Tracy Dorsett
Growing up, we often had large family gatherings. When an unexpected member of the family showed up, Momma would say with a smile, “Look what the cat dragged in.â€
After Jackie and I moved to Texas, those large family gatherings grew less frequent. We did, however, start attending events in Texas. Inevitably, these events were filled mainly with strangers.
Over time, we did make new friends either through work or kids’ activities. Most of these friendships were transitory as coworkers moved in and out of jobs or the boys changed Scout groups.
A few friendships grew and blossomed. One such friendship is with the Dorsetts: Linda and Tracy. Jackie taught side by side with Linda. Tracy and I drank beer together.
I didn’t know much about Tracy. Our wives simply worked together, and we would go out to eat occasionally. Eventually, we started barbecuing on weekends and got to know each other better.
Those small BBQs turned into a large annual Pig Roast. Tracy had been stationed in Louisiana during his time in the Air Force and knew about Cajun cooking. He asked if I knew how to roast a whole hog.
I had watched some roasts during my college days. Jackie’s uncle had roasted a few, and my fraternity did another. It wasn’t a complicated process.
The Pig Roast turned into an annual event for over ten years. Tracy and I had plenty of time to sit by a fire, drink beer and talk. The Pig Roast allowed us to invite plenty of family and friends to town.
One day as I walked out of his living room, I noticed a small plaque hanging over an arch way. It simply said Air Force Cross. I looked again. Tracy had earned the Air Force Cross in Vietnam.
I was shocked. The Air Force Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor. In all our conversations, not once did he mention this high honor.
It took several attempts before he actually told me the story. Tracy had knowingly flown into a valley protected by anti-aircraft missiles. The missiles protected North Vietnamese jets.
Tracy destroyed the jets. On the way out, however, he was shot down behind enemy lines. He was quickly rescued and flown to safety.
Lieutenant Colonel Tracy Kemp Dorsett Jr, age 84, passed away peacefully of natural causes on 28 November 2021. His wife, Linda and, children, Teek, Lee and Chris, will miss him dearly.
I never expected to meet a genuine hero like Tracy. Our friendship was unexpected and simply by chance. As Momma would say, “Look what the cat dragged in.â€
Which Side Are You On?
On January 6, 2021, Fox News host Laura Ingram texted Mark Meadows, Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff. Ingram begged, “Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home. This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.â€Â
Everyone in the White House and on Fox News knew who was responsible for the assault on American Democracy: Donald J. Trump. Donald’s rioters beat a police officer with an American flag. They injured 138 others.
The trauma of the assault drove 4 Capitol Police to die by suicide. The violence was real.
Donald Trump fueled this mob. Since November, Donald and his team had sowed the seeds of anger. They had lost in the court of law and turned to a mob.
Donald’s mob was part of a larger plan. John Eastman, a Conservative lawyer and part of Trump’s legal team drafted a memo to Vice President Mike Pence. It detailed what Pence needed to do on January 6.
Eastman wanted Pence to trash the Electoral votes of several states: Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada. The States had the right, under the Constitution, to send these votes to Congress. Each state defended successfully their votes in Federal Courts.
Eastman gave Pence a blue print to ignore their votes. If Pence, acting as dictator, threw away these votes, Donald Trump would have the majority of Electoral votes.
Donald Trump sent the mob to threaten Congress. Donald instructed them to “Stop the Steal.†Contrary to the facts and the Constitution, the election loser convinced the mob that Congress was stealing the election.
The mob broke into the Capitol to “Stop the Steal.†The mob, as instructed, intended to disrupt the law and order of the United States of America. Watching safely in the White House, Donald Trump refused to defend the United States of America despite the pleas.
Only a handful of Republicans didn’t play along. Their role was critical, however. As we see right now, Democrats need Republican help to govern. If they had also betrayed their constitutional oaths, our Democracy would have vanished on January 6.
At every level a few Republicans put country above party. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger refused to fabricate election results. The United States Supreme Court rejected the lies. Vice President Mike Pence maintained his integrity.
Big questions remain. Why are so many Republicans politicians defending the lie? Why are they threatening American democracy? Which side are you on?
Old Question, Same Answer
One of the first stories in the Bible recounts the relationship between Cain and his younger brother Abel. Cain famously killed Able because God praised Abel’s gifts.
After the killing, God asked Cain where to find Abel. Cain angrily replied “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
We never get a direct answer to that question. There should be no doubt, however, the answer is “Yes.”
Not only does God curse Cain, but story after story in the Bible expands the themes of mercy and compassion. In the Gospel of Luke a rich man found himself in torment after death while Lazarus found salvation at the side of Abraham.
Like many of us, the rich man found this situation shocking. He expected his blessings in this life to translate into blessings in the next.
Instead the rich man learned that his mistreatment of Lazarus earned him a spot in hell. Lazarus wasn’t even his brother. Lazarus was simply a neighbor.
The moral of the story is clear. Not only are we our brother’s keeper, but we have a moral responsibility to look out for our neighbor.
This ancient advice would serve many today. Experts are warning us that Covid 19 is once again spreading sickness and death through our neighborhoods.
We can help slow the spread, keeping our neighbors healthy and alive, by taking some simple precautions.
We should get vaccinated. We should wear a mask. We should keep physically distant.
Yes, these behaviors require small sacrifices on our part, but they will make us safer. I have no problem making them.
I have no problem saying that I am my brother’s keeper. I can either make small sacrifices now or make much bigger sacrifices later.
Away in A Manger
The Gospel of Luke starts with the most recognizable image of Christmas: a babe, wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. The manger scene certainly is touching, but it is also powerful. It tells us everything we need to know about Christianity.
The Christ child is weak and vulnerable. His mother gave birth in a manager because no one made room for her. She was just one of many common women and her pregnancy didn’t afford her any respect. If she had been from an aristocratic or merchant family, she could have afforded a bed and midwife.
Instead, she gave birth alone with her husband at her side. How frightening must this have been? The song Silent Night makes it sound so peaceful and calm. Having witness the birth of my two sons, I know it was not.
No one had noticed until an angel appeared to shepherds tending their flock. The angel terrified them. The angel, however, preached the very heart of the Gospels: “Do not be afraid; for see ”I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah.””
This child was no ordinary messiah. Unlike King David or Cyrus the Great, the babe was not a warrior. Jesus did not come to wage war, but to show the way of peace.
Saint Francis of Assisi understood this message. He recreated the manger scene in thirteenth century Italy and popularized its use in churches and homes. Francis wanted the world to see God in the least among us.
St. Francis crafted a prayer that reflected his understanding of the Gospel.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that one receives, it is in self-forgetting that one finds, it is in pardoning that one is pardoned, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Francis
Peace, Love, Forgiveness, Hope, Light, Joy. These are the words of Christmas. If you what the world to know that you are a Christian, then pray that you become an instrument of Peace.
Rebellious Lies
Why have Republicans embraced the lie? If they can lie about something we all watched, they can lie about anything. Ohh wait….Tax cuts don’t pay for themselves. Diversity really is a strength for America. We can trust women in their doctors’ offices. Christianity is founded on compassion for the poor, not the idolatry of power and wealth. War is not peace.
I love Modern America. I love what we have become. Replaying 1861 is a bad idea. Why can’t Republicans tell the truth?