Month: March 2013

  • AMERICAN MILITARY MUSIC

    In 1970, a book written by Robert Sherrill was published with the title, “Military Justice is to Justice as Military Music is to Music.” More than anything else, Robert Sherrill had few things complimentary about justice in the American military system. As a matter of fact, he excoriated what is called the justice system in…

  • ANOTHER CLOWN STORY

    After Tony Hayward finished his grueling testimony before a House committee, he flew back to England, most likely in a private jet that BP owns.  Some time on Friday or Saturday, Hayward was told that he had been replaced on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill by a Mississippi State graduate who formerly was his…

  • THE AL GORE SEPARATION

    In recent weeks Al Gore, the former vice-president, and his wife Tipper announced that they are going to be separated after 40 years of marriage.  This has set the news hawks and news hens to digging for details as to why the Gores are ending their marriage after such a long time.  I will have…

  • ABIDING CONCLUSIONS

    The title to this essay is a very practical one. The “abiding” part has to do with some thoughts that have remained in my brain for the better part of 80 years. The “conclusion” part has to do with these statements which allow no room for debate. And, finally, you will be surprised to know…

  • A PROUD SAXON

    From January 1936 until January of 1940, it was my duty to attend the Clayton High School in pursuit of a diploma.  At that time, Georgia Walker was the director of vocal music.  George Best was the director of instrumental music.  For the four years that I attended Clayton High School, one of the mainstays…

  • A FEW WORDS ABOUT READING AND LISTENING

    For reasons unknown to me, I have been a voracious reader from the time Miss Brantley rescued me from the girls’ room.  I have told the story before but perhaps it bears repeating.  On my first day in school in the Forsythe School in Clayton, Missouri, I felt the need to relieve myself and walked…

  • IN MEMORIAM, MARGARET M. MURPHY

    It is with a heavy heart that I record the passage of Margaret Murphy from this life.  Margaret was 88 years old and lived a complete life span.  Nonetheless, I am grieved to think that there will be no more happy laughter from Margaret Murphy.  When we worked, we referred to Margaret as Three M…

  • MORE ON THE MOTHER TONGUE

    Whenever I dictate an essay about language, I specifically mean English, which always recalls the words of Sven Lernevall who observed, “The English language is a very rich one.”   I will try to add three words that will increase its richness.  Two of them are of modern vintage.  The third one goes back to my…

  • PARADISE AND MARTYRS AND VIRGINS

    I realize that talking about religion is often considered a third rail in the public discourse in this country.  The following essay is a dispassionate view of the Muslim belief that martyrs, such as those blowing up dozens of their fellow citizens, both Muslims and Christians, will go directly to Paradise.  I am not an…

  • THE LANGUAGE OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS AGAIN REVISITED

    It goes without saying that your Uncle Ezra has no to investigate the subject of the language that Americans speak.  Yet while I lack the academic credentials, as a wordsmith from my essay writing I have an abiding interest in words.  In this case, there are four words that have fallen into disuse that I…