Shelbyville, Tennessee on October 28, 2017

My pictures and the environments I deliberately place myself in are often not my views on life. The setting is many times an uncomfortable place.

Shelbyville, Tennessee on 10/28/17: Do young men like these that include in one photo of a person who appears to be a boy standing like Hitler and wearing a fake mustache - understand the Holocaust? I would venture to guess no. I would go as far as stating that most have no idea what really occurred in Germany and because of that I look at them with sadness as do many others as opposed to anger.

This type of action would be like mocking the attacks on innocent children at Columbine High School where an April 20, 1999 school massacre left 15 dead and 24 injured along with countless others to face mental illness for the remainder of their lives. Of course, the mocking seen in these photos that are filled with hate, are much more devastating because of what they represent.

In these photos I see smiles as hate is yelled.

Holocaust Facts:

• Over 1.1 million children died during the Holocaust.
• The most intensive Holocaust killing took place in September 1941 at the Babi Yar Ravine just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, where more than 33,000 Jews were killed in just two days. Jews were forced to undress and walk to the ravine’s edge. When German troops shot them, they fell into the abyss. The Nazis then pushed the wall of the ravine over, burying the dead and the living.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. 
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex.
• The soldiers who patrolled and operated concentration camps were known as Totenkopfverbande, or “Death’s Head” detachments. They wore skull-and-crossbones insignias on their uniforms to reflect their namesake.
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• During the Holocaust, the Nazis looted everything they could from their victims, including wedding rings, watches, precious stones, and eyeglasses.
• Children of African-German origin and the mentally or physically handicapped were surgically sterilized, often brutally.
• Thousands of infants and babies were killed by Nazis before their births could be recorded.

Almost a fight

At a rally, ordinary people may do unordinary bad things. While that may sound grim, it is quite true.

Take for example, this man with the beard. He was preaching and on a roll. Word after word about how this is bad verses this is good.

Regardless of what “This” maybe about, ordinary people around him started to criticize his words. The criticism grew louder and louder as some criticism turned into challenges of fighting.

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One young man stepped before him and invited him to throw the first punch with a slew of words that most would not want our children to hear. As the challenge grew, others in the crowd encouraged the punching as if that was all of a sudden okay to do in society.

Another man stood directly in front of him as well - expecting a fight to take place. However, no fight occurred as the older man had no intention to strike, only to speak and be heard.

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If you simply slowed your anger and listened to the words of the older man, you recognized that he spoke out of a troubled past and just wanted to be heard. He talked about living on the streets while being homeless in Nashville. He talked about murderers and how some in the crowd know of dark secrets, but have yet to admit to them. It was obvious to some that he spoke out of sadness in his past and instead of accepting his words, others felt attacked by them although they were not directed at any one person.

Actions of one following the crowd happen quickly and turn into group violence’s and rioting. That of course explains the psychology behind the show of a strong police presence at such an event. Regardless of the cost to produce such force, it is sometimes necessary to deescalate a situation before it has the water to grow.

During rallies like the one held in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville on October 28, 2017, you could easily witness ordinary everyday people break out of their norm and say things they normally would not say. They may not realize it or admit it, but those in attendance had the potential to do great harm while following the masses in large groups.

Following the masses in social psychology is called Deindividuation. It is the loss of identity or self-awareness, usually in a group setting. People lose self-awareness and feel less responsibility of ones’ actions. An example would be a riot where all present mindlessly follow along. This can easily trap good people and convince them to follow along in beatings, vandalism, stealing and even murdering.

A similar word used in psychology is emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the tendency to feel and express emotions similar to and influenced by those of others; also, the phenomenon of one person’s negative thoughts or anxiety affecting another’s mood.

Actions, challenges, sarcastic replies or strong words by someone who may normally be viewed as wise will make them look like a fool in protest settings. Especially when challenging someone to a duel whereas that same person would never do such in a typical setting.

"It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." - Cicero, Roman politician, lawyer, orator, and writer. (106 BC - 43 BC)

The Star of David

What is often referred to as the Star of David is traditionally a Jewish symbol, but is also called or used as the Seal of Solomon, usually when it is encircled by a thin line in Islam. It is also called the Shield of David.

The star had grave meaning during the Holocaust as the Nazis used it to identify Jews, which is one reason it is often seen by those with opposing views at rallies that include White Supremacist, as captured in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 28, 2017.

It has been said to represent the shape of King David's shield, which stood for protection and force when needed. It is also a symbol thought to bring good luck by some of those in the Middle East.

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank

An unrealistic feeling

In·fe·ri·or·i·ty com·plex: an unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy caused by actual or supposed inferiority in one sphere, sometimes marked by aggressive behavior in compensation.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee square on 10/28/17.

A day filled with hate, not love

Today in Murfreesboro I witnessed so many things, most of which I found sad. 

Some people like this man speaking into a microphone connected to a speaker, was using words from the Bible to hurt, anger or tear down others. I witnessed the rage that stared down the Bible scriptures, which is inconsistent with what Christianity is about. 

Today, I saw young men literally pick fights with older men because they disagreed with an opinion. 

Today, I saw a father who brought his son to the rally in Murfreesboro. The young boy, not knowing what was happening, was simply sitting on the ground playing with a toy as his father watched the crowd in anticipation of a fight. 

Today, I saw where a young black woman was not told she was entering the gates on the wrong side of the protest and she could not cross over once inside… surrounded by angered white supremacist she bravely snapped a photo on her phone and I said, “Be careful over here.” As I walked away she quietly said, “Don’t leave.” 

Today I spoke to a white supremacist and asked why he came to Shelbyville, TN today and he turned his head and said no comment. 

Today I witnessed those who suggested they were on the Murfreesboro square to show love while holding signs that sounded sweet… only to hear them spew words of hate towards those standing on the opposite side of a fence. 

Below is a soundclip of the above man preaching into a loudspeaker: 

“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” - Booker T. Washington

Hiding who you are

If you have to wear a mask to do what you consider good, you’re probably not doing good. The group is known for vandalism and violence in America. Their name: Antifa (anti-fascist).

“The theory of Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” ― Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

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Vietnam Veteran Served in the US Navy

Today I met Vietnam Veteran Ralph J. Gervasio, Jr. He was drafted into the military many years ago and talked to me about the carnage he witnessed when his ship was hit with friendly fire while simultaneously being attacked by Vietnamese gunfire. Gervasio served in the U.S. Navy.

The carnage witnessed by Gervasio was grim as he tried to resuscitate a shipmate whom had already died. He talked about how some personnel on the ship were missing limbs, fingers and more.

The following day he was asked to retrieve something out of the ships freezer… next to the food was the body of the man he tried to save the day prior.

When he was released from the military in the early 1970’s, he had to wear his civilian clothes on the flight home. The military command he was with actually told him to do so because too many reports of returning war time veterans being spit on or attacked prompted the civilian clothes order.

He never admitted to serving in Vietnam until the 1980’s out of fear of not being hired or being fired from his civilian job because he was a U.S. Veteran. Times were much different in the 70’s and 80’s for those who served out country.

Gervasio told me that you never get over things seen in Vietnam.

Despite the hard times, he now volunteers to help younger veterans returning from war zones.

Hear the entire interview by Scott Walker (19 Min):

Who is your Superman?

Who is your Superman? For this young man, I would venture to guess his grandfather who will always be there for him.

"I can't unfeel your pain
I can't undo what's done
I can't stand back the rain
But if I could I would
My love, my arms are open"

"So when you feel like you can't
take another round of being broken
My arms are open
And when you're losing faith
and every door around you keeps on closing
My arms are open"

-ARMS OPEN by THE SCRIPT

Ed helped to train the bodyguards that surrounded Elvis Presley

Imagine knowing the King! Even better… tackling the King in football! (Scroll down for audio)

Elvis Presley was almost exactly three years older than Ed Johnson in Memphis, TN. The two were only two grades apart in school. Johnson said that he would play football with Elvis along with other teens in the area.

Elvis attended Humes High School in Memphis. He was part of the 1953 graduating class. Ed described Elvis as just another kid.

Red West, another high schooler from Memphis, was also a friend of Ed’s. Red was one of the tough guys who eventually became the bodyguard of Elvis. In fact, Red taught Ed how to train other bodyguards that surrounded Elvis once he became the icon of Rock N’ Roll.

Ed was eventually drafted into the U.S. Army, about the same time as his buddy Elvis. The 101st Airborne took in Ed who gained his wings to become a parachutist. He was active duty for two years after being drafted, but was in the reserves for another eight years.

Ed will turn 80 on February 15, 2018. He told me that he will go parachuting on his 80th birthday and that will be his new tradition every birthday after.

As for Elvis, he would have turned 83 one month before Ed turns 80 if he were still alive. Who knows, if Elvis were still around he may have parachuted with Ed.

Audio Below: Listen to this short, but interesting interview with Ed Jordan where he remembers his days growing up in Memphis with Elvis. He also talks about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and being drafted into the Army:

"I never expected to be anybody important," - Elvis

Crime in Memphis, TN

61 Years old and on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee… one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. She stands just a hair over 4 feet tall, skin and bones.

The violent crime scale in Memphis rings in at 93 on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the highest. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The U.S. average is only at 31.1

FBI Crime Data shows that Memphis was rated as being the highest crime ridden city in America, according to their 2016 statistics.

“No amount of law enforcement can solve a problem that goes back to the family.” - J. Edgar Hoover

Listen to the winds...

He spent 8 years in the U.S. Army and served during the Iraq conflict. He is originally from Dyersburg, TN, but decided to move to Memphis where he was homeless for quite some time while searching for his life, who he was and who he is...

He is now in his own place and doing much better today. He is also looking into his past... He is part Indian and wants to learn more about his family heritage.

"Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows." ~Native American proverb

Living on the dirty streets of Memphis, Tennessee

“My grandfather was born in 1902, I was born in 1963,” he told me while gazing into the distance. His eyes were fogged over as if he had cataracts. “You’re good with dates,” I told him. “Yea, my mom was born in 1932… My dad was 1922,” he continued as if he wanted to show me he remembered more dates that were floating through his head.

I handed him a new coat as the nights had been dropping into the sixties and he quickly placed it under his legs as if to hide it from passerby’s. “Thank you, thank you sir,” he responded.

The coat, along with his new pants and shirts, were given to me by a friend named Amy Morris. I always love handing out items like that, which are new, as I know most never give those who live on the streets brand new clothes. They always cherish them knowing that the coat, pants or whatever it maybe are theirs from the start - it was meant for them. 

I asked, “What were your best times growing up in Memphis?” He sat quietly and then said, “Best times were 18, 18 and younger when with mom.” I asked if his mother was still alive and he said, “Think so, think so – I not seen her.” His mother is Ms. Remell Williams and he knew her exact age, “She 85.”

Darrell was on medication for Schizophrenia, but he ran out. He has been off the medication for a number of days if not weeks. “I’m gonna meet Mr. (mumbled name) at the mission. He’s a good man. He's off today, he is with his family on Saturday and Sunday – he gonna help me,” suggesting that Monday he would see this helper at the mission.

“I went to 12th grade, I was in high school,” he proudly stated. I asked if he graduated high school and he said, “Yea, I done 12th grade.”

Darrell attended Central High School in Midtown. The school was built in 1911 and he attended the school from 1977 to 1981. It is the same school that was once attended by the late Kemmons Wilson who founded the Holiday Inn in 1952. Mr. Kemmons built the first hotel at 4925 Summer Avenue in Memphis and now a plaque remains in its location as it was torn down in the late 1990s. The chain now has 1,145 locations.

“My own success was attended by quite a few failures along the way. But, I refused to make the biggest mistake of all: worrying too much about making mistakes.” - Kemmons Wilson (1913-2003)

Send Isaiah Davis birthday cards today

Let's all send Isaiah a birthday card for his third birthday on October 22, 2017-address below

(Scroll Down for Interview) Two year old Isaiah Davis will celebrate his third birthday at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville on Sunday, October 22, 2017 and not at his Christiana home. Isaiah was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.

Isaiah’s mother Jessica stays by his side 24/7 as he goes through his treatments.  However, it is sometimes hard for Jessica to muster up the energy to hold her son’s hand as she too is struggling.

Of course, any mother watching their child go through Leukemia treatment would suffer emotionally, but for Jessica it is completely draining.

Both mom and Isaiah have similar feeding tubes and both find themselves sleeping most of the day away due to a lack of energy because of their medical circumstances.  

While Isaiah has Leukemia, Jessica has Cystic Fibrosis. She was diagnosed with the disease at age twelve and she too went through extensive treatments at Vanderbilt. Today, Jessica is in need of a double lung transplant, but that is the last thing on her mind. Instead, she is focusing her energy on making sure that Isiah has a room filled with birthday cards. The soon to be three year old loves to look up at his wall as he falls asleep and see all of the brightly colored cards that arrive in the mail from time to time.

Jessica is asking people both locally and around the world, to send Isaiah a birthday card… if you are able to.

Birthday Card Address for Isaiah Davis s:

Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
6th Floor Isaiah Davis
2200 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37232

Below you can hear a brief interview with Jessica and her son: 

More ways to help: 

https://www.youcaring.com/jessica-brandon-616748

The Heart is Lonely

Lonely is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a state of being without company, cut off from others or producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation.

Emotions are not always easy to spot, but when you see lonely you know it. It is interesting, lonely is one of those feelings that you can feel while surrounded by hundreds, thousands or perhaps even millions.

In prisons, some wardens utilize solitary confinement as a form of punishment leaving an inmate alone in a small chamber for 22 to 24 hours at a time. Some prisons call it “Segregation” while others use the term “Restrictive Housing.”

In 2006, a study by Stuart Grassian led to a report on the “Psychiatric Effects of Solitary Confinement.” The report was released by Washington University Journal of Law & Policy. The research showed that such confinement can cause severe psychiatric harm with long term consequences.

While those in prison who are forced into a tiny cell for hours upon hours face some of the most severe outcomes psychologically speaking, the report listed other major groups that have the same negative outcomes without being held in a 6 by 9 foot cell. Those groups included patients with spinal cord problems that are not mobile, patients who are held in intensive care units for extended periods and patients required to wear ear and eye patches for weeks to months at a time, just to name a few.

That being said… would it be fair to say that many outside the walls of restriction isolate themselves within their own mind for years if not centuries without meaning to? The self-isolation equates to a sea of loneliness or depression which can equal a feeling of not being loved by anyone.

One man felt so deprived of loving human contact that he invented or founded the “Free Hugs” movement. His name, Juan Mann.

The movement of free hugs was started by Mann in Australia in 2004. He started the movement after an ongoing feeling of loneliness, depression and isolation. He quickly found that giving and receiving hugs to complete strangers felt good and actually cheered him up. It also helped others and the movement grew rapidly around the world.

Isolation leads loneliness which leads to depression which turns into feelings that you cannot be loved. It threatens our well-being in hundreds of ways. Be it isolation within ourselves, in the prison system or within medical settings, isolation is more dangerous than it was once thought to be.

“Loneliness is my least favorite thing about life. The thing that I'm most worried about is just being alone without anybody to care for or someone who will care for me.” - Anne Hathaway

Urban Decay: The death of an amusement park

It was like walking through a bad movie set in California… At the same time, it felt as if someone was watching my every step.

I was at Guntown Mountain Amusement Park in Cave City, Kentucky. The park opened in 1969 and closed down a number of years ago. It was later purchased by a Louisville, KY businessman who had big dreams in 2015. Will Russell renamed the park “Funtown Mountain” and reopened it with the idea of a multi-million dollar renovation plan set for the near future.

While the park was once again opened in 2015, the renovation plan was never executed.

The Courier Journal newspaper reported that Mr. Russell saw his plans threatened after a severe manic episode related to bipolar disorder. Later that year, the Cave City Police Department shut down Funtown after vandalism and looting were reported on the property. The article suggested that Will Russell somehow instigated the crime, but failed to report as to why that accusation was made.

The newly named Funtown was quickly closed for good when bank payments could not be made on loans to keep the park active. It was later sold at Auction in April of 2016 for less than $300,000. The new owner had grand plans of turning the property into a resort complete with zip lines, cabins and an indoor water park. Those grandiose plans have yet to materialize and the park sits like the movie set of an old Friday the 13th movie.

“We're all lonely for something we don't know we're lonely for. How else to explain the curious feeling that goes around feeling like missing somebody we've never even met?” 
― David Foster Wallace, American Writer (1962-2008)

His step father called him retarded over and over

They sat quietly in their small motel room rolling their own cigarettes to save money. Everything they own was inside the small 12 X 17 foot room that was coated in a smoke filled purple. Lamps lit the space occupied by the couple and their small dog.

Daniel told me the most painful thing he grew up with was his adopted father calling him retarded time and time again due to his learning disability. He said that his step father, who is actually his uncle that adopted him at age two, told him that he would amount to nothing.

Cassie said the most painful memory she has was that her father would tell her that she should not love her mother. Of course, she lived with her mother and three siblings. It was her mother that raised her, fought for her and held down a job while living in a motel so that Cassie and the others would have a place to sleep. 

Once you are down, it is hard to get back up. Cassie explained that not too many months back, she had to stay at the motel where her mother lives for two weeks while her mom was hospitalized. She stayed in her mother’s room to look after her two younger siblings that had to be in school each day while her mother clung to life with her kidneys and even heart slowly shutting down. 

Like Cassie, her mother is a fighter. She survived. But, it is one thing after another when you are at the bottom. A $20 bill can feel like a $4,000 bill. A $600 motel room is likely equivalent to a $5,000 house payment when you can barely afford food. Help for depression, it is almost nonexistent, as explained by Cassie while sitting in her dimly lit room.

Hear the entire story below (8MIN and 41SEC):

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up." - Vince Lombardi

He plays the French Harp

Rick is from Syracuse N.Y., but later moved to Kentucky for the local university in Richmond where he says he taught up until computers were brought in as teaching devices.

“How old do you think I am,” he asked me. I did not know where to start guessing, which he could obviously tell as he blurted out, “71, No one believes me.”

He told me about his love for music and said, “I play the French Harp.” Surprised I asked, “You have a harp… Like a giant gold leafed harp?” He smiled and laughed… “They call the harmonica the French Harp. It is a name that dates well before your time.”

“How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?” ― Jane Swan, former Professor of History at West Chester University in Pennsylvania (1925-2010)

Those expensive horses...

“I’ve been coming here since I was a baby,” he told me while standing inside the back entrance to the Keenland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. The track is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility that was first opened in 1936.

With a history that spans over 80 years, lots of residents in Kentucky have memories growing up around the track. “My daddy worked here for years with the horses,” he explained.

*(Sorry for the language, not mine, but his statement) I asked him, “Have you ever dreamed of racing them or raising a race horse?” He seemed irritated at my whimsical question as if only the chosen could raise such a thoroughbred, “Oh hell no – Shit no, Shit no! Those things - - That would cost over a million dollars… Seriously? WTF…” He then walked off and I could only grin at the thought of how much pride, excitement and honor has been placed on these race horses and track over the years.

“The racehorse, by virtue of his awesome physical gifts, freed the jockey from himself. When a horse and a jockey flew over the track together, there were moments in which the man's mind wedded itself to the animal's body to form something greater than the sum of both parts.” ― Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit: An American Legend

Off to the Races

Race horses are bred for one thing… to run. 

If you have ever been to the races, have you taken the time to watch the muscular horses make their way to and from their stalls? They fight their handler all the way in. They show their teeth, they pull away, they strut the opposite direction, and they sometimes rare back onto their hind feet. 

The Thoroughbred race horse resembles its historic Arabian descendants. It is a horse that is stout and quick to jump, run or escape the rider in some cases. 

The American Quarter horse is a popular breed in races as well. The smaller, muscular horses have sometimes been clocked at speeds of 55 miles per hour. The life expectancy is usually around 27 to 30-years of both Quarter horses and Thoroughbred’s, assuming no serious injuries end that life early. 

When I think of race horses, I think of that old school jazz infused big band style of music. I think of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Betty Grable. 

“Gal is like a racehorse, I play her to win
But if I should lose her, another may come in
Love can be like heaven, love can be a joke
But it's worth a gamble so, hey, I go for broke”
- Dean Martin, “Who’s Got the Action”

Love is all you need

Nashville: Some pictures of “LOVE” need not be explained.

“There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. It's easy…

Nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy…

All you need is love”

-Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney in 1967. Producers of a television program called "Our World" asked the Beetles to come up with a song that contained a message that could easily be understood by everyone. The band took on the project and later released, "All you need is love."