Veterans, Sacrifice and Perspective

Three recent events remind me of the sacrifice that others have made in service to our country and this community. First, I visited the Disabled American Veterans group and was much impressed with their optimism. They are looking forward to a better future for this country while forever joined by the memory of their past sacrifice. My father was a member of that greatest generation of Americans who fought in World War II and returned home to join their spouses in building this country into an economic giant. One of the DAV remembered my dad as a young lawyer in the 1940s. A second event, put me face to face with a man who in 1938 witnessed the deadly violence which accompanied the unionization of the Aluminium Company of America. He was a child and his father was a Union leader and the memories of dynamite bombings, the siege of the Union Hall and the neighborhood men sleeping on his porch to protect his family remain vivid. The pride over his father's bravery is still evident after sixty years. The third event occurred when I recently had the privilege of excusing a young Iraq War Veteran from jury duty for medical reasons. The young man approached the front of the jury pool room ready to serve but still visibly unsteady from the effects of the war. May God bless all of our fellow citizens who show up in service of their country and their beliefs.

The official Blount County Republican Party Website dramatically states that removing me from the Judgeship in which I am so diligently working to serve all of Blount County affects the future. In fact, about beating me, the website says: "Our future depends on it." I am not sure to whom the "our" refers, but I am certain that my working to be fair and impartial in every aspect of a judicial job does not jeopardize anyone's future. My opponent retains his Sessions Court Judgeship if he loses in the election. The County has a more balanced Government if I win and one more lawyer if I lose. Where's the beef? Each time I want to complain about the sacrifice which politics require, I vow to remember those others who have been asked and have given above and beyond the call of duty.

Daughters of the American Revolution

Sometimes we get preconceived notions about people and organizations from the slightest bit of misinformation and never know what we've been missing. Forty some years ago my mom told me that she had been unsuccessful in establishing our ancestral heritage to gain admittance to the DAR. If I remember correctly she traced her side of our family back to the side of the British in the Revolutionary War. In any event this slight bit of childhood information made me believe that the DAR was not the best of organizations. After all these years, I stand corrected.

The DAR is a "non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children." I had the good fortune recently to see our local chapter in action giving awards to high school seniors and was much impressed with their mission and meeting. One of the major roles of the organization is to promote the guiding princiles upon which this country was founded. As far as I'm concerned we don't have enough understanding and appreciation for those ideas and any organization which is actively promoting them has to be commended. The beauty and brilliance of our jury system, our constitutional rights and our freedom in this country cannot be celebrated enough. Here's to the DAR and its volunteers for all you do!

Winter Heritage Festival

The Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend hosted the kickoff reception for the Winter Heritage Festival. The event warmed up in the entrance hall to the majestic lodge with hor douerves that served more like a meal than a snack, and the mingling was followed by a presentation by Bill Landry the host of the Heartland Series. Landry, who seems like the best guy in the world on the tv series, is the same, even better, in-person. The real man has not only true stories to tell of this place and its past, but he also has more wisdom and wit than the television will allow. Plus, he and his wife, who is every bit as charming as her husband, have moved to Blount County. Talk about incentive for this community to move into the future while preserving our past. Heaven forbid Bill and his bride would have to move to Monroe County to find a decent place to live at the foot of the Smokies.

Appreciation

This past weekend I had the privilege of seeing some firstline police work and I came away with a better understanding of just what we ask our officers to do.

"Go out into the midst of trouble wherever and whenever it is found and sort it out! If someone needs to go to jail, you take them; if someone needs to go home, you tell them; if someone is going to get hurt in the process, it very well may be you, so watch out for yourself, your fellow officers and the public who for the most part won't even know you're there."

Thankfully the men and women who do this job like it and have the dedication, judgment and guts to make the rest of us a lot safer in our cars, our homes and our businesses.

Campaign Beginnings

This Saturday amidst their otherwise busy lives, 75 or so of my friends met to begin organizing into 33 precinct committees. Okay, the task of reaching 25,000 or so voters still seems overwhelming, but looking around we had a truly diverse group of talented folks who agreed to do grassroots work way below their pay grade. Looking ahead to the election, we have the common cause of breathing some fresh air into our local government. Please, Grow your committee; Diversify your committee; Report back to Headquarters (681-0553) or email mike@mearesforjudge.com.

Oh yes, one Principle Note, the Campaign has decided to make an ethical statement by not accepting donations from attorneys! The mark of a good judge is one who will rule against his former lawyer friends when they are wrong and rule for his former rivals when they're right. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm the son of a lawyer, married to a lawyer, nobody loves lawyers more than me, but the public needs to understand that justice isn't for sale to the lawyer who contributes the most to the judge's campaign.

"To remember is good: to act is greater." MLK

Over this past week I visited New Providence Presbyterian Church, DENSO, Fairview United Methodist Church, the MLK Center and Alcoa High. Each location hosted a portion of the movable feast of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. The food and fellowship were superb at New Providence as always the wholesome center of Maryville community life. DENSO was an impressive lunch for the business community, but the events really picked up the pace at Fairview Methodist where Reverend Jerry Russell delivered a personal story of overcoming racism that had the congregation tearing up and Reverend Colquitt claiming him as secretly a fellow Baptist Minister.

The real stand out of all four events, however, was the interdenominational choir which raised the already high rafters at Fairview and then rocked the gym at Alcoa. We truly have some singing talent in our local churches and it was great to see them sing together. The whole week was a reminder of how well the African American and white communities can work together and sadly somehow a reminder of how infrequently we do.

Rocky Branch Community Center: Bluegrass & Gospel

If you ever want to be reminded about what's great in Blount County, I advise you go to Rocky Branch Community Center in Walland on any Friday night. I went last night with my sixteen year old daughter and two year old son. Rocky Branch offers the best of bluegrass and gospel music in a genuinely friendly atmosphere. The Community Center welcomes musicians to jam in six of the old classrooms of the converted schoolhouse and on the second Friday of each month invites them to perform on the small stage. Admission is free and children are welcome.

The truly wonderful thing about this gathering place is that you have a mix of oldtimers whose families have been in Blount County forever and newcomers who have come for the music. I met one man who has moved here from California and was just plain happy that he could walk around with his banjo around his neck. He proudly introduced me to his son who seemed as enthusiastic about the experience as his dad. I also met a CPA who recently moved to Townsend and was there with his wife to join in with their guitars. Of course, I introduced myself wherever I could and saw several people I knew and a couple from my church who like so many others just come to enjoy the music.

Whether you are running for election as Judge or just bored with your Friday nights, the friendly mix of the new with the old and some great music make Rocky Branch Community Center a must visit spot in Blount County. Thanks to the good folks who make this Center a truly great gathering place.