it. It's currently under threat. Our essential institutions are being defunded, deregulated, and dismantled. Step out and speak up for truth, justice, and America's institutions. Do it now, before it's too late. SC

Here's where you're wrong.

Many of you have become convinced that defunding, deregulation, and a general dismantling of all our institutions with a chainsaw is a good thing. Over the next few months, as shelves go empty and savings accounts go bust, you'll realize you've been bamboozled. Regulations protect workers rights and the environment. Federal assistance for almost everything is how small businesses, and the economy survive, and America's institutions are fundamental to our success. You don't have to believe me. Just buckle in and see what happens next. SC

Here's the irony

Here's the irony. From my early childhood up to this moment in time, as a result of my faith, I've been friend and advocate for the freedom, choices, lifestyle, acceptance, and overall wellbeing of every creature on the planet, regardless of their station, faith, disability, means, or lack thereof, as long as they support the freedom and wellbeing of others, and today, as the result of my empathy and tireless advocacy for all, I'm detested by half the populace. SC

Money, greed, and an unrestrained appetite for power are incrementally disassembling America's democracy.

Throughout history, honesty and integrity have been the distinguishing characteristics of civilization. Doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God have been synonymous with the faithful pursuit of common decency and civilized society. Truth and common decency have been the accepted norm, while deceit, corruption, and a total disdain for justice have always been and must continually be universally recognized and unequivocally condemned by any society which feigns service to a just and merciful God. Civilization requires strict adherence to an unwavering pursuit of reality-based truth and an unconditional condemnation of naked lies, deliberate misinformation, and a brazen contempt for justice. Across the country, concerned citizens are taking to the streets to point out what should already be crystal clear to everyone. Money, greed, and an unrestrained appetite for power are incrementally disassembling America's democracy. We're nearing a tipping point. Join the resistance now. SC

If you were to ask any member of America's greatest generation...

If you were to ask any member of America's greatest generation, they would proudly tell you America's greatness has always been the result of our willingness to defend our allies and not side with ruthless dictators and war criminals. SC

We know when we've been bamboozled. SC

My dad was a native Ozarker. His grandad Casebeer arrived in the Ozarks in the 1880s. My great grandpa Casebeer was a circuit rider, traveling the Ozark hills and hollows on horseback and sharing the good news that God loves us while we're yet in our sin, and Jesus Christ gave His life for sinners. At age eighty, Dad could still outwork me. Dad was Ozark tough. He'd come in from the fields with a mortal injury of some kind. Mom would examine it and conclude it needed stitches. "Wrap it up!" Dad would say. "There's work to be done and I'm fixin' to make a showin'!" Ozarker's are an independent breed. They pull their own weight. They don't appreciate being told what to do or what to think. They know their rights and they don't abide having them threatened. They love God and country and, given the opportunity to bear down and examine their conscience, they even love those some consider the least among us. You know, those sinners that Jesus Christ died for. We expect to be presented with reality-based facts and then allowed to draw our own conclusion and make our own choice. Ozarker's don't abide being lied to, taken for granted, manipulated, and made to look a fool. They know when they've been bamboozled. SC

Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks is in the unique position of declaring war against a Republican president.

 Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks is in the unique position of declaring war against a Republican president.

“[His] is a multifront assault to make the earth a playground for ruthless men,” Brooks writes, “so of course any institutions that might restrain power must be weakened or destroyed. Trumpism is about ego, appetite and acquisitiveness and is driven by a primal aversion to the higher elements of the human spirit — learning, compassion, scientific wonder, the pursuit of justice.”

A “single effort to undo the parts of the civilizational order” requires a concerted response to beat it back, says Brooks, and one that is yet to be fully underway. So far, each sector Trump has assaulted, be it law firms, universities or whole groups of people, has responded independently, and therefore ineffectively.

“Harvard eventually drew a line in the sand, but Columbia cut a deal. This is a disastrous strategy that ensures that Trump will trample on one victim after another. He divides and conquers,” Brooks said, pointing out that only a few law firms are fighting against his executive orders targeting them while many more have crawled to the president’s doorstep to work out a deal. Even the "Big Ten" colleges uniting to defend academic freedom from Trump’s attack amount to only a handful out of “roughly 4,000 degree-granting American colleges and universities.”

Paraclete

Paraclete (/ ˈpærəkliːt /; Greek: παράκλητος, romanized: paráklētos) is a Christian biblical term occurring five times in the Johannine texts of the New Testament. In Christian theology, the word commonly refers to the Holy Spirit and is translated as 'advocate', 'counsellor', or 'helper'.

The bible indicates that, in times of trouble or despair, if we ask, God will send a paraclete to provide comfort. I'm not a theologian. I envision this paraclete as a small token from God, to live in our heart and provide warmth, guidance, and hope.

When I was a small boy, I found myself all alone, far from home, confined to a small room in a hospital. A spinal tap had determined my illness was Poliomyelitis. I would spend several weeks in that hospital and witness the devastating effects of Polio on other children. I'd be haunted for the rest of my life by the prospect of finding myself crippled and confined to an iron lung. During my time at the hospital, in the wee hours of one dark morning, I had a terrifying nightmare. Awakened from the nightmare, I began praying as only a terrified child can pray. God responded by sending comfort and hope. Days later, new tests indicated the polio was gone and I was free to go home with Mom and Dad.

Needless to say, that was many decades ago, but all these years later, that warmth, guidance, and hope live on in my heart. As a result, my burden is lighter, my fears less crippling, and for me, mercy comes easily.  If you would have a paraclete in your heart, you need only ask God. "And what does God require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God".  SC

A horrible price

Recently, someone on FB asked me if I feel stupid yet, indicating I guess that they believe all my concerns about the current administration have proven unfounded and now I know better. No, I don't feel stupid. I feel inexpressibly sorry that my efforts on behalf of truth, justice and reason went unheeded, and now this country is paying a horrible price. All this suffering and chaos could have been prevented. SC

If you're truly prolife...

If you're truly prolife, you care that defenseless babies are being born into a world where not even their own mother wants them. If you're truly prolife, you don't hate struggling people because of their sexual insecurities. If you're truly prolife, you care that God's creatures are becoming extinct because of climate change. If you're truly prolife, you do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. SC

Taking the side of evil, regardless of your motivation, has consequences. SC

Throughout history, honesty and integrity have been the goals and distinguishing characteristics of civilization. Doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God have been synonymous with the faithful pursuit of common decency and civilized society. Truth and common decency have been the accepted norm, while deceit, corruption, and a total disdain for justice have always been and must continually be universally recognized and unequivocally condemned by any society which feigns service to a just and merciful God. Civilization requires strict adherence to an unwavering pursuit of reality-based truth and an unconditional condemnation of naked lies, deliberate misinformation, and a brazen contempt for justice. There is no excuse for doing otherwise. Listen to your conscience. In your heart, people of faith know the difference. Feed the Shepard or feed the wolf. Taking the side of evil, regardless of your motivation, has consequences. SC

Old Dry Diggins, aka Hangtown | Facebook

 Old Dry Diggins, aka Hangtown | Facebook

A ruthless bastardization of the truth

Down through the eons of time, empires, dynasties, and eminent civilizations have achieved great heights, and then come down like the salmon leaves of autumn, brought low by the same troublesome human nature that has hobbled mankind since Cain cudgeled Abel. Learned philosophers and renowned historians have devoted their lives to the study of these events, producing ponderous, voluminous anthologies which grace the shelves of celebrated centers of higher learning all over the world. And today, when similar behavior threatens our own aspiring metropolis, we scratch our head and wring our hands and wonder what the hell happened. The modus operandi for these crimes against humanity have changed little through the ages. These failures of civilization are inevitably the result of misinformation, disinformation, and a ruthless bastardization of the truth. SC

PART THREE MIAH ON THE WATERFRONT

 

Jackass Journal & Compendium of Universal Knowledge

Episodes one through 9999, more or less

Unabridged, Unapologetic, Unsolicited,

& Unlikely to continue.

In no particular order

PART THREE

MIAH

ON THE WATERFRONT

Most mornings on the river were remarkably tranquil. I occasionally took my morning coffee in the pilot house with the captain. The captain was a cordial gentleman, and an exceptionally good listener, because, with the exception of shouting occasional orders to the crew, the captain rarely spoke. If I was quiet, he was quiet too.

I’d sit in the luxurious pilot house, high above common civilians and mortal man, delight in the commanding vantage point provided by its towering height and admire the pastel hues of breaking dawn. The majestic river’s stoic undulations would reveal their many unpredictable moods all around me in all variety of eddies, backwaters, and deceptively quiet undercurrents.

At intervals along the way, a lone bullfrog would voice his romantic intentions, or a snowy-white egret would glide effortlessly past on a blustery current of balmy, moist air. Every now and again a debris pile would bob past, commandeered by a drowsing, moss-covered turtle. Waterfowl searched peacefully for breakfast along the shaded and silt-lined shores, and way up ahead in the hazy, shimmering distance, the misty glimmers of daybreak would spread their warm, refreshing rays on a vast and varied rainbow of vibrant greens, announcing the glad arrival of a bright new day.

Other occasions were anything but quiet! 1832 marked the invention of the steam trumpet. Through the years, this remarkably melodious contraption was gradually improved and eventually known by other names, such as the steam calliope.

With the advent of steam power, calliopes became commonplace if not expected onboard riverboats and at circuses, where steam also provided power to steam-driven carousels. A calliope’s brass and copper whistles are tuned to a chromatic scale (anyway, that’s the goal). Since the pitch of the note is greatly affected by the temperature of the steam, which varies tremendously, tuning the thing is almost impossible! With time, the occasionally sour and frequently off-pitch caterwauling of the calliope became part of their wide appeal and universal charm. Our boat had a steam driven calliope!

Stops along riverside communities were frequent and anticipated with fervent delight. These occasions were always an event in the small, isolated river communities. Approaching the waterfront, the captain would blow the whistle, our calliope player would assume his position at the polished brass keyboard, and the river’s typical tranquility would be assaulted by a cacophony of melodious screeching and tinny toots! Our musician was a veritable cornucopia of popular music of the day. If we could hum it, he could peck it out.

Before we reached sight of the docks, the townsfolk would respond to the familiar squeals of the calliope and gather excitedly to greet us. The previously quiet mooring would take on all the serenity of an angry ant’s nest! Our experienced crew would assume their assigned tasks. The gangplank would swing out. Freight would be carted in and out; ropes would secure us to the wharf, and the town’s enchanted children would swarm the docks in the thralls of religious ecstasy. The boys especially; the girls, not so much.

Hannibal was a favorite stop. Here, the lazy river was wide, deep, and as inviting as bathwater. The shouted declaration of “mark twain” indicated that the water’s depth was sufficient to allow for the safe mooring of our craft. The familiar boatman’s term would eventually become the celebrated moniker of America’s master wordsmith, the beloved Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain.

During my time on the Mississippi, little Sam would have been a number of years shy of sporting whiskers, and already infatuated with steamboats. Sam would grow up on the banks of the Mississippi near Hannibal, Missouri and freely admit to having burned with ambition to become a steamboat pilot. In “Life on The Mississippi”, Mark Twain would write the following:

“When I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboatman. We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient. When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates. These ambitions faded out, each in its turn; but the ambition to be a steamboatman always remained.”

During a few glorious years, between 1857 and 1861, Sam would realize his boyhood ambition of becoming a riverboat pilot. Then the Civil War would intervene, and Sam’s dream would go the way of many others. But the irresistible lure of the riverboat and its steady grip on youthful fancy would captivate the souls and imaginations of the young and young at heart for as long as the summer sun steals ambition, and the Mississippi flows inexorably toward the sea.

Copyright ©

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

Jackass Journal & Compendium of Universal Knowledge, Episodes one through 9999, more or less Unabridged, Unapologetic, Unsolicited, & Unlikely to continue. In no particular order

PART TWO

HANGTOWN BOUND

MIAH'S ACCOUNT

THE CUMBERLAND ROAD

In March of 1803, Ohio had entered the Union as the 17th state, and with the acquisition that same year of the Louisiana purchase from the French, the country added an additional five hundred and thirty million acres to our fledgling republic. That’s a bunch! Of course, much of that real-estate was already occupied by the country’s increasingly oppressed Native Americans, who had absolutely no intention of relinquishing their claim.

In order to access this acquisition, the country required a road. With most transportation needs at the time being met by canals and rivers, many considered roads an unnecessary luxury, not to mention an exorbitant tax expense. Despite these misgivings, in 1806, congress authorized the Cumberland Road. Stretching eventually from Cumberland, Maryland to Saint Louis, Missouri, it was the first road in our country’s history to be funded by the Federal government and our taxes. President Thomas Jefferson himself promoted the road in his efforts to encourage westward expansion and unify the developing nation.

The route was made possible as the result of a gap, or passage, through the Appalachian Mountain Range. The old trail, having been established long ago by herds of buffalo and the Native Americans who pursued them, was further established in 1775 by Daniel Boone. Mr. Boone had been contracted by the Transylvania Company to widen the path through the gap in order to expedite the settlement of Kentucky, Tennessee, and points west.

Following the battle of Culloden, back home in Scotland, numerous places in the American colonies, such as Cumberland Gap, were named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II, of Great Britain. The sun never sets on the British Empire.

It was only about a hundred miles from Germantown to Cumberland, Maryland. From there, the Cumberland Road would provide my gateway west. Prior to 1810, its estimated that in excess of 200,000 European-American settlers passed through the gap enroot to Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. Autumn of 1835 found me retracing their steps.

Having set out with my doctor’s bag and a few medical supplies, it was soon apparent that, as an itinerant physician, my fledgling abilities would be a boon to every community I encountered. Having set broken bones and extracted throbbing teeth in a succession of aspiring outposts all along the Cumberland Road, winter found me hold up in the wilds of Illinois.

Founded in 1819, Vandalia, Illinois is a petite but prospering little settlement in Fayette County. Located on the banks of the Kaskaskia River, it’s located in south central Illinois, about 70 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. It was, for a time, the western terminus of The Cumberland Road, aka The National Road. As such, considering its proximity to the frontier, it was a relatively busy and booming metropolis. It has at least one thing in common with every other community I’ve encountered. Almost everyone in the community was suffering from a bad tooth, a busted bone, or a hitch in their get-along. Here, in this isolated but enchanting metropolis, I honed my skills, earned a few bucks, and squirreled away provisions.

Come spring, I once more headed west. Having retired my old horse in Vandalia, I’d been making good time on my new mount for about a week. While at this point in my travels there was nothing that could be considered an improved road, the Indians had long established trails throughout the region. The trails were narrow and occasionally badly overgrown, but all things considered I made good time.

Cresting a hill, there before me, occupying a good deal of the landscape to both the north and south for as far as the eye could see, the wide and characteristically swollen Mississippi glimmered in pastel hues of sunset. Negotiating the rugged terrain and approaching the river, I heard the echoes of numerous axes diligently falling timber and chopping wood. There, at water’s edge, a number of black gentlemen busily loaded this product aboard a steamboat.

This being evening, the fragrance of food preparation wafted ashore, very nearly buckling my knees, and having subsisted for some time on a diet of scorched squirrel and charred grasshoppers, the prospect of life onboard a riverboat was irresistible. Visiting with the congenial black gentlemen, I finagled an invitation to come aboard.

The mere appearance of my medical bag proved to be sufficient to make me welcome everywhere I went. Within an hour, the riverboat’s captain was convinced my services aboard his vessel would be invaluable. My horse was escorted into the hold; my employment secured, the sternwheel began churning rhythmically, and we chugged our way laboriously up the river.

My time spent chugging and churning my way up the Mississippi was a much-needed respite and an opportunity to admire much of the wild and unmolested country from the luxurious comfort of a deck chair. I began most mornings by leisurely ambling the decks at first light, and despite my pious upbringing, I was not averse to sipping a couple of mint juleps in the afternoon. While this vessel was employed mainly in the hauling and disbursement of cargo and freight, no self-respecting riverboat refuses the patronage of paying passengers, and where one finds paying passengers with money, one finds others adept at acquiring it.

Every good riverboat offered a saloon and gambling establishment of some kind, where once the liquor had been applied and judgment sorely impaired, folks counted on luck they rarely enjoyed, to risk funds they didn’t have, in a high-stakes, no-holds-barred, poker misadventure. Occasionally, these games became high-spirited and spiraled downward until someone was inadvertently pierced by a derringer. These un-fortuitous events provided my earliest experience at removing pellets.

Copyright ©

Shannon Thomas Casebeer