Commentary

C.R.T.

Also known as Critical Race Theory, this Marxist ideology of inherent and systemic racism—i.e., that we’re all born racists (particularly white folks)—is rapidly gaining a foothold in our government, institutions of higher learning, corporations, the military and even churches.

Its roots trace back to legal scholarship in the 1980s that challenged conventional thinking about racial discrimination. Ever since the emergence of the civil rights’ movement under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the 1960s, activists had pushed for equal treatment under the law and the expanding of constitutional rights.

Even though the landmark case of Brown v Board of Education in 1954 ruled that “separate is not equal” and state laws protecting segregated public schools are unconstitutional, the fact remains that segregation still exists.

Summers in the 1980s when I was a schoolage girl were the best.

It wasn’t that we went on fancy vacations back then or had unique plans. It was the “gift of the ordinary days” when time seemed to stand still.

My sisters and I and local friends spent countless hours in our pool playing games like Sharks and Minnows and Marco Polo. We alternated swimming with riding the fourwheeler in the trails in the woods, our wet hair drying in the wind.

I can recall those trails, the turns and hills and shortcuts still clear in my mind from thirty-plus years ago.

Otter Pop popsicles that Momma bought from Sam’s Club in Shreveport were the go-to summer treat, and everyone tried to grab the Poncho Punch flavor first. Alexander the Grape was a close second. They still make those popsicles, but they aren’t quite as good or as big as they were in the 80s.

We took our annual Davidson-Carpenter-Vidrine-Sonnier summer vacation last week.

“The Sixteen of Us” — as we refer to ourselves collectively — include four families — my parents, my family, and my two sisters and their families. We currently range in age from eight to 73.

And this year, the sixteen of of us became a total of twenty at the beach because my son Bryce brought a friend, and Ann’s daughter Sadie brought three friends. In all, we were responsible for seven teenagers on the trip.

This year we rented two houses in Rosemary Beach, Florida. My parents and my family shared a house, while my two sisters and their families shared the house two doors down.

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The Greatest Verse In the Bible

Out of the approximately 31,000+ verses in the Bible, to me, this is the greatest one:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting Life” (John 3:16).

Yes, even though there are other wonderful verses. . .and great Promises to claim. . .this verse is simple enough for a child to understand. . .yet, so profound that even the greatest scholar or theologian can’t comprehend it.

That’s why Martin Luther, the great Protestant reformer, said he could never preach on it—for “it was beyond him.”

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Thousands of high school seniors are finishing one of the strangest school years in history, of course due to COVID-19. Last year’s seniors missed March through May; however, this year’s seniors basically missed the whole shebang.

My son Reece is one of these seniors.

In a couple of weeks, he will graduate from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport.

As a mom, I always dreamed of what Reece’s senior year would look like. I envisioned him at the homecoming dance, school club activities, and involved in all of the exciting traditions at Byrd, such as meeting at the original Strawn’s Eat Shop before school on football Fridays.

I never thought he wouldn’t be able to attend school five days per week or that he would have to mask his face all year.

In reality, it’s impossible to truly be free without them:

Faith, Fellowship and Forgiveness.

Yes, true Freedom can’t be experienced apart from these three things: Faith in the one, true-and-living God. . .Fellowship with Him on a daily basis. . .and Forgiving others when they hurt us through words and/or deeds.

You see: one (Faith) is a part of our “upward” life, i.e., our theology, philosophy or worldview that helps us try and make sense of things. And, when that Faith (Trust) is rooted in the One Who both made and sustains everything, then life isn’t so complex or perplexing.

Especially when we have Fellowship with Him through daily prayer and meditation on His Word (the Bible).

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If you haven’t been to the 4C Coffee House nestled in Grand Cane’s historic district on Main Street, you’re missing out!

My sister Ashley and I were in for a real treat when we visited 4C for the first time last Wednesday. We met our parents there for mid-morning coffee and pastries.

The atmosphere at 4C is modern but cozy and welcoming. The mural on one wall features Grand Cane sites such as the Cook-Hill House and Central School. The exposed brick adds a Seattle-coffee-shop feeling, and the beautiful wooden accent wall on the opposite side of the shop provides a warm, inviting feeling.

Light music fills the air.

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My daughter Juliana turned eleven recently.

On the way home from a fun day of manicures, lunch at Gibbons (her request), and two scoops of Gold Medal Ribbon at Baskin-Robbins, she asked me, “Mama, tell me about your eleventh birthday!”

My mind took me back to November 1987. I was in sixth grade at the old Johnson Elementary in Mansfield.

For my eleventh birthday, I had a bonfire at my house in the country, just outside of Mansfield where my parents still live. We roasted hot dogs, ate homemade chocolate cake with white icing, and went on a hayride.

But the main thing I recall was how excited I was that one of my best friends, Dustin DeVore, was coming to my party. Dustin sat behind me in class, since our names were Davidson and DeVore. I felt so lucky.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any crazier, it does.

There are a lot of things happening in America right now that just don’t make any sense. And, unless something happens, it’s only going to get worse.

Take for instance the influx of thousands of illegal immigrants (mostly children and minors) via our southern border. They’re basically being given a free pass to anywhere here in the U.S.—at taxpayer expense—without being properly vetted or tested for COVID.

And, that has nothing to do with politics or who’s in the White House.

It just defies common sense and is further opening a can of worms that should have been closed a long time ago.

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The Veterans Pledge Retold

A good story is worth retelling. I think this is a good story and yes, I confess that it’s a rewrite of one I’ve done before. But in today’s society when disrespect of our flag is condoned and children are being told that our flag stands for hatred, racism, bigotry and more, I’m saying they’re wrong.

It happens every week across our country. A club president calls their civic meeting to order and often following a prayer (in the South, anyway), one member is asked to lead the club in repeating the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Certainly,” comes the response. “I pledge allegiance, to the flag...” and on we drone in a monotone until we conclude with “for liberty and justice for all.”