Them Birds Are In Your Garden And Other Vignettes 662968

Them Birds Are in Your Garden and Other Vignettes

John E. Bush

Copyright © 2013 by John E. Bush.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013911905 ISBN: Hardcover Softcover Ebook

978-1-4836-6274-9 978-1-4836-6273-2 978-1-4836-6275-6

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Rev. date: 07/22/2013

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Contents

Prologue

Them Birds Are in Your Garden

Memories

ing Mom

The Journey to the House of the Lord For My Sister, Eileen

Eulogy for My Brother, Lawrence

For Lila, My Sister

Earthquake Two

Again, It’s Christmas

Noel

Continuation

Someone Else Will Come

I Do

You Are Loved

Invitation

Love Potion

Walking Along the Road

Clifford

Letters

On My Seventy-Fifth Birthday

Letter to Dr. Williams

Letter to Mr. Eugene Robinson

Letter to Professor Randall Kennedy

Letter to President Obama

Second Letter to President Obama

Third Letter to President Obama

President Barack H. Obama

The Sweet Babboo Society Chartered In 1973 Opened To hip February 14, 2003

Letter to My Neighbor: From the Spy Center

Looking Back

Civil Rights and Justice for All

This Book is Dedicated to Wilbur H. Chambers Nelson P. Rivera

Prologue

Who Is John E. Bush?

Dr. John E. Bush was born in Wellsville, Ohio, at 1217 Anderson Avenue on December 8, 1927. He is the son of the late Charles and Anna s Bush. He attended First Baptist Church where his father was a deacon. He was baptized at the age of fourteen and continued to be active in the youth program, where he later taught Sunday school. He went to Wellsville public schools and graduated from Wellsville High School in 1946. After having attended Virginia Union University for one year, he went to Delaware State College in Dover, Delaware, and graduated in 1950. In October 1950, he was drafted into the army and served until 1952. In 1953, he moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his partner, Wilbur Chambers, at the Chambers’ farm in North Beaver Township. While living there, he ed the Mount Jackson United Presbyterian Church and was ordained as an elder in that church. He studied at Westminster College and received the Master of Science in Education in 1954. After some effort, he was hired as the first black teacher in the New Castle public schools. He taught social studies and was one of the guidance counselors at George Washington Junior High School. While teaching at George Washington, he later attended the University of Pittsburgh and received the Master of Arts (Sociology)in 1968. It was during that teaching period that he received his first Fulbright Award, which enabled him to travel to the Netherlands where he taught social studies (in English) at Thorbecke Lyceum in the Hague for one year. Some years later, he received the PhD (Sociology) from the University of Pittsburgh (1977). During vacation periods, he traveled to several European countries and later traveled to the Scandinavian countries with a friend. His love for traveling and experiencing new cultures inspired him to visit Africa, Greece, and later, Japan. He has published Changing Circumstances, a collection of poems; My Father’s

Faith, a compendium of essays, articles, and speeches; and now, Them Birds Are in Your Garden and Other Vignettes, all by Xlibris Publishing Company.

His awards, recognitions, and accomplishments follow:

1. First black to teach in the public schools of New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1954 2. Fulbright Scholarship to teach in the Netherlands, 1958 3. General Electric Foundation Fellowship (A Course of Study in Economics), 1960, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 4. Fulbright Fellowship to study and travel in Brazil, 1962 5. Facing America: Regional Council for International Education, Faculty Institute for International Studies, Nurnberg, , 1971-72

National Association of Black and White Men Together Awards (An organization dedicated to eliminating racism, sexism and homophobia)

1. Founding Father Award 1980 (one of founding ) 2. Personal Achievement Award 1986 3. Lifetime Achievement Award 1990 4. Del Pascavis Spirit Award 1990 (for tribute to Dr. M. L. King) 5. Outstanding Service Award 1991

6. Special Achievement Award 1993 7. Certificate of Appreciation 1998 8. Outstanding Service Award 1999

University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth

1. Distinguished Faculty Award, Department of Continuing Studies 1991 2. Distinguished Service to the University 1995-1996 3. Chancellors Multi-Culture Award 1996 4. Professor Emeritus 1999

University of Massachusetts—Boston

In Recognition of Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Celebration of Black Scholarship in New England 1991

Tri-State Black History Museum and Research Team, East Liverpool, Ohio

(Tri-State Area People) September 29, 2001

Nova Southeastern University

Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services Certificate of Appreciation for devotion and continuous encouragement to Marilyn Banks to achieve her EdD 2001

The Greater Boston Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance

The Eleanor Roosevelt Human Services Award, December 1987 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade Grand Marshall with Virginia Appuzo 1987 One of the principal speakers at the Gay Rights March on Washington October 1987

Black Student Union, University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth

1. Outstanding Faculty 1986-1987 2. Professor of the Year 1988 3. Faculty of the Year 1990

John Hannigan School, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Certificate of Award, Guest Readers Program 1993

Southeastern Massachusetts University

In recognition for helping Nelson P. Rivers achieve his educational goals, his BA in Sociology 1986 Black Achievement Award (Distinguished Service and Contribution to Our TriState Area People) September 29, 2001

Them Birds Are in Your Garden

When he stood at the window He was silent Just looking out at his new surroundings Perhaps missing the palm trees of Puerto Rico, The ocean, the beach, the beers at Barefoot I said nothing as I prepared breakfast As he stood at the window Then he said spontaneously “Them birds are in your garden.”

There was a hint of sadness in his voice Maybe he was wondering if he had made the wise choice Watching birds scavenging for seeds In a New England spring When he could have been at the beach Watching gulls searching for fish

It was during the time that the plague descended upon us He had suspected that he was positive Much later, he told me that

Perhaps that knowledge prompted the sadness Which I saw that day When he said “Them birds are in your garden.”

Years later, after his college degree And years of successful teaching And after his suspicions had become reality One friend said to me, “You knew it all the time. You simply were in denial.” Can one be in denial and not know it? I did not see the birds in the garden, But I knew they were there.

Eleven years later, the phone rang in early morning The news could not be good Very late or very early morning phone calls Are always the bearers of bad news I should have remained at the hospital

through the night I guess I was hoping for positive change A beginning of a return to good health So one could observe the birds As they foraged for survival But it was not to be Our life together was over

Life comes and goes Like those birds in the garden It doesn’t last long—as time goes And as we grow older Our seasons seem to be shorter Like those birds who seek their survival In oceans, lakes, rivers And in people’s gardens Unlike them, we also seek love and companionship To supplement our daily bread

While some of us find some happiness and contentment from time to time

Others are not so fortunate And have to do without But we all do the best we can And deal with our private sadness When we watch those birds in our gardens.

Memories

Memories never let us go They live with us Awake and during sleep They are a part of us Responsible for holding our loved ones Close to us Who, gone from sight Are never gone from our hearts

Officially celebrated on Memorial Day At cemeteries through out the world And here at home Rituals of affirmation of our continued devotion Celebrations of love Never ending

Continuing the tradition of transformation To another place A place wherein one day we will dwell

Our loved ones have taken leave They are gone Perhaps to prepare a place for us That where they are We may also be

ing Mom

Always there for us Loving and kind Reserved, quiet, contemplative And in later years, somewhat depressed Observant and knowing But not always eager to reveal her thoughts and conclusions Excellent in debate Forceful in her arguments And strong in her opinions

Not much for church Yet not hostile regarding religion Just not inclined to Get dressed up and go and sing praises I felt that for her, religion was a personal matter Something to hold on to But not parade about Who knows?

She came to me when I was packing to leave After they learned of my fall from grace At Virginia Union University Where I said yes to my sexual urges In the professor relationship She asked, “What are you doing?” I said, “Packing to leave.” She said, “Put those clothes back. You are not going anywhere. You must know we love you, And we will not let you go.”

That’s the way she was Flat-out honest Absolutely candid, ive, and strong A mother there for you Especially when you needed her A pillar of strength A quiet pillar of strength Who gave you your freedom And ed you when you needed it

Although she’s gone from sight She never went away from me I see her and hear her from time to time Especially when I am doing Jumble And recognize words that she often used And when I think of Wellsville and Clover Street Where we lived And I drummed on the windows And she would say “Stop. You’ll break the window.” And I think about her when I think about life Which I am still attempting to understand

I and we can only go on Because we still have the love of a caring mother Who was silently And sometimes not so silently there for us As far as I am concerned, Every day is Mother’s Day!

The Journey to the House of the Lord For My Sister, Eileen

A long time ago She made her decision. She said, “As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord.”

One can only give iration To those who find and accept the way To a better place And follow it without fear Without hesitation, without second thoughts Even though the journey is difficult

She set her eyes on the road ahead But she did not see it as ritualistic dogma She was silent about her choice And her light did shine For her, the journey was an act of love A way of living A way of life.

Thus, when she saw the finish line She did not pause She rejoiced because she knew She had finished the race. She rejoiced, the journey was over She stepped forward And took her place on the other side In the House of the Lord.

Bless her and all who walk In the path that leads to Salvation.

Eulogy for My Brother, Lawrence

As we leave this place Let us ask not for whom the bell tolls As John Donne wrote, “It tolls for thee” Whether we realize it or not As human beings living together In this world, we are connected We all share common experiences Even as now we are united in our grief for Clint As we go our separate ways Let us each other Keep each other in our thoughts Live each day not only for ourselves But for others as well And when it is your time to go this day And know that those who remain Will be there for you Saying Good-bye with love

Amen!

For Lila, My Sister

I can sincerely say She was happy, outgoing, and involved With her family and her friends Her church hip Was a comfort to her Her faith sustained her when cancer arrived And her husband and son were there to her Life was ebbing away But we were not despondent Yet, like so many other families We hoped for a different ending

But cancer is not a friend It is not sympathetic It arrives quietly, often without pain Quietly does its damage Ending many beautiful lives And continues its destruction daily

But one day, hopefully soon

It will be disposed of by those who are pursuing it And we will not mourn its ing We will rejoice and when we see our loved ones again We will tell them victoriously That battle is over.

Earthquake Two

The rays of the sun Came through the windows of my room Warming the lower part of my body Relaxing my being Causing me to feel drowsy Although I just arose from sleep On a less-than-comfortable mattress Of hills and valleys Adequate for receiving the body But in no way sufficient to Relax the spirit and the soul It was not the mattress that jarred my senses In the early morning But a mild earthquake That rattled my bed But not my being I paused, wondering what’s next Would I end up in a pile of rubble Struggling to survive Or was this to be the end

In Oaxaca, where the sky is usually blue And the sun warms me daily? And I always look forward to Walking in the sun each day

Again, It’s Christmas

As we grow older, we lose the excitement That comes with Christmastime We continue to decorate and celebrate But the inspiration is no longer there The glow has long since gone When we were children, we fully participated Although on occasions, there was not much for us Still, the excitement was there We learned our lines for the church programs And we looked forward to receiving toys, candy, and clothes It was all so long ago

We grew older, and began to see Christmas as a time of giving Trying to earn enough money to purchase gifts For Mom, Dad, and brothers and sisters As well as our good friends The excitement of the season was definitely with us The spirit was pervasive, and the dedication was sincere We looked forward to seeing Dad bring home a tree And of course, participating in the decoration

The involvement in Christmas was liberating, magical It was all so long ago

Maybe it is nostalgia, but I think people were kinder More concerned about the welfare of others More giving, indeed more loving But in reality, perhaps I was too young to know or Understand the everyday world in which I lived Is it a case of romanticizing the past? Is it the same world in which I now live A world of wars, hunger, poverty, disease, and crime? If so, has it always been the same Did I miss something? It was all so long ago Yet so ever present!

It’s Christmastime again A special time to give gifts of love Not just those that we buy at the marketplace But those gifts that do not cost us money Such as helping the needy

Reaching out to the homeless Performing random acts of kindness Reconnecting with those we hold dear Celebrating life, being grateful for blessings And above all, loving ourselves So that we might have the strength and desire To love others!

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Noel

Winter came too soon Catching me by surprise With its snowy blanket And icy winds Boldly announcing Another year had ed About the time of my birthday And all your birthdays in 2010

We are all another year older Having lived through turbulent Acts of nature And often-nasty political times Wherein our handsome and intelligent president Stated that they “called him everything but A child of God”

We are older but seemingly not wiser W seek justice and fair play for ourselves But often neglect others!

We seem to have forgotten “Do unto others as you would have them do”

Yet, we often help when we can And when we feel that we are able Especially during the times of Thanksgiving And Christmas We give with committed effort and loving hearts Oh, the contradictions! Such is life

At the end of the year it is Noel A time of inspiration, joy, love and hope “Hark! The herald angels sing” Can you hear them? Can you hear me? Another year has ed Be glad!

Continuation

Again, we come to the end of a year A conclusion of the routine And the unexpected Happiness and heartbreak Illnesses and the loss of friends And the birth of the new Known and unknown

We and cherish The days of brilliant sunshine That caused joy and relaxation As well as the dark days That produced feelings of loneliness And sometimes, a loss of hope

We focus on our lives And our friends who have Been with us throughout much Of our lives on this earth Some who have been faithful

And others who are still out there But not often seen or heard from Yet never forgotten And who randomly enter our thoughts

As the days go by We accept and welcome the routine Yet we wonder about our purpose We know we are not And cannot be stagnant We change and nature changes With rising oceans and receding lakes Melting glaciers and warmer climates We realize that things change Yet sometimes, we long for earlier days Younger years when life was simple Without our knowledge of tragic events and dismal days

Then comes another New Year A new chance to live, love, rejoice and laugh Another opportunity to help make

Our changing world a better and happier place That is the hope that comes with the New Year

Someone Else Will Come

“Someone else will come” That is what John said But Moses and several of the major prophets also said “Someone else will come One who will save you from your sins And your desire to follow the wrong leaders To seek after things that will not save you”

They said that to the people of Israel Who fell from grace so many times Seeking their own satisfactions Following ill-chosen leaders Worshipping false gods Spending years in the wilderness Paying for their sins, looking for a savior But not really believing someone else would come One who would give them everlasting life

They suffered, personally and collectively For not believing and following the prophets

They were repeatedly directed in the ways of God But strayed and went their own ways Disregarding the messages of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah, as well as Jonah, Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi They seemed not to believe that someone else would come.

We too have read about the prophets before them Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah and Isaiah They too knew that someone else would come And he did come And we have recognized him and do follow him His name is Jesus Christ who taught us to Love our neighbors as ourselves Respect our fellow human beings Help the less fortunate

Today our John is here with us For the Pilgrim United Church of Christ Someone else has come He is not a prophet

Although he may prophecy Let us welcome him Work with him to achieve our goals And love him And be glad!

I Do

Sweet Babboo Asked me to say hello to you I do He did not say That on Valentine’s Day I should say “I love you,” but it’s true I do

I asked him why he went away And this is what he had to say “I have been called to other places To spread love and cheer Both far and wide So I cannot be at your side You will have to take my place And go spread love and grace To those you meet and know So our special day will grow”

“Why me?” I asked of Sweet Babboo

“Valentine’s Day is the job for you” He replied, “If it’s too much for you Then ask your friends to help you through The day belongs to all of us So please, don’t stew and fuss The love you give will be returned to you Accept my word, you know it’s true

So I seek your help on this special day To spread love and cheer as you work and play And certainly you know it’s true It’s guaranteed by Sweet Babboo! Who said to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day And I do!

You Are Loved

I have thought about you many times in the past year It is only natural to friends Sometimes they are recalled in dreams But usually they pop in and out of the mind At any given time during the day Who knows why? It just happens Since it is a natural phenomenon It also happens to you

On this special day of love and remembrance When one gives gifts of flowers Jewels, candy, and cards I officially the parade of those Who are standing in line to wish you A happy Valentine’s Day Not especially because of the day But because you are lovely And you are loved

Invitation

It has been said That the road to the soul Is through the heart So follow that road And you will find the place That has been reserved for you At my Valentine’s feast of love Come and enjoy a time of Comion, understanding, peace, and love At this soulful celebration of life That will live in your memory Long after this day and time have ed!

Love Potion

All the birds have flown the coop I haven’t even seen a sparrow For at least a month The snow has come and gone And come and gone It has been warm and cold And cold and warm Now it’s February and still winter My soul is restless As Valentine’s Day approaches Yet I have charged it to send love potions to all You will receive yours on the day of love I know that will occur Because love from you will come back to me!

Walking Along the Road

How many miles have you covered walking along the road? More importantly, do you have a destination? Perhaps you do not, especially if you say to me, “I don’t walk along the road I ride in my car, I take the train, I fly!” But even doing those things, Sometimes you are on the road, Watching birds, who fly naturally yet Walk along the road, eating seeds Or anything else they can find And you see squirrels Gathering acorns for winter And dogs being walked by their owners

When you walk along the road, Most likely you have a destination in mind Going to see a nearby friend Or to pick up a few items at the store Certainly, you are not traveling great distances And you may not give any thought that you are indeed

Walking along the road

Perhaps if I ask you, “How long you have walked along the road of life? What have you seen? How far you have traveled? And where is your final destination?” I would assume that you would tell me The number of years you have been on earth Walking along, working, surviving Making ends meet

In the very old days Before automobiles and public transportation, People actually walked along the roads Perhaps some stopped by your parents’ home To ask for a bite to eat Before they went on their way To some other destination Vital to their lives and well-being

Chopra writes in his fictional life of Jesus That on a given day, Jesus was walking along the road Many years after the day in the temple, When he overturned the money tables And well before his death on the Cross, He saw a house on fire, and he instinctively knew there was A woman trapped inside with her two daughters And he heard his name being called “Jesus, Jesus”

Thus he hurried toward the flames Where he saw a crowd of people, standing, awestruck, Wondering what they could do Jesus approached the house He went into the flames And he rescued the woman and her daughters And delivered them to her husband Who stood among the crowd

Where are you headed as you walk along the road Or as you drive along the road or cover distances

By bus, train, or plane? While animals of the field gather their food, While birds of the air fly overhead, While fish of the sea eat and try not to be eaten As autumn turns to winter Winter turns to spring And spring to summer, completing the cycle Only to begin again

Will you listen for the voice that calls You to the service of others, to help those in need? Or more importantly, the voice that speaks within you That implores you to seek purpose in life, To make your life meaningful, And renders you available to be one of those Who works to help the world become a better place

You may not turn out to be the hero, But as you walk along the road and see the need, You may fully realize that we are here for each other And you may step forward to extend the helping hand

Or gratefully accept the helping hand As we approach the final destination And hear the voice that says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Clifford

Always used a cardboard to make sure The address on the envelope made a straight line on the bottom Cooked delicious food And entertained handsomely Loved people and enjoyed having them At his home Had more plants than anyone I know And readily itted that it was a huge job Moving them in and out when the seasons changed

His GPS chimed when his automobile ed churches When I asked why, he said he really did not know I monitored it when we went to book club meetings It’s performance was irregular As I recall it finally stopped chiming Perhaps it was taking a rest But we will never know

He loved to clarify, lecture and debate

When he got involved in making a point He often became very dramatic With facial contortions and faint smiles At such times, he was on the stage And there could be no interruptions The presentation had begun

One had to smile when the curtain went up We were prepared for the best Which we know was forthcoming There were no chimes like his GPS But none were needed The Blake express was on the way

We will miss Clifford for years to come He made life more manageable—happier And of course more challenging—expectant And indeed more light hearted and laughable He was very gifted and was a lovable brother Who left too soon

We who had the pleasure of meeting him And getting to know him Will him Until the day we make our exits Our memories will help us to endure And survive until that day comesAnd until that day Let us embrace those memories Of Clifford Blake

LETTERS

On My Seventy-Fifth Birthday

Fund-Raising Celebration for the Bush-Waite Scholarship at University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth

It is with humility and gratefulness that I welcome you here for this celebration. It is truly a case that it could not have happened without you. I am extremely pleased that you could make it. I am also thankful for those who could not make it but were kind enough to send contributions for the scholarship fund: Mary and Lewis Roberson, Les Everett and Steve Ball, Dr. John Hopper and Dr. Maia Hopper, Marilyn Banks, my sister from Atlanta, William H. and s V. Doggett, Dr. Robert D. and Nancy M. Taylor, and others who have said, “Your check is in the mail!”

When old people are asked, “To what do you attribute your long life?” they give many different answers. As for me, although I am not old (well, real old) I sometimes think it is a case of luck, chance, or fate. For the more religious, they would say it is God’s blessing or it is not my time yet.

More seriously, I think it is many things. Certainly genes, family life, happiness, etc., and a certain control of those things that are debilitating, not only alcohol, etc., but depression and things that damage the spirit. In our family, we have been lucky. We have nine siblings who have made it through to this point, and I don’t know why. However, I want to thank the spirits of Charles and Anna s Brown Bush. (You will see their pictures as you tour the house.) I can’t say enough about them, especially my dad who was a man of faith. I think of him constantly and invoke his spirit when I am dealing with the problems of life.

In a brief note, currently I am very concerned about the so-called global village in which we all live. I wonder why we in this country are so blessed, while people are starving throughout the village, and how is it that we can pay some villagers enormous amounts of money for entertaining us, playing sports, etc., while most of the rest of us—doctors, teachers, ministers—work for regular wages and work hard to make ends meet and educate our children. And for those of us who have much, what is required of us? We know the story of the man who walked away sorrowful when having asked what he had to do to be saved and Christ told him to go and sell what he had and give it to the poor. I never understood that.

But as for me, I know that I have in many instances taken a step too far. I have extended myself even as I am doing now in trying to help a friend who is in dire straits. But I think we must extend ourselves to help others. Most of us have benefitted, at some time in our lives, from the help, love, kindness, etc., that we have received from others. Thank you for helping, and that the money you have given today will keep on helping young students long after you are gone because it is the interest from the fund that enables us to continue to give!

Letter to Dr. Williams

President Gregory H. Williams University of Cincinnati

Dear President Williams,

It has been fifteen years since your book was published and I just read it. I would not have read it had I not heard you at the City Club in Cleveland. I am certainly happy that I went to that event!

I am the black man who asked you why you didn’t simply go into the white world after you were of age. You said, among other things, that it would not have been principled had you done so. After having read the book, I more thoroughly understand your response. Your report of your childhood and maturing during those difficult times was most poignant. Although your father was a brilliant man, his alcoholism left you and your brother constantly in desperate, survivaltype situations. Thank God for Miss Dora who saw beyond race and color. Although I tend not to be overly religious, it does seem that in the overall scheme of things, there is divine intervention. However, there is also free will, and sometimes, we are not able to use it to achieve our goal as your brother Mike did not do. But maybe he did. Perhaps he used his free will to live the type of life that he lived. I am indeed sorry that he lost his sight. I think not being able to see is one of the worst things that can happen to an individual.

Let me finish. I do thank you for the book. At times, it was very personal. I am not sure that I could have revealed so much of my past. That certainly makes you

a special person as far as I am concerned. I think you are a very special man, black or white. Maybe the day will come when we won’t think about color but truly learn to focus on content of character.

Sincerely yours,

John E. Bush, PhD

Letter to Mr. Eugene Robinson

Dear Eugene Robinson,

I feel like I know you, having seen you so often on the Chris Matthews Show; a good show but Chris needs to give others a chance to get a word in edgewise.

I just finished Disintegration. I found it to be a challenging sociological construct and decided that I had to give you my two cents’ worth. After I mastered the construct—that is, a thorough understanding of the four groups—I felt comfortable with them. I don’t have a lot to say. From my notes, I want to address gentrification and your notion of leaving some space for the Abandoned. My argument is that people on the way up, as in gentrification, do not want individual families (the Abandoned) living in such close proximity. They would not mind it if somehow they were able to rehab their homes so that they look like the others in the area. The only way such could possibly work would be that some benefactor provided money for abandoned families to upgrade. That will not happen. Those who give money to charity tend to give it to established nonprofit groups.

As far as the Abandoned are concerned, we must start from scratch to lift them up. We must begin with education and values. Growing up poor isn’t so destructive if middle class values are established and the children in those homes abide by them and go on to get an education so that they can take advantage of opportunities that might be available to them. I speak from experience. I will it that at the present time, it is even difficult for those who are prepared to find work to sustain themselves, especially if they are black. I have a friend in Florida who has a master’s degree from MIT who is homeless! A capitalistic society simply does not function very well for those who are on the bottom or by no reason of their own fall to the bottom. However, those with education can

climb back.

It is generally difficult for those of us in the middle-class mainstream to know how we can help. I guess we are too busy attempting to maintain the positions that we have attained.

Thank you for the book. I am sending a brief thought regarding Barack, one of the Transcendents.

Sincerely,

John E. Bush, PhD (Sociology)

Letter to Professor Randall Kennedy

September 16, 2011

Professor Randall Kennedy Harvard Law School Harvard University Cambridge, MA

Dear Professor Kennedy,

I just finished your book, The Persistence of the Color Line.

I am of the opinion that you were very fair in your appraisal of the racial politics and the Obama presidency. Of course, I did not agree with some of your analyses regarding President Obama. However, I am sure that you understand that.

We all realize that he had to do a skillful tightrope walk to get to the presidency. Many black men could not have done so. You mentioned that in the book. I think he was successful because he is brilliant, well-organized, and very perceptive, among other positive attributes.

I believe that we will see even more contributions to blacks and other over looked individuals in his second term. Naturally, all of us will have to work diligently to make sure he has a second term. I say this because he can relax more in the knowledge that he does not have to run again.

I am a social scientist by profession, having earned the doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh (Sociology). I am enclosing a piece I wrote about our president, which is not at all scientific but which I believe to be true! A leap of faith. If I prove to be correct, we will see even greater accomplishments by the end of the second term.

Thank you for your book.

John E. Bush

Letter to President Obama

December 1, 2010

President Barack Obama The White House Washington, DC Dear Sir:

I certainly thank you for your efforts to keep our country heading in a direction wherein the greatest good for the greatest number remains a possibility. Moreover, I continue to cheer you on in your efforts to defeat the obstructionists, who seem to object and work against the major problems that must be resolved. Their (senators and congressmen) efforts are continually causing many to dislike the “Washington scene” which seems to be working for its own personal interest and survival.

At this time, I write to ask you to do what you can to keep illegal families from being broken up and deported, thereby leaving innocent children at the mercy of relatives or sent back to their countries of origin without means to make a living. Recently, several stories have been reported in the press, and they leave the reader very sad and frustrated. Of course, I know that you have far too much on your plate, but maybe a conversation with those in charge might be of some help, especially for distraught families (several of which must be out of the country by the middle of this month).

I was sorry to hear about the accident on the basketball court, but I am happy that it was not too serious. Many of us love you and wish you well and we want you to get through this without being a tired, older man when you are finished in 2016!

Please accept my best wishes for your success!

Sincerely,

John E. Bush

19 Oakshore Drive Bratenahl, Ohio

Second Letter to President Obama

March 7, 2012

President Barack Obama The White House Washington, DC 20005

Dear President Obama,

Please accept my thanks for your cautious approach to the Iran problem. I am very pleased that you have opted not to go marching off to war, although it may still be on the table. As you know, war tends not to solve problems between nations.

Older men tend to be willing to send younger men off to battle to “protect the American way of life.” The young are killed and wounded, and in the final analysis, there is more death and destruction than anything else, especially among those who are not officially involved in battle. It would be a grave step backward if we became involved in a Middle-Eastern war, especially after having left Iraq and being in the process of getting out of Afghanistan. Of course, you know all of that.

Although Israel may want to engage in war, I do not think we should go along with them. I am sure that they have enough firepower to dish out as much

destruction as they will receive in return.

You are doing an excellent job as president. As I have said before, you are a very intelligent man, way ahead of your colleagues and especially your adversaries. You are the right man in the right place at the right time. Please maintain your rational and sane position on this issue.

There is still time for change—that is, to work to establish a better and more wholesome way of life for all. We are counting on you! I feel it is part of your destiny. You are the present Moses. It is now your turn to head us in the right direction, which in the final analysis, will make a significant contribution to enabling the United States and much of the world to realize that we all have the responsibility to help make this a better world for all. We are all connected, even though we may live in different nation and states and speak different languages. Our collective consciousness and our souls must lead us in the path of righteousness.

Thank you for your good work. You are loved by many (especially me), so don’t let those Republicans be an obstacle in your (our) necessary path to a better life for all.

Sincerely yours. John E. Bush An Honorary Member of your Kitchen Cabinet (I have my hip card on the refrigerator.)

PS. I have not made my contribution to the current campaign but I will! I promise.

Third Letter to President Obama

November 13, 2012

President Barack H Obama The White House Washington, DC

Dear President Obama,

I just finished watching the news conference. As usual, you were more than up to the task.

I have been thinking about you very much since the election. Just a brief note to remind you to be careful during this term. There are so many hate groups out there, and with all this talk about secession and these crazy and violent times in which we live, you cannot be too careful!

We are blessed to have you in charge, and although many of the whites are against you, most of them applaud you and they voted for you. We can be grateful for that.

I enclose the piece that I wrote about you after you were first elected. I know

that I sent you a copy. Among other things, many do not like you because you are black and beautiful. I often think about how proud your mother would be of you were she still living.

Bless you and keep strong!

Sincerely,

John E. Bush

President Barack H. Obama

Was It Human Destiny?

Part African, part Caucasian, with a father out of Africa and a mother out of Kansas, a man born in Hawaii who lived in Indonesia and Hawaii, who attended excellent schools and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, Barack Obama became the forty-fourth president of the United States. That in itself is significant; however, it becomes almost providential when one considers the notion that he is a man of color.

Providential is indeed a powerful suggestion, considering the fact that it implies that God intervened in the process, providing divine guidance in the process of Barack’s becoming president of the United States. Of course, that cannot be empirically substantiated, and that is not an argument I will advance; however, we must consider the following facts.

Barack’s father, out of Kenya, was a Harvard-educated black man, a man from the continent where black men and women were illegally taken from their homeland and shipped to the so-called New World where they were enslaved. Slavery, which had long been practiced in the world, was a modus operandi, thus moral feelings regarding the institution were absent. His mother, out of the New World, specifically Kansas, was a white woman who was the offspring of that group of humanity who went to what became the United States looking for a better life. In their coming together in marriage, we might suggest that divine guidance brought the children of two antithetical societies together. We might also suggest that their off spring, Barack H. Obama, represents the best of two worlds. One might be so bold as to suggest that it was providential, human destiny.

When Barack won the election in 2008, it seems that more of human destiny was to be fulfilled. A black man, half African, out of the land of slaves and born in America, moved into the White House. The official house of American Presidents, built upon land selected by George Washington, the first president of the Unites States. The house that became officially became known as the White House when Theodore Roosevelt used it on his stationary. The house that was built by African slaves!

It might also be providential that the President has had to face so much namecalling and negativity by many in the United States even though he has achieved much that does and will make life in the United States better for all. It has been the case that like-minded individuals, regardless of color, have helped him to advance the agenda that he promised in his election bid in 2008. If this black man is to achieve more as the forty-fourth president of the United States, he must, with the help of all individuals of goodwill, continue to fulfill his and our destiny.

The Sweet Babboo Society Chartered In 1973 Opened To hip February 14, 2003

President Sweet Babboo (in Absentia) Executive Committee Chair John E. Bush, Ph.D. Secretary Ms. Panache R. Jones LS Board Mr. Malachi Q. Smyth Mr. Poteras Archibald Mrs. Alanzia Cremoria Mr. Gradian Garnorl

September 20, 2005

Dear :

The annual meetings of the Society have been concluded for approximately two weeks; however we are late sending you the report because the Executive Director did not authorize sending it until this time. I don’t honestly know why there was a delay but at last I have been given the “green light.” As is the case in most instances, I Panache R. Jones LS, am sending these minutes to you as they were recorded verbatim from the Executive Director, John E. Bush.

One of the important discussions that took place at the August meetings concerned the ongoing realization that a large group of the have remained silent for a long time. This phenomenon is certainly not new. That has been the case since the Society was opened to hip in 2003. Consequently, several of the August meetings were consumed by the usual debate e.g., what should be done about the silent partners. Mr. Poteras Archibald and Mr. Gradian Garnorl argued that those individuals should be sent notices that they had been unceremoniously dropped from hip. Mr. Malachi Q. Smyth and Mrs. Alanzia Cremoria felt that would be too harsh. As secretary, I understood their differing opinions. I deferred to the Executive Director, Dr. Bush. He said he would go along with what the group decided but that I would have to cast the deciding vote. I had a sense of deja vous regarding the entire discussion, primarily because the subject comes up at every yearly meeting. I decided to take the laissez-faire position, just let it be as is. I guess that translates to simply send the minutes to all original not knowing whether they are interested or not. So be it!

Dr. Bush gave his yearly report regarding society and society activities. He reported that he made visits to in Massachusetts, Dallas, Texas, Oaxaca, Mexico, Atlanta, GA, Wellsville, Ohio, Detroit, MI, New Castle, PA and of course Cleveland, Ohio. He reported that for the most part the with whom he visited were well and seemed to be enjoying their lives and activities. While most were primarily engaged in the world of work, maintaining and advancing careers, others, especially those who are retired, were busy with their various activities, e.g., church and lodges, gardening, community activities and doing various kinds of charitable work.

Like all of us in the larger world, the of the Society are living with the problems we all encounter in our daily lives. There is sickness, homelessness, unemployment, and on the brighter side, promotions and special recognition’s for outstanding achievements. Fortunately, none of our were directly affected by the Hurricanes but several had relatives and friends who were and have taken appropriate steps, as we all have, to help out when and where we can. All realize that there is much to be done and that we can all help out in some way.

While thinking about hurricanes and other natural disasters, one wonders why they occur and cause so much devastation and result in heartbreak and sorrow. But we must realize that planet earth is indeed a physical and chemical body that acts and reacts to many natural and man made variables.

We often forget this and live as though we had complete control. Our awakenings to these “so called” acts of God tend to leave us questioning, terrified and helpless. This was certainly the case after Hurricane Katrina. However, we now know that serious preparation for that catastrophe should have been made years ago. An advanced country like ours should have constructed viable storm barriers to protect the Gulf Coast and other areas that lie in the paths of hurricanes.

Having said that, we now have the opportunity to make changes that will provide safety for those in vulnerable areas. We also have the opportunity and duty to use our collective knowledge to create and preserve methods to “heal the earth” and of course be more than charitable to our brothers and sisters when they become the victims of natural tragedies. We are and should be our brothers’ keepers. Many of us have given financial but we will be called to give even more.

Just recently I learned of the ing of Mrs. Sheila Isherwood of Dartmouth, MA. She was the long time secretary of the Sociology Department of University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth where I taught for twenty-three years. I was

indeed sorry to hear of her death but even more troubling was the fact that I did not know she was ill. Sheila was not a member of the Society but she was a dear friend. I mention this because it serves to remind me and us that if we do not stay in , some will on and the Executive Committee will not know until it is time to send condolences. I do hope all of you are staying in with your immediate friends. I think it is a very important thing to do in these days and times.

Now summer is over and the weather is changing, tending to become more colorful and cooler, signaling forthcoming darker days and the snows of winter. Another year is in the last quarter, and before we realize it, we will be in 2006 and the forthcoming days of Sweet Babboo. Enjoy your lives and make every attempt to be happy and productive.

With love, The Sweet Babboo Society

John E. Bush Ph.D., Executive Director

Ms. Panache R. Jones LS, Secretary

Letter to My Neighbor: From the Spy Center

March 21, 2011

Spy Center 19 Oakshore Drive

Mr. James Reagan 20 Oakshore Drive

Dear Mr. JR,

It has come to our attention that we have not informed you regarding the composition of our workforce. For that error, we do apologize. Unlike similar organizations, we like to indulge in transparent activities in running our establishment.

It was kind of you not to inquire about our employees. You have every right to know who is spying on you and others in the immediate community. So let me inform you.

Our primary workers are brown squirrels. They are religious in their endeavors and unobtrusive in their spying activities. They do constantly dig up the lawns,

but while doing so, they keep their eyes open for intruders. We also hire deer; however, they tend not be such good workers. They concentrate on finding food (more so than squirrels), and they often eat plants and shrubs that they should not eat. In addition, they tend to disappear in the winter. I am told they travel short distances to warmer places. I have also heard that those places have some food available. Another group in our workforce are chipmunks, but they are almost totally useless because they sleep for all of the winter months and rarely provide any information of value when they do work in the spring and summer.

We hire some birds, especially those that hang around in the winter, such as blue jays and cardinals. They are beautiful but are often crabby and not good in submitting reports about the activities of certain persons. Speaking of birds, I did not hire those woodpeckers that that did all that damage to your house. I did not want them around because they did considerable damage to my balcony. They insisted upon working to get into your bedroom, which I thought was totally inappropriate. I finally had them sent away, but I cannot guarantee that that will not be back again. As you know, they are very persistent! Please be advised that should they return, our business is totally innocent.

We do not hire nocturnal animals such as skunks and raccoons. They are usually out prowling when human beings are sleeping, so they would be useless for our purposes. There are not many rabbits and groundhogs nearby, so we don’t get applications from them. We were going to hire a red fox because of his exotic nature, but he has only been seen twice since he applied. We also do not hire human beings (except for me). Their employment would be too obvious and too distracting.

So there you have it. So try to relax and enjoy life. We mean you no harm and are here to help in anyway we can. Except for those woodpeckers, and as I told you, they do not belong to our organization.

Sincerely yours,

The Chief Spy of Nature’s Spies

Looking Back

Farewell Address to Upper Level Junior High Social Studies Class, Circa 1950s

Some have said that life is like a mountain and, in doing so, may imply that it simply appeared with its high peaks. However, we must realize that it took many years for the mountain to form, and it is comprised of dirt, rocks, stones, trees, and many forms of vegetation. It took many small units and many years to make up the high peaks that we see. And so it is with life. Our lives are made up of many small experiences (sometimes pleasant and sometimes sad) that make us who we are—constantly changing, constantly growing, and perhaps never reaching our full height or our full potential.

We have spent a school year together. During this time, we have met many other students, made some friends, grown physically, but of more importance, we have grown intellectually. We have had good experiences as well as some experiences that did not bring us joy or comfort. However, we have endured. These experiences will be a part of our lives forever and will contribute to our endurance as individuals as we continue to rise like the mountains we view from afar.

Thus, here we are today, the last day that we will be together as a group. The experience has been challenging for some while it has been far too long for others. While some of you have given your best, others have given more of your devotion to subjects which interest you more. But that is as it should be. We are all different individuals who have our own unique experiences. Some of you will go away enthused while others will simply move on and prepare for the next

challenge. This is the end of the road for us as a group. We have completed another phase of our character building. A new plateau has been reached. Our mountain is getting higher.

One cannot look forward without taking some time to look back. However, we cannot consume too much time looking back. In fact, there are some occasions wherein we should not look back at all. Perhaps you know the story of Lot’s wife, who—when fleeing the sinful city—was told not to look back. She did not follow that order, and as she looked back, she turned into a pillar of salt! Having said that, permit me to take a few moments to look back. If I should be immobilized, go on without me!

I should like for all of you to know that there is no greater profession than teaching. I teach because that is what I love to do. I love people, and I can think of no better way to meet them than being in the teaching profession. I love to throw out thoughts and watch them take hold in the mind. And as they mature in the mind, I enjoy injecting other thoughts (sometimes contradictory) and observe how you, as students, deal with the new concepts—and perhaps conflicts—that emerge. I am especially elated to observe how you deal with any conflicts that may emerge or how you deal with the combination of new thoughts and problems of integration therein. It is wonderful to observe how you take what you have read and mold it into your analytical process. Some of you were better at the process than others, but it was gratifying to observe all of you wrestling with the new thinking process. You moved from simply learning and storing facts toward rendering well-devised thoughts and opinions which are necessary in decision making.

I am not opposed to the ability to store and recite facts, but in a class like this (at least, in the way I approach it), a great factual knowledge is not as important as the ability to think and reason—both extremely necessary in the learning process. It may be important to know that Africans were brought to this country in 1609 to be slaves, but it is more important to understand the political and social impact that ensued during the years that followed and endure to this day.

True education should create a knowledgeable person—one who is able to examine the complete problem, who can examine all sides and then make a rational decision. True education should create in one the desire to question, the right to differ, and the desire to improve and increase his/her knowledge. It has been demonstrated on many occasions that monarchs, czars, bishops, and dictators have been successful in remaining in power by keeping the populace ignorant. If you are not given the opportunity to research, study, debate, argue, read, and listen, as well as observe and perceive, then you have been denied the right to a meaningful education.

I do not profess to know all there is to know about history. That is why I encourage you to seek all legitimate means to get answers to problems and to understand the answers that you get. In the process, you will use other resources in addition to the text for the course. Of course, the library is an excellent place to spend time reading other perspectives on given topics. In my own case, I make every attempt to read many different authors regarding a subject. I also discuss with my peers, continue study at the university, and travel to stay informed. I will always stay informed so that I can give my very best.

I know that many of your parents have not been pleased with my teaching style. Basically, they have expressed that you students have to spend too much time (particularly on weekends) studying, writing papers, etc. They feel that at your age, you should have more time to enjoy weekends and vacations. There is some truth to that. However, I feel that talented children should be challenged to learn, primarily because they are going to be in school for some years and the methods they learn now will be of use to them in the college years.

I hope that the future will be bright for all of you. I hope you learn to navigate rough roads, that you will be able to adjust to the life situations you face, and that you will be able to carry your share of the load without undue tears and complaints. I hope that you will have more happy experiences than sad ones. As you realize, we are not—and should not be—stagnant individuals. We go from

one situation in life to another. We do our best while we are there, and then we move on to the next situation, the next experience, having learned to use our knowledge gained from that which we have left behind.

In your journey, I hope that you will make a sincere effort to practice kindness to all you meet and be primarily concerned with using your acquired knowledge to focus on how you can help others, rather than what you will receive. And I sincerely hope that many good experiences come back to you. It has been my pleasure to meet all of you, and I am truly grateful for your many kindnesses expressed in many ways. None of us know what the future holds for us, but we do know that we will not this way again. Let us stand like mountains, and let our peaks reach as high as possible!

Civil Rights and Justice for All

When I reflect upon the Trayvon Martin untimely death, I am reminded of my encounter with the Atlantic City, NJ police sixty-seven years ago. I too was on my way home but my journey was interrupted when they stopped to question me about having been in a bar that I ed each day on my homeward journey. When I informed them that I had not been there, they did not believe me. I heatedly defended myself and they ordered me to get in the car and they drove me to jail. I ed my minister, who lived in Philadelphia, and he had to drive to Atlantic city to get me released. I have never forgotten that and it surfaced again when I recalled that Trayvon was on his way home.

I was eighteen at that time. Today I am in my twilight years and still black folk are being stopped on phony charges while walking, sitting, standing and especially driving, They are not stopped because they have committed any offense, but simply because of the color of their skin. It is a sad state of affairs, especially after all these years since the emancipation. It seems that we will never be fully accepted as citizens of the country in which we were born, even though the Declaration of Independence included equal rights all citizens of the United states.

We all know that most of the citizens of the United States are committed to the concept of fairness; however, those who are not are a strong force in our society. They are people who feel that they are superior to Blacks and immigrants,despite the fact that they came to this country with basically nothing. They were were simply people who were attempting to better themselves in a new environment. They may not have been people who participated in the slave system but many took advantage of the financial opportunities afforded by the system. Moreover the social structure was such that many also adapted superior feelings and attitudes towards those who were black and or poor. Thus, class structure in the new world was simply a continuation of the European social structure . It became embedded in our social thought and the ramifications have been

extremely harmful and antithetical to concept of liberty and justice for all.

When Dr. Martian Luther King led the country to a new birth of freedom, we were all elated. We knew that the battle was not over but we were refreshed and took the opportunity to relax a little, not giving too much thought to the confrontations that were yet to come. All of us were elated because of our new opportunities and many of us took the opportunity to advance economically and socially. We took advantage of the new birth of fair play and justice. Affirmative Action programs, which were one of the results of the new social construction, enabled doors to be opened to those who had prepared themselves to be active contributors to the larger society.

Of course the road ahead was not smooth for the majority of those who had been denied for many years, but there was hope. Many fair minded individuals of all racial and social backgrounds began to seriously commit themselves to social justice. They were encouraged in their efforts by serious and committed believers of many faiths. The new religious commitments contributed significantly to the building of a more egalitarian society. Those efforts continue to day and I venture to say that many people in this democracy are beginning to accept people, not on the basis of color but as ML King requested, “content of character.” In order to make such advances people have to interact without a primary focus being on the color of the skin. We realize now that there are many shades of white just as there are many shades of black. And of course the same holds true for individuals in all societies. Those who have not embraced this philosophy as a way of living, often initiate the severe social problems that we struggle with in our country.

As long as large segments of the society are predisposed to subjugate others and work to prevent equal justice for all by design and ignorance, our efforts to achieve liberty and justice for all will have to continue and we will have to recruit even more individuals to in the battle to established a truly open and fair society. The election of Barack Obama as President our country was a huge step in the right direction. We need to continue to him in efforts to

achieve fair play and increase opportunites for all to achieve and advance.

We need to make education affordable, make sure that the elderly and the sick are cared for, ease retrictions for immigrants who desire to come to this country and gain citizenship, provide work opportunities for all regardless of color or station in life, protect women’s right to abortion, provide food stamps for those in need, insure the right to vote for all and generally and specifically dedicate ourselves to equal rights for all.

As we have observed, the right wing Tea Party types are doing all in their power to make sure that most of the above does not happen. They seem to be dedicated to establishing obstacles on the road to liberty, equal rights and justice. They often say they want to “take the country back”. Does that mean back to a time when they felt that they were more in control? What ever the case, they seem to have inspired others in the society, especially those who are marginal , to act in cavalier manners to take power and to deny rights to others. Such individuals are outside of any legal organizations and are not beholden to accepted methods of argument and debate. They take matters in their own hands and often engage in destructive behavior which results in tragedy. George Zimmerman represented such an individual.

Of course none of us knew him prior to to this tragic event; however we know now that he wanted to be a police officer, who for some reason never attained that objective. We also know that he was some “shade of white” but not a member of the Tea Party types. In his job as neighborhood watchman, he had learned to disrespect blacks and particularly black youth. He referred to them as punks. He devalued them as human beings and therefore felt justified in taking the life of one of them-Trayvon.

He was then exonerated by another group of women, who were various shades of white who in the final vote, decided that he should not be held able for his actions. It is indeed tragic to observe that after four hundred years, the

descendents of those who were slaves, are still being disrespected and treated unfairly by many in the society and often by the justice system, which sometimes demonstrates that justice is for shades of white.

I belong to the National Association of Black and White Men Together. The second verse of our inspirational song, which I wrote, reads: We are here black, brown and white Won’t you us in the fight To humanize the human race And make the world a better place I extend that invitation to all of you who may read this piece.