Very few of us who are poetry fans do not recognize the name of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, America’s poet of the 19th century, but many people do not realize where his inspiration came from for his poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I have often wandered why I am so inspired by the tolling of bells at any time of the year but particularly on Christmas Eve. Their sweet tones welcome in the birth of Christ on Christmas…..
As I was waiting patiently for my website to be restored to full function last week, I watched two movies: “Gods and Generals” and “Gettysburg.” Looking at the country’s systemic racism spilling out into the streets today, we, as a nation, have yet to recover from the cause of the Civil War…slavery. Compromises were made in our Congress before that conflict happened. The Southern states were allowed to have slaves, to have militias to protect slave owners, and to use…..
