"We''ll Have a Lot Less Independence (On This Independence Day)"

Because of COVID-19, we'll have a lot less Independence on Independence Day 2020. In fact, this 4th of July, some towns and cities across the nation will not even CELEBRATE our Independence, as events are cancelled "for safety reasons.".

SOME of the concern is valid, but SOME of the COVID fears are way overblown and are being milked by Democrat politicians to REDUCE our sense of Independence and try to get us more DEPENDENT................on THEM.

In our nation, sadly, over the past decades we have seen a movement to be independent from GOD and the principles of His Word which America was founded on,  In great measure, this is why we find ourselves in the position we're in (with "leaders" who want to enslave us to THEM.)

Let us return again to depending on GOD, and not on PEOPLE, to save and preserve this great nation!!

"Why IMAGINE Should Never Be America's National Anthem"

Some are actually suggesting that "Imagine," by John Lennon, should become our National Anthem because the "Star-Spangled Banner" is allegedly a racist song WRITTEN by a racist. (Nevermind that the year AFTER he did "Imagine," Lennon wrote and sang a song with the N-Word in the title!!) This below is Chapter Two from my book "John Lennon: An Analysis For Christians," available on Amazon.  What you read below is BEFORE Martha Ireland added her editing expertise, and it shows what "Imagine" is REALLY saying....

“Imagine,” and its Incredible Impact

Continuing our analysis of John’s post-Beatles lyrics, his next solo album was released in 1971. It was entitled “Imagine” and it remains his most popular post-Beatles work. (By the way, BEFORE the Beatles broke up, John did 3 albums with Yoko Ono, starting while he was still married to his first wife. There was “Two Virgins,” where he actually appeared nude (full frontal nudity) on the cover with Yoko, in 1968. Then, in 1969, they did “Life with the Lions” and “Wedding Album.) “Imagine,” you see, was John’s second album AFTER the Beatles’ breakup.

A television special at the time produced the world’s very first music videos from the “Imagine” album. In 1988, a documentary about Lennon was entitled “Imagine John Lennon”…..it remains his “signature song” (well, it beats ’69s “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” where he used “Christ!” as an expletive!) After 9-11-2001, “Imagine” was played all over the world by those in shock regarding the terrorist attacks on America.  It was considered an “antidote” to “patriotic” songs like “The Star Spangled Banner” or “God Bless America.”  And, an “Imagine” mosaic is in the “Strawberry Fields” section of Central Park, across the street from where Lennon was slain. Each year his fans gather there on the anniversaries of his birth and death to sing this, and others, of his songs.

It’s kind of weird actually….we hippies from the 1960s always said “don’t trust anyone over 30,″ but when Lennon came out with “Imagine” in 1971 at age 31…..we TRUSTED him.

Boy, did we trust him.

But we shouldn’t have!

The title track of “Imagine” had a very gentle melody, but, the lyrics (which, of course, were also penned by John) were absolutely devilish. It’s a classic case of Satan “transforming himself into an angel of light” as he used John Lennon to sing the following unScriptural, heretical words in the very first paragraph…..

IMAGINE THERE’S NO HEAVEN

IT’S EASY IF YOU TRY

NO HELL BELOW US

ABOVE US ONLY SKY

The song went on to urge us to “imagine no possessions” while the singer, himself, had millions and millions of dollars. This is the type of hypocrisy that God despises!  Of course, most popular musicians ARE wealthy but not many are brash enough to get wealthier by releasing a record telling us we should do away with possessions, altogether.

Lennon himself described “Imagine” as “virtually the ‘Communist Manifesto’-but because it is sugarcoated, it is accepted” (reprinted in Rolling Stone Special Collector’s Edition, 2018, page 63.)

And don’t forget, “Imagine” came out right after John’s first post-Beatles solo album (see last chapter.)  In that album he openly said he doesn’t believe in God or Jesus, so it’s clear from the context that when he told us to “Imagine” there’s no Heaven or Hell, this was what HE believed.  You cannot have Heaven and Hell if there is no God, you see.

Now, how in the world a popular Christian recording artist could think of participating in a re-recording of that “Imagine” song in the ’90s is beyond me, but when I wrote Amy Grant about it to confront her, she never responded (nor did she ever, to my knowledge, participate in the recording as her newsletter said she was planning to!) It’s an anti-Christian song, and I only mention it to make the point again that JOHN LENNON WAS NO CHRISTIAN. A Christian is one who believes God exists, there is a Heaven and Hell, and trusts the grace of God to bring him / her to Heaven at last because 1.) Christ died on the cross for sinners and 2.) That individual partakes of His Sacrifice by Faith.  John Lennon did not believe in Heaven, Hell, OR Christ as all true children of God most certainly do. And, I’m glad that Amy, who IS a Christian, eventually recorded “(I Can Only) Imagine,” a Christian song which affirms that Heaven does indeed exist and is wonderful beyond our human comprehension.

In October 1990, on what would have been Lennon’s 50th birthday, his “Imagine” was broadcast from the United Nations in honor of the man John’s widow Yoko said “wanted world peace.” Yes, I know the point of the song is that we should “Imagine” peace, but how many of the millions who heard it again on October 9th, 1990 got THAT message? How many ALSO got the unavoidable message that John Lennon, this “great” man who was honored by the U.N., did not believe in Heaven or Hell? John Lennon deceived himself and he poisoned countless others when he wrote “Imagine”.

Want to Imagine something? Imagine how GOD must have felt! God gave John Lennon the gift of life and the SPECIAL gifts to create and communicate. Those gifts reflect HIS Nature and creative, communicative Glory in a unique way! Then Lennon, God’s creature, takes those gifts thanklessly and misuses them to create songs that deny and defy the Creator Who GAVE them. How would you feel if your child took everything you gave him or her and used it to badmouth you to the whole neighborhood, even denying that you ever existed?

Bad enough Lennon never glorified God for His gifts…..but he used those gifts to try to turn countless others AWAY from their Creator. It’s “adding insult to injury,” nothing more or less. I say frankly that John displayed GENIUS in much of what he did; but his artistic genius was clearly turned AGAINST God……he was NOT a CHRISTIAN. I’ve never seen (Christian minister) Ray Comfort’s video “Genius” which is apparently about Lennon, but I’m sure he came to the same conclusions. They are inescapable.

Christians should not be deceived regarding what John Lennon was really all about!!

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"7 MORE Mini-Blogs"

Below are 7 more "Mini-Blogs" from my Facebook posts this past week.



The first might be titled "Obama's Oath of Office"  (Click to enlarge)...

Then, there's "OPRAH GOT IT RIGHT...."

Note: My Facebook page is for Friends only, I will NOT accept Friend Requests from strangers. Thank you!!

"Virginia May Be for LOVERS, But It Wasn't For The LOVINGS"

Last night, my wife and I watched the 2016 movie "Loving," about an inter-racial couple, Mildred and Richard Loving, who were severely harassed by the state of Virginia BECAUSE they were inter-racial. Thankfully, the Supreme Court heard the case and Loving v. Virginia concluded IN FAVOR of inter-racial couples EVERYWHERE in America being able to marry without the threat of being jailed.

Mercedes and I watched the movie because A.) If not for what THIS couple went through WE might not have been allowed to marry legally (my wife is black) and B.) The way things are going with "Black Lives Matter," those black racists may succeed in banning THIS movie one day as they have with OTHER movies they don't like. So, I bought it, and we watched it, NOW.

The Lovings won their court battle in 1967, and two years later the state adopted the slogan "Virginia Is For Lovers."

Coincidence?? I doubt it...ALL advertising campaigns are done either to CONVEY a new message or CORRECT an old message. It seems very likely to me that Virginia was trying to redeem the state's reputation after the whole nation knew how evil they were trying to keep the LOVINGS from expressing their LOVE by tying the knot.  (Please note: Virginia wasn't the ONLY state forbidding inter-racial marriage, it's just that they became the nation's focus because THEY got called out on it. Also note: I do NOT believe that GAY COUPLES should use the "everyone has a right to express their love by getting married" argument...but that's a blog for ANOTHER day.  Back to THIS one. )

Yes, "Virginia Is For Lovers" but they were NOT for the LovINGS, were they.  In my opinion, though they'll never admit it, their popular slogan is all about "Image Management" and was NOT done for the reasons they claim it was (virginia.org states that "Virginia has always been about doing the things you love with the people you love most. We're staying hopeful that you will be able to explore Virginia soon.")  Up until we saw that movie  last night I would have accepted this lie at face value, but now I see that Virginia was NOT "always about doing the things you love with the people you love most."

Not before 1967, at least!!

"Baseball IS Coming Back: My Thoughts"

So, we WILL have Major League Baseball this year, after all.

In about a month, a makeshift schedule of 60 games will commence, after "Spring Training, Part 2" (which starts the beginning of July.)  And, to accommodate the CoronaVirus, the CHINESE Virus, COVID-19, whatever you want to call it, there will be NO FANS IN THE STANDS and a multitude of other rules which, frankly, I don't have the time or inclination to dissect.  I'll figure it all out "as we go."

PART of me is ADVERSE to starting a "season"that late in the year....I can forsee a multitude of potential problems.  Yes, the old saying goes, "Half a loaf is better than none" but 60 games is not EVEN half....it leaves 102 games that are wiped out. Gone. Finito. I have learned to live WITHOUT baseball at this point, so part of me has already written off the 2020 season....why return to it NOW??

MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN, but the OTHER part of me, the part which is saddened and even angry to see the racial division in our nation, THAT part of me wants to see Baseball RETURN.  Rooting for the same baseball team featuring teammates of different nationalities and colors WORKING TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL can and does bring people together. Let's hope and pray that God will use this proven means AGAIN.

In conclusion....

I'm not saying the ABSENCE of Baseball so far this year is RESPONSIBLE for the racial tensions, mind you.  The actions of certain people are responsible for what we see on the news. So please don't misunderstand me.

But what I'm saying is I sure hope that the PRESENCE of baseball will be a vehicle for all kinds of people to UNITE us...even if it's just to provide a DIVERSION from the news.

"Ali!!"

Yesterday I posted a mini-blog about Muhammad Ali on Facebook.  It explains itself...

Click to enlarge!!

"Rite-Aid Got It Wrong..."

Last week I had Cataract surgery and my Covid test PRIOR to that fueled this letter to our local papers. I don't know if they'll print it or not, so I will print it HERE....

Editor,

They say we "shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth," and that's generally good advice. However,  those free COVID tests at Rite-Aid on Mule Road in Toms River bear some serious, serious scrutiny. They are "free" of charge, yes, but certainly not "free" of unnecessary stress and inconvenience. Note: It's not the Testing, itself, which is the issue but the total confusion about how long it will take for Results to return is the issue. The test, itself, was easy and quite well organized.  I share the following experiences via your paper to hopefully help anyone else who is or will be in my situation to know what to expect.

Last Wednesday, I was due to have Cataract Surgery via Dr. Lakhani of Toms River who, by the way is an absolutely genius of a doctor. Anyway, by law I had to be COVID tested three days in advance so I went Sunday after church to Rite-Aid. After being told all along that Results would be available in "2-5" days or "2-7" days ("but most often two days or less"), I went ahead, but my results were not in by 11 am Tuesday, 48 hours after the test. I called Rite-Aid back and for the first time it was clarified to me that it was two BUSINESS days, which meant the earliest I'd be eligible to get Results was Wednesday morning (the surgery was slated for Wednesday afternoon, at noonish.) See, I learned that the hours after my test on Sunday did not count now, because Sunday is not a business day. Would have been nice to know that at the outset!

I called the Lab who processes the results and they could not confirm that Rite-Aid even sent them (more on that later.) Rite-Aid, of course, insisted that the results were, indeed, sent to the Lab (there in New York State.)

Wednesday morning still brought no Results, and Rite-Aid then changed the goal posts and explained that the usual waiting time was now "2-10" days. I forfeited my surgery for Wednesday but thankfully, Dr. Lakhani re-scheduled me for Friday. On Thursday, STILL no Results by noon and I called the Lab again.  Long story short, they blamed Rite-Aid for not leveling with me in the first place about how long this might take (so do I.) I called Rite-Aid again and one of the people who work there actually suggested that the Lab was extra long getting Results to me because I might have COVID and they're re-testing the sample to make sure before they inform me! Friday morning I finally got the Results. I was negative for COVID (whew) and Doc Lakhani worked his wonders on me again that afternoon (he did my right eye in 2016, this time he did my left eye.) I have since heard a rumor that this very Rite-Aid lost a batch of samples for a group of people who had free COVID tests there, and I tend to believe it because I see how my own situation was mishandled. I believe this is why the Lab suggested Rite-Aid may have lost my results---it wouldn't have been the first time, sadly.

Thank you, Rite-Aid, for the free COVID tests but a little more honesty and specificity about how long it might possibly take to get Results would be very, very helpful to customers lined up for surgery. I used to run a business in North Jersey, and when I gave my customers something that was "Free" I endeavored to make the gift "hassle-free," as well as "Free" from a financial standpoint. It's best to under-promise and over-deliver, not the other way around! I know that COVID testing is a relatively new thing and you're inexperienced at it, but these principles of how to do business the right way are ancient and are still necessary, here in 2020. Yes, most often we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth but if it leaves a bad taste in OUR mouths, well....

Chet Jelinski

"(9) Recent 'Mini-Blog' Facebook Posts..."

Note: My Facebook page is for Friends only, I will NOT accept Friend Requests from strangers. Thank you!!

"Flag Day"

Today is FLAG DAY. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...too many of us display our CUSTOM flags proudly (favorite sports team, holiday flags, graduation flags, etc.) but we don't display the AMERICAN flag enough.  This is despite the fact that the AMERICAN flag represents the freedom we have to CHOOSE to display custom flags!!

So if you HAVE an American flag, put it out before you go to church and THANK GOD for what it still represents, however flawed and imperfectly.

"Nobody Had Better...."

President Ronald Reagan visited my then-hometown of Bloomfield, NJ 35 years ago today. This monument pictured above stands by the Town Hall where he spoke to a crowd estimated at about 10,000. The monument is small and easily accessible to any who might wish to vandalize it.

My first blog of today contained a piece called "MONUMENTAL STUPIDITY."  It explains why those who are tearing down monuments across the country now are DEAD WRONG to do so. NOBODY HAD BETTER TOUCH THIS REAGAN MONUMENT, is all I have to say. They'd be messing with a part of ME.

"What. A. Week."

Looking over my Facebook posts from this past week, I said to myself "Wow. What a week".  Here are some highlights!! First, I drew a FLYING FISH (above), inspired by the new music video by Cat Stevens which was put together for the re-imagining of his song "Where Do The Children Play?" (If you read my May 28th blog, you'll see that he's redoing his ENTIRE "Tea For The Tillerman" album from 50 years ago, BTW.)  I have always thought that Flying Fish are among God's most AMAZING creations as they can swim underwater AND fly!! They INSPIRE me, and they were included in the aforementioned new video.

In politics, INSURRECTIONISTS have taken over a six block area of Seattle...

Speaking of re-imagining, redoing and REISSUING, I re-did the front cover of my MAYS book (above.) Check out all 5 of my books on Amazon!!

THIS (above) was like a MINI-BLOG I did on Facebook this morning....

And I responded to President Trump (above) regarding his visit to my home state of New Jersey last night!!

I pray for President Trump, THANKFUL he's even RUNNING for President again after the Coronavirus AND now these riots.  And don't forget, before THAT they impeached him and tried to REMOVE him!!  Thank God he even WANTS the job to continue!! I pray he'll have THE WISDOM HE NEEDS in dealing with insurrectionists, looters, arsonists and violent RIOTERS. And, I pray he'll be RE-elected, along with a Republican House and Senate.

"Christians: Before You Endorse 'Black Lives Matter' You Need to See What THEY Endorse"

Every Christian does or SHOULD believe that the phrase "Black Lives Matter" is accurate, because ALL human lives matter, to GOD and to US.  But "Black Lives Matter" is MORE than just a phrase, people!! It's a MOVEMENT, a movement that is bent on moving society AWAY from the norms of God's Unchanging Word. I urge you, investigate their WEBSITE as my wife and I did recently. See for yourself!!

Go to www.blacklivesmatter.com, open the "About" section and then click "What We Believe."

When "What We Believe" is printed out, there's little on page ONE that I, personally, find objectionable but the UNGODLY stuff is "hidden in plain sight" on page TWO.

READ IT ALL. Read the fine print and see what you are (in most cases, unknowingly) "signing off on" when you say "Black Lives Matter" and thus endorse what THEY believe.

I'm just going to mention PHRASES used in their statement because many Christians support the PHRASE "Black Lives Matter" but the ORGANIZATION by that name uses THESE phrases (below). This means that association with the GROUP is your endorsement of these concepts, what THEY believe is what YOU as a Christian are signing off on when you use that "BLM" phrase.
Here you go...



   Paragraph 8 gives you a clue things are about to get bad when you see the word "comrades."

   Paragraph 14 uses "Gender Identity" and "Gender Expression."

   Paragraph 15 has "Transgender brothers and sisters."

   Paragraph 16 uses "Cisgender privilege," "Black trans folk," "Black trans women."

   Paragraph 17 clearly goes against the concept of male leadership in the home, something which the Bible teaches and black families, in many cases, need desperately. (Read it for yourself!!)

   Paragraph 18, there's the word "comrades" again.

   Paragraph 19 speaks of "dismantling the patriarchal practice..."

   Paragraph 20 speaks of "disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement" which was following the SCRIPTURAL standard, by the way (more below)..

   And, Paragraph 21 says "we foster a queer-affirming network." We Christians should affirm Biblical truth that all people are MADE in then image of God but also that all of us have STRAYED from the image of God because of our individual sins.  Therefore, "queers" should not be affirmed IN that sin, but urged to FORSAKE it and turn to Christ for forgiveness just like no one should be encouraged to continue in ANY sin. "BLM" is clearly affirming people IN their sin.

Read the entire statement for yourself and you will see that I am, unfortunately, portraying "BLM" and their REAL agenda ACCURATELY.



In closing, Ephesians 5:11 tells God's people to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" and later on in that very chapter, Paul gives instructions to FAMILIES, husbands, wives and children, while affirming that the HUSBAND is the HEAD (Ephesians 5:22-6:4.) This goes totally against what BLM is pushing, so don't have FELLOWSHIP with them by identifying with them and their godless causes, but instead, pray for courage and REPROVE them...CALL THEM OUT.  You need not write a BLOG about them, but IF you see (now, or later on), that they really stand for many things that you as a Christian CANNOT support, just CEASING your support is "reproving" them. And this can be done quietly and inconspicuously.

At the very least, before you continue to say "Black Lives Matter" know what THEY are saying, and all of what YOU are AFFIRMING, when you say it!!

"Defunding the NYPD?"

Sent this letter to the NY Daily News today, trying to untangle a discussion about WHETHER OR NOT THE NYPD SHOULD BE DEFUNDED. I think I've succeeded in untangling it....

Editor,

Regarding your piece on June 5th (" 'Imagine' If Fox Host Had Half a Clue"), I see your point, Brian Kilmeade made a very unwise statement about John Lennon not being safe in New York City during the disturbances. Sadly, Lennon was not safe on that totally peaceful, pre-Christmas night 40 years ago when he was murdered. Kilmeade should have been aware of that, and, if he was, shouldn't have used Lennon to try to counter DeBlasio's "point" about Lennon.

However, as you noted, this whole discussion was provoked by the insane suggestion that the NYPD should be defunded. I'm glad Deblasio says he's against defunding because I only wish to remind everyone that Lennon, at one point, donated bullet-proof vests to the NYPD. He didn't want to defund the NYPD, he wanted to DEFEND them. And, I also wish to point out that after he was shot, it was the NYPD who was first on the scene to try to save Lennon's life.

Chet Jelinski

"I Was a Teenage Racist"

My wife urged me to blog about this after I shared with her (again) just yesterday. So the first thing I want to say is that I'm well aware some think I'm a racist NOW, at age 65, because (for example) I support President Trump...but that's just an accusation I'll have to live with (Lol). No racist could POSSIBLY be as saddened as I am, seeing the racial hatred coming from some on BOTH sides these past few weeks.

In November 2018, when Stan Lee died, I wrote to one of the New York papers about him and told a bit of how I was surrounded by racists in my life at age 12 (1967), and how God used STAN to help me not go down that path. Here's that letter, as printed, for those who've never seen it....

There was much  more I could have said in that letter, but it was FAR too personal to put in a newspaper. So, here in my BLOG now, I want to cover the years 1968-1970, ages 13-15, and identify OTHERS that God used to help me overcome the sin of racism even before I became a Christian. At age 13 (1968), I was finishing up Junior High a year after the riots in Newark, NJ (where I was born and lived.) Black kids routinely threatened me, stole my money and property and harassed me like they did OTHER white kids. I, personally, was very passive...not a fighter, an easy victim. I lived with my mother and step-father and they were filled with hatred towards blacks. I stayed out of school for weeks in '68, faking illness, because the white teachers let the black kids run wild, and they'd harass me and other whites while the teachers did nothing.  But funny, it was even worse when I stayed at HOME with my STEP-FATHER (who was also abusive)....somehow THAT was "okay" with mom, Lol!! When it was time to go to High School, I was supposed to go to BARRINGER High where race riots were aplenty. My mom and my teacher, a white guy, helped me get into ARTS High despite failing grades from non-attendance at school. because 1.) I had artistic talent and 2.) Arts was a MAGNET school, so the kids who went there were interested in LEARNING, not in FIGHTING or RIOTING. I may be wrong, but I think Arts High was the most prestigious High School in Newark, at least back then..

In my first days at Arts, my homeroom teacher was an old white man, Mr. Chimacoff. He died suddenly after a few days, running to catch a bus to school, and a black woman became my homeroom teacher. I was so afraid of having a BLACK person as my teacher, I actually went to the (white) principal and asked him to switch me to a different class, one with a WHITE teacher again!!  Thankfully, he refused.  I then had some sort of problem with my locker, and a black girl in my class named Chanda Young offered to let me share hers until mine got fixed. Did she reach out to me because she saw I had racist tendencies, and didn't want a black homeroom teacher?? I don't know, but I'm sure glad she did. We became friends to the point that I playfully-but-inappropriately patted her butt one day and she got very MAD at me. I apologized, she forgave me, but I respected her GREATLY for the way she stood up for her dignity. Frankly, this was UNlike the white girls I grew up around who had Zero self-respect and yet thought that all whites were better than all blacks.

Chanda and I talked freely about race relations and I got to see how many black people view many WHITE people...THE most valuable lessons I ever learned at that school, frankly. Though Chanda had a boyfriend, I began to fall in love (as much as a 14 year old CAN be "in love" with someone) with her. As for the black GUYS in my class, the fact that Bill Cosby's new TV show had him cast as a character named CHET was a bridge-builder to the black GUYS, who accepted me and called me "Chet Kincaid" as a term of endearment. I retained my OWN identity, yes, but the guys accepted me for who I was, and vice versa. Some were CHRISTIANS...the first true Christians I ever met...and they were VERY different from the kids who harassed me in Junior High. I cannot recall one time someone at Arts High threatened me or stole from me or was involved in violence towards me or ANYONE. Meanwhile, I still lived at home with my racist parents who were wondering why, when I was 15 (this was 1970) I had no girlfriend yet. Fact is, I certainly DID have a girl I at least WISHED was my girlfriend, but I couldn't tell THEM that because she wasn't "of my own kind." They actually thought I was GAY because I could never tell them of my feelings for you-know-who, Lol!! I began to rebel about the lies they'd told me about "all black people" (and about ME being GAY) because now I had seen for myself "the other side." Just like there were good and bad WHITES, the same is true regarding OTHERS. We are all ONE race....the HUMAN race.

In May 1970, I participated in a protest for students slain at Kent State University (see my blog for May 4th of this year regarding more on that.) The VICE principal of Arts High, a black woman, Mrs. David, expelled me from school and when I returned, I had to see a counselor, Charlotta Young (no relation to CHANDA Young.) As school ended for the summer in June 1970, Chanda (the girl I was secretly in love with) promised to write me (there was only snail mail in those days) and I was happy, but concerned. If my parents ever saw "C. Young" with a black neighborhood as the return address on a letter addressed to me, they would KILL me...(especially my crazy step-father who was abusive to me ANYway.)  I begged Mrs. Young, my Social Worker, to lie to my mom (who she was in contact with about the constant violence from my step-father in my home situation) and say that SHE was the "C. Young" who was going to write me. My mom would have APPROVED of that because she thought Mrs. Young was "one of the good ones."  Mrs. Young refused, she said she would like to help me, but could not lie for me.  I respected her greatly for that. Amongst my white relatives and friends, I never knew anyone who would not LIE for me before.

         Above: Mrs. Young.  To see my blog about HER, check out July 13th of last year.

I could go on and on adding to this, but here's the point...in Junior High, I was a racist, under racist influences from whites and subject to abuse from certain black kids who REINFORCED the racist things I'd been taught about all black people. In High School, I met MANY black people who treated me kindly, who displayed self-respect and integrity, who BEFRIENDED me, and who even cared enough to DISCIPLINE me (as in the case of the Vice Principal, who gave me what I deserved where I needed it.) I never endured any abusive treatment from the kids at Arts High like I did in Junior High. Yes, I was a teenage racist, but the actions of others (the first real CHRISTIANS I had ever encountered) helped me see a better way, that all people should not be lumped together in a stereotypical manner. What LESSONS are there, in this long testimonial?? Here are a few.

1.) Maybe there are racists YOU know of...white OR black racists.  Instead of writing them off, saying you don't care what they think (as I heard someone say recently), try REACHING OUT like the kids at Arts High did (like STAN LEE did, to MILLIONS). At the very least, PRAY for them.

2.) I am greatly concerned to see younger white people go to the OTHER extreme, here in 2020. Fifty years ago, the "common" thing to do if you were white was to devalue black people.  Now, younger whites are being taught to hate THEMSELVES for their "white privilege." Just as wrong!!

3.) I know of a white person who apologized to all black people recently and then added in "But I can't possibly know how you feel." It's a lie. If you live in the suburbs and are old enough, go live in the HOOD for a year.  Even since I've become a Christian, I periodically go to gatherings where I'm the only white person and it's a GOOD thing to see how it is to be a minority, you CAN know how others feel if you really want to. Stop saying you "can't" and admit "you don't want to." And...

4.) If there are any POLICE-HATERS here, it is 100% wrong to condemn all police for the actions of a few, just like it was wrong of me to hate and fear all black people because of the actions of a few. The words of Jesus are so helpful here..."Do unto others as you'd have them do to you."

5.) All of us...Jesus said LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. My first wife, who passed away three years ago, was white and we had three kids who have each married inter-racially. My SECOND wife is a BLACK woman. I could have grown up to be an ADULT racist if God didn't use those who implemented the Christlike principal of "love your enemy" in my early life. "Love your enemy" like my friends in Arts High did....you never know how God might use YOU to make the world a LITTLE bit better of a place!!

"No Baseball (2020)"

Wrote this poem this morning, it's about how Baseball COULD help our country's racial divide IF they could play (looks like we WON'T have baseball this year, however). The ULTIMATE answer is spiritual Revival, yes, but baseball brings people together, at least superficially...

“NO BASEBALL (2020)”

Remember when our team once took the field,
Men of every race, same uniforms?
It somehow caused the differences to heal
Remember, then, when teamwork was the norm

Remember having baseball “every day,”
A diversion from divisions all around?
Remember, just a man up at the plate,
Colorless, like him upon the mound?

Remember, too, when teams traveled around
To cities far away…not riot-torn?
Remember how through rivalries we found
New friends…old friendships, suddenly reborn?

Remember seeing men work side-by-side
Striving hard to reach a common goal?
This year, it’s sad, for baseball's died
And with it, part of our great nation’s soul.

"Is Silence GOLDEN, or is Silence CONSENT?"

Sometimes, two old sayings COLLIDE and say two totally different things on the same general subject.

Example?? How about "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today" and "Tomorrow's another day"?

Or, "He who hesitates is lost" and "All things comes to he who waits"?

Then, there's two old sayings about the area of our SPEECH which, in my opinion DO contradict each other....but don't HAVE to.

I speak of "SILENCE IS GOLDEN" vs. "SILENCE IS CONSENT."

There are certainly times when Silence is Golden...when it's best to shut up.  I mean, it's good to express our opinions (that's what this blog is ABOUT....expressing my opinions,  Lol) and it's good to let OTHERS express THEIR opinions....but we don't always have to AGREE with others, nor do we always have to let others know when we DON'T agree. The older I get, the more I'm learning that POLITICS is not worth arguing about...I say what *I* think on my Facebook page, but I avoid lengthy discussions trying to convince OTHERS on THEIR Facebook pages. It's just not worth it, very few people are persuadable. In THOSE cases "Silence is Golden," you see.

BUT.....

If we remain silent when sin which GOD defines as sin in Scripture is publicly promoted, then THAT (most often, not always) is "Silence is CONSENT."  But if we choose to stay quiet when OPINIONS are privately expressed and it might lead to profitless ARGUMENTS, well, THAT'S when "Silence is GOLDEN."

Again, I refrain from commenting on many FB posts simply because someone is expressing their OPINION, because even though I disagree with them, that's possibly only MY opinion.

Other issues "HAVE" to be addressed, but they are relatively rare....and I do it on MY Facebook page, or here, or in a Letter to the Editor, perhaps.

The Bible says "there is a time to speak, and a time to remain silent" and THAT is the infallible Word of God, not anyone's opinion!!

Some of us, especially during this election season, need to know when to speak (so that it's not "Consent") and when to simply "agree to disagree" in our minds, and not be so ready to FIGHT.

Save the "FIGHT" for things worth fighting FOR!! THAT is when Silence is Golden.






Check out my letter on page 7....https://issuu.com/micromediapubs/docs/2020-05-30_mt?fbclid=IwAR27nQ6L211SNgplRJgyPZr1iAfMbPrKJi3201kmiqDdjYCi5xv6EWeSQfI

"Peaceful Protests?? GOOD. Looting, Arson and Violence?? EVIL"

A week ago today a black man, George Floyd, was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Three OTHER officers stood by and watched as the cop had his knee on the neck of the (handcuffed) victim for almost 9 minutes.  (This excessive force was all captured on videos, and broadcast around the world.) Mr. Floyd DIED a few hours later, and though the four officers were quickly dismissed from their jobs and the MAIN perp was eventually (after a few days) charged with third degree murder, many (including me) were correctly ANGERED by this.  I, personally, think he should get FIRST degree murder...(I have reasons for this which I may get into in a FUTURE blog.) Additionally, as far as I know, the OTHER three cops who stood by while this poor man was pleading "I can't breathe" should be charged, ALSO...but have not been yet.

What I do want to discuss this morning is the STILL ongoing ***RIOTS*** which are happening all over the nation, a week later.

PEACEFUL PROTESTS are entirely warranted in this situation, and, frankly, on the basis of Ecclesiastes 8:11 (New King James Version), even THEY might not have happened had the Democrats in charge of Minnesota acted much QUICKER.  I am SO proud of my birthplace, Newark, NJ, for holding a PEACEFUL protest on Saturday!! Hundreds of people gathered at the "Seated Lincoln" statue in Newark (see photo above, "Lincoln" is in the middle). Given Newark's rep for RIOTS in 1967 (I lived there at the time), I was afraid that NEWARK would follow the lead of OTHER cities and riot AGAIN. I was PRAYING that that Lincoln statue wouldn't be vandalized because my mom used to take me to sit by Abe when I was a little boy (I was born on his birthday, Feb. 12th.)  My wife and I watched the Newark protest on TV and it was ORDERLY, thanks mostly to the efforts of Newark Mayor RAZ BARAKA. It would seem that Raz wanted CALM, unlike his dad, Imamu Baraka (then known as Leroi Jones), who incited violence in those '67 riots.  By the way, in the photo the guy in the yellow shirt is a guy I went to Arts High School with from 1969-1972, Larry Hamm.  He and Raz did a GREAT job keeping this protest PEACEFUL (though there were a few MINOR incidents, OVERALL it was very peaceful.....Lincoln was unscathed, no CARS or STORES were set on fire or looted, and so on.) Raz, like myself, seems to have learned from his father's mistakes in life.

LOOTING, ARSON AND VIOLENCE however are the NORM in other (Democrat) controlled cities here in New Jersey, and all around the country. Most often, the thugs doing this are NOT wearing masks or "Social Distancing" while committing these crimes, but the Democrat Governors and Mayors are overlooking the crimes AND the fact that these miscreants aren't following the Coronavirus safety gudelines they've meticulously laid down.  Yet, these same PHONY Democrat politicians have been discouraging, harassing and inhibiting law-abiding citizens WILLING to follow the guidelines if they can only be allowed to re-open their businesses and work!! DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE DESTRUCTIVE AND DISCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE PRODUCTIVE.

And, their unwillingness to even criticize those who despise the Guidelines make me think that the Coronavirus Crisis is being used to SCARE people.

I think I've counted 27 cities (all run by Dems) where riots are raging and very often, these criminals are destroying their own neighborhoods and BLACK-OWNED businesses....all under the pretense of making a point about George Floyd. Some punks even spray-painted part of the Lincoln Memorial, in D.C.!! It's sickening. And, it's EVIL. Furthermore, HATRED (and that's what it is) only validates hatred and taking REVENGE only paves the way for MORE revenge by the ones you think you're "getting back at."  Martin Luther King understood that boomerang effect, so he led PEACEFUL protests.

.....and when Dr. King spoke at the Lincoln Memorial in front of SO many people, there was NO graffiti left behind.