Classic City Rev

This week Governor Brian Kemp relaxed some of the restrictions on businesses which had been asked to close during the COVID-19 crisis.  I don't know how many folks were sitting at home itching to go bowling during this time, but now they can.  People can also get a haircut at a barber shop, get a massage and get a tattoo if they so chose. The reaction to the Governor's moves has caused quite a stir among many folks.  Most of the reaction that I have seen on my Facebook feeds and Twitter feeds has been negative.   Ironically, the President, while encouraging those who are protesting shutdowns in other states by tweeting out statements such as "Liberate Michigan" and "Liberate Minnesota," has been critical of our governor for allowing people to go bowling.  I offer no commentary on that other than to say I find it a bit paradoxical.  I also offer no commentary on the wisdom of the Governor's decision.  I don't have all the facts and inform

I hear the word normal used a lot these days.  Not only do I hear it, I say it and think it. "When things get back to normal," is a phrase I use when I think of something I would like to do in the future but can't do right now in this time of shelter-in-place and social distancing.  Other times I wonder aloud in frustration, "Will things ever get back to normal?" In any time of change and distress we often wish for things to return to the way they were. A hundred years ago, a Senator from Ohio by the name of Warren G. Harding ran for President of our country.  The country was emerging from the first World War, a war that was called at the time the "war to end all wars."  After enduring the loss of life during the war and the changes the war brought to our society, including a deadly pandemic, the country was ready for more tranquil days.  So it was that the good Senator ran for President asking for a "return to normalcy."  He won.  T

We are moving into the season of graduation--except many if not all graduations in our corner of the world have either been canceled or postponed.  There are no doubt thousands of graduating seniors both at the college level and at the high school level lamenting the fact that they will not hear their name called, march across the stage and receive their diploma. There are no doubt many families of these graduates who will regret missing these events as well.  Graduations are important. That said, there is something that we must  hope every graduate hears and understands.during this time of postponed and perhaps canceled ceremonies. Hopefully, each graduate will understand that it is not the ceremony that makes the graduate but rather the education the graduate receives that makes the graduate.    The truth is that even though there may not be a graduation ceremony the education behind the cap and gown remains.  There is nothing that can take away an education.  In t

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to grow across our nation an inevitable conflict of church and state has arisen.  In the last week, at least two pastors have been arrested for conducting worship services at the churches which they pastor in defiance of local or statewide edicts not to do so. These arrests raise the inevitable questions of the separation of church and state.  The question has been asked as to whether or not these actions are an infringement on the First Amendment rights which promise us the free exercise of our religion. Though many pastor's often decry religion getting removed from the public sphere what is often forgotten is that the separation of church and state is a positive influence for the church protecting it from the possible corrupting influence of the state.  Ideally separating church and state removes the church from being used by  political leaders for the pursuit of its own agendas.  Sadly it has not always worked this way but this is the id