IDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury It’s a challenge my 106-year-old Uncle Mort hasn’t faced–not ever–and the same is true for the rest of us. The world teeters on a fulcrum of fear, much of it unknown. Enough is known, though, to shiver the strongest timbers and shake boots previously used for putting “get-along” in little “dogies” (pronounced “dough”’-gees),
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON Everything he tried, failed. He took over the family farm, struggling to make it work. He invested in schemes that would make him rich but instead broke him. He and a friend opened a men’s clothing store and went bankrupt, leaving him with a debt that would require 12 years of his life paying off creditors. Politics
Read moreBy JIM NICHOLS It was a perfect place on a sunny day. The asphalt was black and smooth. White lines were painted with precise slants with four parallel rows stretching the length of the parking lot. It was bounded by a residence hall on one side and academic buildings on the other three. Driveways led into the area, but there
Read moreBy NANCY PATRICK In 1624, British poet John Donne wrote “Meditation 17” as part of a larger collection of devotional pieces. The theme of the meditation relates to the interconnectedness of humankind. The first part delineates how people—regardless of location, race, social status, or religion—connect to one another as parts of humanity even if the individuals know nothing of the
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Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month. Marianne Wood writes about three women of influence from her childhood neighborhood. By MARIANNE WOOD Though life on the street I grew up on in the 1960s was far from perfect, the families living there had each other’s backs in many ways. Discipline was one of them. If you broke a rule at
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By LORETTA FULTON Imagine Jo Bright’s surprise when she got on her computer, clicked a few times, and landed at the right spot. “Cliff just jumped up right in front of me!” Bright exclaimed. “I was so happy to see him.” Cliff Stewart is pastor of First Central Presbyterian Church. Bright, 95, was so impressed and happy to see her
Read moreBy LARRY FINK Editor’s Note: Larry Fink, retired English professor at Hardin-Simmons University, offers the following explication or analysis of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, “As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” with social distancing in mind, “to encourage folks to spend a little thoughtful time outdoors.” “As Kingfishers Catch Fire” by Gerard Manley Hopkins As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; As tumbled
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By LORETTA FULTON Downtown Abilene was eerily quiet Sunday morning as parking lots at St. Paul United Methodist, First Central Presbyterian, and First Baptist churches were practically empty. That doesn’t mean nothing was happening inside. St. Paul and First Baptist broadcast services live as usual, although with no congregations, and First Central Presbyterian aired via Facebook. Sunday morning was challenging.
Read moreIDLE AMERICAN Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury My Uncle Mort, who lives so far out in the country that nobody passes his house going to town, called the other day. “I’m going to shock you, nephew,” he said. “’Cause I’m planning a ‘give-away’ that folks won’t be able to refuse.” He had my attention. I felt flushness in the face–sure
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