Kamala Harris – The Most Dangerous Woman in America?

Well, Joe Biden finally made his pick for Vice President and it’s a doozy. Here are my thoughts on the person who may very well be the most dangerous woman in America. Or for America.

Although many consider the VP to be a relatively minor position in our country, the most important aspect of the job is often aptly described in one particular expression – the VP is truly “one heartbeat away from the Presidency.” How true! And how very frightening considering Biden’s age and his fragile mental state. (Read my previous blog on that subject. https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-real-reason-joe-needs-to-go.html)

Biden’s ability (or inability) to perform the job himself should be a huge concern for the entire Democratic Party, but apparently it’s not. All things considered, this could very well be the most important VP selection in the history of our country. (Seriously, does anyone truly believe that Biden can handle the job of President? And I don’t mean for the next four years. I’m talking about January of 2021! Honestly, if Biden wins in November, I fully expect Harris to become our 47^th President, and I don’t believe it will take four years.

So, why do I think Kamala Harris is dangerous? To begin with, she could actually help Joe Biden win the election. Most experts will say that rarely does the VP candidate have much of an impact on the election. Occasionally, they may help secure a battleground state (for example, LBJ in 1960), but even then, the person at the top of the ticket is still the most important one. This year, it actually could make a difference. Harris is young and attractive and could help overcome the obvious deficiencies of Biden and recapture some of the African American votes that he seems to lose every time he opens his mouth. (Young at 55 years of age, compared to Trump -74, Biden -77, and even Pence -61. Certainly attractive compared to Democratic politicians such as Clinton, Pelosi, and Warren.)

And why would President Harris be dangerous? Because she could very well be the most Liberal choice in the country espousing some of the most radical positions imaginable! The mainstream media has already begun to paint her as a moderate, but don’t be fooled by the spin. Take the time to study her positions on the issues. “According to a detailed assessment by Voteview, Harris holds a voting record farther left than 97 percent of Democrats in the 116^th Senate, and more liberal than 99 percent of the Senate as a whole.” (https://thefederalist.com/2020/08/12/no-kamala-harris-isnt-a-moderate-shes-a-radical-threat-to-america/) Check out the full article for a detailed look at her views on the key issues facing our country today such as: immigration, healthcare, the environment, gun control, fracking, and abortion.

For me, the most important danger is that she is represents the worst of politics, the willingness to do or say anything to get elected, to gain power. Or in other words, someone who doesn’t really have any hard and true beliefs. She has changed her positions frequently on many of the major issues, including her view of Joe Biden, the man she now thinks should be our next President.

During her own campaign for President, she called him a racist and pointed out his extremely poor record of doing anything remotely positive for the African American community. She also took issue with his alleged sexual misconduct and said we should listen to his accuser. BUT – given the chance to get within one heartbeat of the Presidency, she took the job (and became the running mate of the racist, alleged sexual assaulter), despite the obvious fact that being a woman, and a minority, were the two biggest qualifications that he considered. Hypocritical? Or just ambitious?

Either way, it scares me to think that she could help Biden win the job and in the process, ease her way into the role as his successor. And President Harris could be the one who turns our country into the Socialist Utopia the Democrats having been pushing us towards for the last several years. Of course, if you’re a radical Liberal yourself, you probably don’t consider her dangerous at all. You would probably call her the luckiest woman in America. Yeah, people like you scare me too.

The Truth About My (Fictional) Characters

After my last three (very honest) posts about my stories and the often true events which inspired them, I had intended to move on to other topics, but before doing so, I wanted to clear up one potential misunderstanding. Although they may be based on actual people, all of my characters are entirely FICTIONAL!

In particular, my last two novels (my so-called unofficial memoirs) contain a number of characters based on people I have worked with over the years, but none are meant to represent any one specific person. For example, the main character in most of the stories could easily be assumed to be me, and in many cases, I may have been the teacher, coach, or administrator caught in the middle of the related incidents. In reality however, Cole Bradford, Ron Copeland, and several other characters (although partly me) are also largely based on others, administrators whom I admired for the most part.

The superintendents, and teachers, and other school personnel are almost completely blended characters. A single character in a single story might say or do things that occurred in real life, but even the most accurate quotes may have come from several sources and the events may have actually happened years apart in entirely different schools. When writing these characters, I may be remembering a specific incident or a conversation with a certain individual, but the characters on the page are unique creations. They are often given the best (or worst) traits of real friends (or enemies), but the combination is never meant to portray any actual person.

Sometimes, I use actual names or close variations of names as a form of tribute to those who inspired the characters, but even then, the names are meant more as an inside joke. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the story behind "Friday Night Lights" came from my brother, so I named the quarterback Cecil, even though my brother never played QB. I did pattern the group of friends on my honest recollections of my brother, his friends, and the real camaraderie they shared. It seemed a nice (and innocent) way to include him in the story. In my first book, I did use the name of my very first girlfriend, but I was actually picturing an entirely different girl who sat in my old green Mustang and wouldn't quit messing with the radio.

I can only think of one character who is based solely on one student, but he is also fictionalized to a large degree. I borrowed a bit of his physical appearance, and some of his expressions and actions, but most of the character that appears in the book comes straight from my head. Honestly, sometimes, despite the author's attempts to tell the truth, these made-up people just take off and do their own thing!

Anyway, I hope I’ve not offended anyone in telling these stories. Of course, these days, not offending anyone is practically impossible. In all honesty, I just try and tell an entertaining tale and hope for the best. Hope you enjoy the effort!

 

The Idea Behind the Story – Part 3

And now for the final part of this series! My upcoming novel is a sequel to At the Drive-In which I am calling Return to Eastlake. Originally, I had not planned to write this one, but I kept remembering great stories that I had forgotten to include in the previous collection, and before long, I had a full set of new tales to share.

Of course, I still had plenty of school stories! “Call of Duty” is about my first year as an administrator and is largely inspired by several excellent school secretaries with whom I was privileged to work (and a superintendent who introduced me to the ugly world of school politics). The main plot is based on an actual incident (scandal) that took place years ago in a nearby district and some of the people from my school career might remember the events. Most of this one is completely true, although some of you may find it hard to believe!

“Dress Code” and “Testify” are also basically true stories. Principals frequently complain about the way students (and their parents) challenge the dress code and insist on pushing the boundaries. And administrators do occasionally have to testify in court proceedings. This second story accurately relates my two experiences in the legal system. Finally, “Law and Order” which is loosely based on real events gives me the chance to express my honest feelings about law enforcement in the public school setting.

Another interesting story comes from my good friend Dusty Radabaugh. Although I have taken quite a few liberties with the story, including adding some personal situations that are entirely fictional, much of the story is based on things that really happened while my wife and I sang in the choir and participated in several dramatic productions. In particular, the casting of a local high school student to play Jesus in the big Easter musical (and the resulting chaos) is still one of my fondest memories of Trinity, Texas. The Christmas productions were also great fun, including the year I played a Roman soldier!

My wife Patti introduced me to the world of true crime, and after our marriage, I read some great books and developed a great interest in books and documentaries about famous unsolved cases. At the Drive-In features a story about a carhop who goes “Missing.” In this book, I revisit the case in “Unsolved Mysteries” and eventually answer the questions left open by the earlier story. Honestly, the entire set of stories is complete fiction. Hopefully I made it sound real enough to pass for some semi-true crime.

And lastly, after I had finished the novel, my son Scott shared a story about something that happened at the private school where he taught for several years, and I couldn’t resist writing this cautionary tale of romantic entanglements at work. I borrowed the basics and used Scott himself as the model for my young teacher with a band and church job on the side. Having seen more than a few awkward situations at different schools myself, I wrote “Lonely Hearts Club Band” in two days, adding it to the book.

Just to remind everyone who knows a writer – if you tell us a good story, it could very well end up in a book someday! Just saying! Hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the mind of an author, and I hope you pick up a copy of Return to Eastlake when it comes out a few months from now. In the meantime, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

The Idea Behind the Story – Part 2

This week I’d like to share some of the origins of the stories featured in my second novel At the Drive-In: Small Town Tales. Told as a series of short stories, the book includes multiple tales sharing a common setting and a number of related characters. The format is inspired by such classics as John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven and Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. A more modern example is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. (I would highly recommend all three of these!)

I have often referred to At the Drive-In (and its sequel) as my unofficial memoirs because so many of the stories are based on actual true events from my years as a coach, teacher, and administrator. The title and the structure developed out of the very first story I wrote for the project “The Boy Who Cussed” about a principal dealing with a special education student with Tourettes. This one is almost entirely true and provided me with the idea of building the stories around the iconic (fictional) drive-in. Most of the other school stories from the book contain at least a grain of truth.

One of my favorite stories from the collection is “Friday Night Lights” which revolves around a high school football player who steals a particular item from an opponent’s dressing room. This is actually based on a true story passed down from my brother Cecil. He is also quite the storyteller (a trait we both inherited from our father). In truth it was a basketball team and I honestly have no idea of most of the details or the aftermath, but I’ve worked with enough coaches and principals to know how most of them would have reacted. As a coach, I’ve also taken teams into extremely hostile environments. Put all those elements together and you get my version of the story.

Both of my children participated in drama while in school, but my daughter Caitlin was the one who was truly passionate about One Act Play. My star Beta Reader Mary Beth spent some years sponsoring UIL drama. Thinking of those two in particular gave me the inspiration to write “Black Romeo” which looks at the drama produced by the casting of a high school play. Believe me when I say from experience, there is often more drama behind the scenes than appears on stage!

“Meow” was inspired by my wife. (And no! She is not a battered or abused wife!) Cora Peters is the most tragic figure in the novel and this story is meant to show her true kindness in spite of all she has endured. As I wrote the story, I imagined how Patti (as a true cat lover) would act or react in the situation. I loved being able to display another side to the character.

And finally, in “Funeral” the concluding tale, I borrowed from my brother-in-law to present a sermon celebrating the long life of a beloved character. At the actual funeral of his ninety-two year old grandmother, Eric preached a similar sermon describing in detail the world in which she had been born and raised. He highlighted the enormous changes she had witnessed over her lifetime. It was a wonderful tribute and I used the same concept to eulogize one of my novel’s central characters.

Come back next week, and I will conclude this brief series with a look at my upcoming novel Return to Eastlake, and the ideas that sparked these stories.

The Idea Behind the Story

Writers are often asked where we get the ideas for our stories or books, or to sound more lofty – our inspiration. In my case, the answer is simple. I get my ideas from my daily life, the books I read, or the movies or TV shows I watch, or my true life experiences, or sometimes from family or friends who share their experiences. I thought I would take some time this week (and possibly the next two or three) and share a little background on some of my writings and reveal a few of my sources of inspiration. To begin, let me talk about my first novel, The What If Project.

The idea for the novel came from some very diverse influences. I have always been fascinated with time travel, and I love a good time travel adventure, but I really wasn’t interested in writing science fiction. One of my favorite old movies is Somewhere in Time starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. At a garage sale a few years back, I picked up a copy of the novel by Richard Matheson. I loved that it focused on the story and the people instead of the sci-fi aspects. Instead of some kind of time machine, you had a character who literally willed himself back in time through a form of self-hypnosis. No science or technology, no complicated explanations, just a good story with interesting characters.

My second major influence was the TV show The Sopranos, “the story of a New Jersey mob boss who deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.” (from IMDB.com) I love the scenes of Tony sitting across from his psychiatrist Dr. Melfi in her office. So of course, Jack, my main character would need someone to talk to about his issues, and since the doctor has supposedly discovered a way to hypnotize her patients and send them back in time, he is obviously more than willing to be a part of her project. And like Tony Soprano, Jack is a reluctant patient, as well as one who definitely needs some help.

A frequent setting to the story is the quad, an area at the center of the small college where Jack is working and the doctor is teaching. My alma mater, East Texas Baptist College (now ETBU) has a nice little spot right in the middle of the campus with a small fountain, and I borrowed the setting from my own memory banks just the way I remembered it. When Jack goes back to his childhood, I pictured the house where I grew up and the park at the end of the street. (There is a park there, but not the one I describe in the book.)

I won’t confess to everything, but many of the fine details in the backstory of the main characters come directly from my own life, little biographical touches that people who know me might even recognize. My first car was a green Mustang. My high school girlfriend’s name was – well, enough about me. A particular family member often joked about being attracted to Redheads. You get the message, right?

Anyway, the old saying is that you should write what you know and I guess that’s true. My characters are based on people I know, so if you don’t like them, or find them acting in strange or unlikely ways, I’m sorry, those are my people and that’s how they are! And in all honesty, a bunch of stuff is totally made up! It’s a work of fiction after all.

Let me know if you find this interesting, and come back next week for the real story behind the small town tales from my second novel.

The Virus – My Thoughts This Week

Well, the Coronavirus finally got a little closer (and a little more real) this week. A few extended family members tested positive, and a couple of others were potentially exposed, but tested negative. Living in a small community, the threat has seemed fairly mild for my household, but things do change.

I still wonder if shutting down the economy and destroying tons of small businesses was ever really warranted. It’s hard not to believe politics are driving the issue more than actual health concerns. I suppose it would be much easier to accept all the governmental restrictions, if this truly were a health issue (and if this weren’t an election year).

My biggest problem is the media and the manner in which the whole pandemic has been covered. I am perfectly willing to give up (temporarily) some of my rights as a citizen for the greater good. I care enough about my fellow human beings to restrict my travel, and social distance, and even wear a mask when needed, but I want (and need) to believe that the facts actually support those decisions.

And therein lies the problem. The mainstream media is driving a nationwide panic and nobody seems to have any real solid information on the virus. Is it the most deadly virus ever seen in the world or no more serious than the seasonal flu? More like the Spanish Flu or the common cold? Between the CDC and WHO and Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx and all the other so-called experts, most of us have no idea what to believe.

Does the virus live on surfaces? Wash your hands! Is it airborne? Wear a mask! Is it really easy to catch or really hard? Are the elderly and sick most likely to catch it? Who knows. Do the shutdowns work? Are protesters immune? Will mail-in ballots save the day? Listen to the news. Don’t like what you hear? Come back tomorrow, it will probably be totally different by then!

And what are we going to do about schools? Obviously, we still have a lot of questions with little or no answers. As for me and my family, we will do our best to follow safe practices and hope that we all stay healthy. We will continue to pray for those affected in our family, in our community, and around the world. And we will trust in God to see us through. May you find the same assurance in these troubled times.

Hamilton: An American Musical

I have long been fascinated with Early American history and our battle for independence. I've read several books on the subject and watched numerous movies, shows, and documentaries, as well, with great interest. So of course over the weekend, I had to watch Hamilton (available exclusively on Disney+).

I'm not really a fan of rap or hip-hop, but I do love a good musical, and I've always been intrigued by this one. Anyway, cut to the chase, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend that you take the time to check it out (although I caution you to remember that everything you see and hear is not necessarily historically correct. More on that later.)

First let me mention all the things I loved about this production which features the original Broadway cast.

·         The actors! Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr, Phillipa Soo as Eliza, the fabulous Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson. I could literally just list everyone, because they were all great! And the singing was excellent!

·         The music! (And lyrics!) I'm still humming songs a day later and I'm eager to see the whole thing again! Might even have to pick up a copy of the soundtrack!

·         King George! (Played by Jonathan Groff.) I imagine the real king probably reacted to our independence in much the way he is shown. Well, maybe not by singing. And he is hilarious!

·         The love story! (Or love triangle to be more exact!) Almost Shakespearian and that is definitely meant as a compliment. (Also, historically accurate according to many sources.)

·         The political intrigue! My frequent readers know I have a great interest in politics, both old and new. I only wish that hadn’t slighted poor John Adams (whom I still consider to be a greatly underappreciated hero of our country!)

Based on the last several points, it should come as no surprise that my favorite songs are "You'll Be Back" and "What Comes Next" by King George, "Helpless" by Eliza, and "The Room Where It Happens" by Burr. And as a father, how could I not love "Dear Theodosia" by Burr and Hamilton singing a love song to their newborn children? Of course, I could keep going all the way through the complete list of songs. They're simply that good!

My dislikes can basically be summed up by saying the entire story is decidedly biased in favor of the title character. Hamilton is portrayed as an orphan and immigrant who works hard and rises up to become one of the Founding Fathers who singlehandedly won independence and created America. (To be fair, I've not yet read Ron Chernow's biography Alexander Hamilton which served as the inspiration for Miranda.) But honestly, in almost everything else I have read or seen, Hamilton is generally considered to be somewhat of a scoundrel. He is much more often considered a villain, rather than a hero.

So, stop me when you've heard this before, but isn't it time we stopped taking not-so-good individuals and glorifying them with statues and murals and songs and plays and such? Just saying! There is no doubt that Hamilton made major contributions in our fight for independence and in the formation of our country, but I question whether or not he was as important as the play presents him.

Anyway, here are just a few examples of the spin applied to turn Hamilton into a Saint.

·         If you based your knowledge of the American Revolution on this alone, you would think that George Washington was basically an incompetent, and without Hamilton guiding him, we would never have won the war.

·         You would also probably be convinced that without Hamilton, we would not have a Constitution (or a working form of government at all).

·         The idea that Hamilton “threw away his shot” in the duel that resulted in his death is very suspect. There is definite evidence that he fired a shot just above Burr’s head, although no one knows who actually fired first.

Other works generally portray him in a much more negative light. He was a suck-up to Washington and used his influence to climb the ranks and gain power. He married into the Schuyler family to achieve wealth and social position (then had a year long affair that turned into our country's first political sex scandal). Despite his epic rap battle beat down of Jefferson in the play, in reality, he possibly owned slaves himself and only took up the anti-slavery cause when it benefitted him politically. He was a back-stabber who betrayed his friends and allies (particularly Adams and Burr) for political gain. For good or bad, he was a relentlessly ambitious man who used people for his own advantage. As Burr calls him out in the play, he “takes, and takes, and takes.”

History isn't always pretty, but if Miranda chooses to focus on the good in Hamilton (and gloss over some of the bad), that’s okay. The world would be a better place if we all learned to see the best in each other and be a little less judgmental. (I guess I’m taking back my earlier comments on glorifying imperfect people.) Aren’t we all basically imperfect? And we can still acknowledge great accomplishments when we see them. Just saying!

Bottom line - watch the show! It’s great! Congrats to Lin-Manuel Miranda for an absolutely fantastic job! And if you find it interesting, go read a book or two and get the real story. It's almost always more interesting anyway!