The thoughts and ideas expressed below are exclusively those of Jack Straley and www.justplaintalkwithjack.com  We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all, when presented the opportunity, please vote.

May is two thirds over.  Memorial Day and summer are almost upon us.  The school year is almost over for students and teachers, except those that will enjoy summer school.

This morning my local news had a segment on the twelve high schools in our area that will celebrate graduation today.  Oh the memories of being a graduating senior.  We were all grown, or so we thought.  We knew everything worth knowing, or so we thought.  We had just joined life on the fast lane and were ready for the old people to step aside and let us show them the proper way to get things done.  We had problems, we just didn’t know they were problems.  The great, late LBJ was president (we survived) and our graduation speaker was a local shyster, crooked lawyer that had unsuccessfully run for Senate and lost (thank goodness).  But it was a glorious evening when we walked the stage and got that piece of paper most of us still have.

After pleasantly reviewing these times and events, reality rudely slapped me in the face.  The national news was on and to my chagrin there were articles about the graduation proceedings that were conducted over the weekend at New York City University and Columbia.  These spoiled, uneducated graduates slammed and criticized the United States of America.  These same malcontents proceeded to praise Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah.  They accused the United States, in cooperation with Israel, of genocide of Palestinians, sparing no quarter. No mention of the October 7 raid was given.

I ask, what kind of education did these people obtain?  The above referenced speeches were made by the Valedictorians of their respective schools.  It appeared that the majority of the students assembled agreed with the speakers and cheered and encouraged them recklessly.  Most were probably recipients of scholarships and grants as benefactors of the generosity of America.  Also the vast majority were spoiled privileged children of wealthy parents.  In one instance the diploma of a speaker was held pending further disciplinary actions.

Religious denominations are having their own share of challenges these days also.  I was raised a devout, hard headed, southern Baptist.  I was taught there was no gray area in life.  All was right or wrong, black or white, heaven or hell, no in between.  Much to the dismay of some of my family members I went afoul and became a Methodist.  Heaven help us, those Methodist’s are just too liberal.  They allow dancing, and swimming at the same time as the opposite sex.  Baptist’s used the back door and Methodist’s used the front door when buying alcohol for human consumption.  I was doomed.  But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, I didn’t become an Episcopalian.  

In South Africa apartheid is just a footnote in history.  The black people took over fifty or sixty years ago and have started their purge of white people.  In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s many Dutch farmers relocated to the fertile lands in South Africa.  They have maintained these farms and passed them down from generation to generation.  Recently the ruling blacks have declared these lands were taken illegally and must be returned to the native peoples.  They have arrested and killed thousands of sixth and seventh generation farmers to take their land.  Recently President Trump granted refugee status to some of these farmers.  A group of 59 people, consisting of men, wives and children arrived in America.  When asked to aide and assist with relocation of these refugees the leaders of the Episcopal Church immediately and adamantly  responded denying any help and stating they were criminals, not refugees for being party to their families taking this land 400 years ago.  Disgusting and shameful.

On another topic, I recently watched a television program titled “Faith Under Fire”.  It is documentary on the situation in Ukraine and what Russia is doing.  The invasion of Ukraine and subsequent attacks inside this independent nation is targeting churches, Christians and Jews.  It is a soul grabbing testimonial of the atrocities that Premier Putin is orchestrating.  I have had mixed feelings concerning our support for Ukraine and asked repeatedly where does it stop.  American taxpayer money being spent is questionable.  After viewing this program I feel it can never stop as long as an evil dictator controls the fighting forces perpetrating these crimes.  Russia must be stopped and Christianity given the right to exist and prosper.  By aiding Ukraine we are fulfilling the commands of Jesus and spreading his word and works.