Straight From The Hart

Have you seen “The Shack”, or do you intend to see it?  I would encourage you not to go, but not for the reason you might think.  I would strongly advise you to read the book instead.  I found the book to be so fascinating and thought-provoking that I fear the movie will not live up to it and you would not get the full benefit of what the author is trying to say.  Also, you will enjoy the story  more if you have to use your imagination.  I understand from others that movie makers feel they have to “fill in the gaps” and elaborate on things that take away from the real message of the story. I rarely read fiction and I don’t go to movies.  So how did I get caught up in reading such a controversial book as “The Shack”?  I am a very conservative, born-again, Bible-believing Christian, not exactly the type of person who would read, much less enjoy, the type of novel Wm. Young has written. Well, you might say it was due to medical advice.  Si...

My column in today's paper. THE KEEPER OF THE CLUTTER What do collectors, hoarders, savers, and clutterers have in common? I should know the answer to this question since my husband and I fall into all these categories to some extent or the other. I often facetiously tell my friends that I could be the poster child for hoarding, but in all seriousness I don’t go that far. My dishes are always cleaned up (thanks to my industrious husband), I don’t collect empty cartons (except those left over from Christmas last year and which are destined for the recycle bin as soon as I can find someone to haul them away for me), and there are no “goat trails” through my house - not downstairs anyway. For those of you who, like my daughter, are minimalists and actually have bare shelf space in their homes, a goat trail is the term used for hoarders who pile stuff floor to ceiling, leaving only a narrow path to walk through the rooms. So we can safely eliminate the word hoarding from my housek...

This year is not starting out the best for me!  Last week I had to confess to making several mistakes in my accounting of Lebanon history, and this week I am “eating crow”.  Yes, I was one of those Republicans who didn’t think Donald Trump could ever be nominated, let alone elected.  And I had grave doubts about his qualifications and ability. I was really in a quandary. I knew the Democratic candidates were absolutely not an option, for many reasons, including but not limited to the need to preserve the integrity of the Supreme Court and the sanctity of human life.  There were several  to choose from on the Republican ticket.  Donald Trump was not one of them. Then came the convention, and I was trapped.   I hasten to clarify here that I had no problem with any of Trump’s stated policy positions. I knew he didn’t have a racist bone in his body.  There was too much evidence out there to the contrary.  I knew he wasn’t a misogyn...

"Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter,  President Clinton , President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans and people of the world, thank you. We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people. Together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come. We will face challenges. We will confront hardships, but we will get the job done. Every four years we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady  Michelle Obama  for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. Thank you. Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning because, today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from  Washington, D.C ., and giving it back to you,...

It was Christmas Day 1987 - 29 years ago.     I don’t remember that we had a lot of warning about an impending ice storm but weather predictions were different back then.  Most local people were sitting down to their Christmas dinner with family when the power to their homes went off. My turkey was not quite done but we finished cooking it on a wood heating stove we had in my office so we could eat.  Then we prepared for bed early.  We only had a few oil lamps back then and the house was getting cold.   Our daughter was in high school and recovering from surgery, so the three of us bedded down in the living room because it was warmer there. Then the phone rang.  Our next door neighbor, Harry Hatten, was on the line with the alarming news that  downtown Lebanon was on fire! Lebanon lost at least 4 businesses in the 100 block of W. Commercial on the south side of the street that night, including Mayfield Abstract, Ted’s Jewe...

“If you think Russian President Vladimir Putin is nothing more than a ruthless thug who relishes political power and personal preening on the world’s stage — he’s got you right where he wants you.”  These chilling words of warning were written just last year by Maureen Mackey, managing editor of The Fiscal Times. Marin Katusa, who has studied Russian politics and Putin for years, is the author of a new book, “The Colder War: How the Energy Trade Slipped from America’s Grasp”, in which she wrote “Putin is not a regular politician like we are used to in the West - he believes his mission is to steer Russia toward its past glory as a global superpower...he is far more dangerous than politicians and the media would lead you to believe.” One website describes him in this language:  “Putin has positioned himself as heroic defender of Russia’s sovereignty. He has labeled the ostentatious West as the imperialistic villain keen on toying with the Third World. At the UN, Russia rout...

For several weeks I have been attempting to find a way to address the current United Nations issue with regard to Israel and Palestine.  As you might guess, there is a plethora of information available online, about 50% of it contradicting the other 50%.  Not only are there conflicting reports, but it is difficult to know which of the many sites are legitimate news sources. I have decided to use as the basis for this column today an article by Edward Bernard Glick, a professor emeritus of political science at Temple University in Philadelphia and the author of  several books, including “Peaceful Conflict” and “Soldiers, Scholars, and Society.”  He wrote this article in 2006 and it is an excellent overview of the history of the Israeli-Palestinian problem. The history of the Jews in the Holy Land goes back long before the Babylonians and later when the Romans expelled Jews from the area.  You don’t have to be a learned Biblical  scholar or even a stud...