Reflections of An Uncommon Common Man

William Lloyd Garrison I am aware, that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as un-compromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; – but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest- I will not equivocate- I will not excuse- I will not retreat a single inch- AND I WILL BE HEARD. –William Lloyd Garrison, in the first issue of The Liberator This quote by Garrison and a quote from Lincoln's Lyceum speech are probably my two favorite quotes of all time. Garrison and Lincoln were both talking about the thing that posed the greatest threat to the country in their time. The institution of ...

  After my discharge from the Air Force and our return to Nashville I was ready to adjust to civilian life again. I was accepted at M.T.S.U. before I was discharged and my plan was to go to school full time and work full time. It wasn't a good plan but for some reason I tend to make my life unnecessarily hard for myself. I also didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with the rest of my life at that time. History was my favorite subject and the only path that I could settle on was to be a history teacher. I chose history as my major while minoring in sociology and political science. It was early May and we moved in with Debbie's parents until we could find a place of our own. The family was always crazy about Robbie and everybody made over Misty since she was now the baby. Even my brother-in-law Hulon was crazy about her which was unusual because he never seemed to like kids that much.  I tried to find a job through the Tennessee Department of Employment Security and t...