October 31, 2017 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

White Privilege…if you do not understand…here is your opportunity!

SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/JungleVT/videos/1701654019976433/hc_ref=ARSzUxADowikLNRHzqGR8FNQjiz86CDIETRZigx2mmKtcS

October 31, 2017 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

History…Herstory…Our Story

“Light at the End of Cloud Trails”

I am posting the summary of what John Kelly, the Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration delivered to an audience last night, October 30, 2017.

I am posting it NOT because I accept anything that he says, but so that my readers can understand my words that follow.

SOURCE: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-chief-staff-john-kelly-defends-confederate-monuments-n815886

The following is the full transcript of Kelly’s remarks on the removal of Confederate statues:

Well, history’s history. And there are certain things in history that were not so good and other things that were very, very good.

I think we make a mistake, though, and as a society, and certainly as individuals, when we take what is today accepted as right and wrong and go back 100, 200, 300 years or more and say, ‘What Christopher Columbus did was wrong.’

You know, 500 years later, it’s inconceivable to me that you would take what we think now and apply it back then. I think it’s just very, very dangerous. I think it shows you just how much of a lack of appreciation of history and what history is.

I would tell you that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. He was a man that gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country. It was always loyalty to state first back in those days. Now it’s different today. But the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War, and men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand.

A WOW of disbelief….but then WHY would I expect anything else to come from a racist, bigoted White House management team. I, for one, do think and believe that what Christopher Columbus and all the other explorers did to the Native people of the Americas were morally wrong! They wiped out civilizations for the same reason it is being done today! Greed and power prompted them to practice genocide. Give me a break! Since when has it ever been accepted as “right” to kill men, women, and children because they were or are of a different ethnic race or culture! It was just as wrong and incorrect in 1492 as it is today in 2017!

Kelly’s sentences appall me, “You know, 500 years later, it’s inconceivable to me that you would take what we think now and apply it back then. I think it’s just very, very dangerous.” The danger is that he actually believes this! My goodness, isn’t that WHY we are taught history, so we do not repeat the same mistakes! Are we supposed to swallow what happened in the past and not consider the ramifications of such actions? What planet does this man live on! He goes on to say,”I think it shows you just how much of a lack of appreciation of history and what history is. ( I question his sentence construction…but onward) Seriously? We should “appreciate” the shackling and servitude, the raping of women and young girls, by the forefathers of this country? I can appreciate history without erecting statues to glorify the men who controlled the armies and enforced the immoral norms of society back then. I can appreciate the fact that I am glad to have learned the facts so that type of behavior does not continue (Unfortunately, it does, in so many ways in modern society).

His response to the Removal of the Confederate Statues: “I would tell you that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. He was a man that gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country. It was always loyalty to state first back in those days. Now it’s different today. But the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War, and men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand. AND just what kind of COMPROMISE would a person reach within a nation that subjected another race into slavery? It is 2017…and we still do not have equality in this country! And I am WHITE and I hear what comes out of people’s mouths every day…I read what is said by them…there is NO DOUBT in my mind that racism is alive and well in our country of equal rights. While I tend to have statues in my home, I would NEVER have a statue standing of someone who was hateful or killed people, erected in my home. WHY would I want a statue of an evil person gracing the land of my country?

I just do not agree with the remarks of John Kelly. I think one could interpret his response in a number of ways. I can certainly understand there is NO need to perpetuate the ideology of slavery. Would you want a statue of Hitler in your backyard? For the Black American, from various sources that I have read, that is akin to how they feel about Confederate monuments and the plaques that extol the former leaders of our country.

I think we are expected to call into question what someone did in the past…and I certainly do hope that the future calls into question what we have done! Because much of what the USA has done is detrimental to the survival of people and of the entire planet in oh so many ways,

And, no, I haven’t kept up on my reading of War Heroes or Leaders. I am sure General Robert E. Lee was a very knowledgeable man and most likely good to his own soldiers—but no man has the right to enslave another—and yes, it continues today. (Sex trafficking comes to mind here in this country)….and yes, it was in the Bible…and I do not condone what they did in the Biblical stories either! AND I do not believe that the Bible was dictated by God…but maybe Godtelepathy is stronger than I realize…LOL. As far as I know, it was mostly MEN who wrote the Bible,…perhaps they wrote it all…Out of balance! Men and women are called to be co-creators, regardless of race or creed. So no one should try to tell me that slavery is acceptable because we find it in the Bible! That fact does not make me respect those people in the Bible who accepted it. My understanding of the Bible is that God was faithful to His people. People were unfaithful to God—just like today—we forget to respect one another.

History is HIS STORY—-a story of war is always about killing…a murderous activity which would NOT have to take place if the respect and care of each person were important to all of us.

In conclusion, I think it is the morally correct action to take down the statues that in fact are praising those people who fought for the survival of slavery. I stand with the Americans who believe we are all equal and we need to have mutual respect for each other.

October 30, 2017 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

To Write or Not to Write, That is the Question

Abstract #1 was drawn by my Grandson, Ayden, when he was in Kindergarten…2011

Why Don’t I Write MORE or Less? Or, is it MORE or LESS that I write?

Well, questions with many responses.

I begin an idea at the very top of my head and then I think of another idea and then my mind becomes flooded with even more ideas!v I become overwhelmed! Which idea should I begin with?

Then, over in another corner of my brain, the questioning punctuates my thoughts: What IF I write this and then they think that? Oh my goodness, someone will read that! I can’t say that can I? What will they think of me if they read that? Of course, everyone writes what they experience or have a hint of experience, but if I write that, they WILL think I did it, won’t they? But then, do they think everyone who writes a murder mystery actually committed a murder? What if someone thinks I am writing about them and I am NOT writing about them? But they think I am writing about them. Maybe I am but maybe my words are just a fantasy? Or, maybe I am writing about them? Or, perhaps I am writing about myself? Oh my goodness, I did write about myself! Now my secret is out!

Then my ideas change. Just because I wrote that yesterday, that does not mean I think the same today or tomorrow!

Then begins the self-conflagration: If I write that, I must be a horrible person? Am I a sociopath and not know it? Am I too moralistic? Who do I think I am that I should write that? WHO do you THINK YOU ARE—preaching to the world? “Clean up your own backyard!”

Or the questions arise about my writing style: Do you think others have not already said that? What is so unique about that line? How boring! You can’t say that! Oh my goodness, you thought that?!

Just a few of the fleeting thoughts that my brain wrestles with each time I sit down to write.

P.S. The BEST part of this entry is the beautiful abstract work of art by my grandson, Ayden Michael Krenn. when he was in Kindergarten. He is now in 5th grade! I give him canvas to paint when I see him and hope he will continue to paint!

This link can take you to see Ayden’s work of art: https://johannisthinking.com/page/11/

October 30, 2017 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

today i remembered YOU

this morning when I woke

i remembered

YOU

last night

i remembered

YOU

yesterday as well

during the daylight hours…

YOU

as well as the day before

i remembered…

YOU

and the day before that…

and the week before that…

and the many days of days before that…

and the weeks following weeks before that…

not to mention the years…

finally–

today i called you…

YOU

…

You didn’t answer.

October 11, 2017 by johannisthinking@wordpresss.com

Writing Contests—Time is of Essence

SOURCE: https://www.pw.org/grants

University of Louisville

Calvino Prize

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 36 pages with a $25 entry fee by October 31. Visit the…

Silverfish Review Press

Gerald Cable Book Award

Cash Prize: $1,000

Entry Fee: $25

Application Deadline: 10/15/17

Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a first poetry collection. Poets who have not published a full-length…