South of Town: Notes and Scenes from Texas' Upper Gulf Coast
Life in Lake Jackson, Texas viewed and photographed by one citizen who spends his time with Methodists and Democrats mostly
Check to see if you are registered properly at the Texas Secretary of State web site.
If you are not registered, you can register here.
If you think you are a Republican, vote Democratic. It’s the only way you are going to take back the Republican Party.
A salute to teachers from our Lake Jackson friend, Jean Ciampi (although she has moved from Lake Jackson and is now moving again to Michigan). She IS thewriterjean.
School is back in session. Teachers, unsung warriors that they are, have once again manned the battle lines to fight for the ongoing education of the next generation. Truly there is no level of sainthood great enough to crown the heads of these bold, brave souls who selflessly walk into the classrooms of darkness and…
— Read on thewriterjean.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/blessed-are-the-teachers/
I have not been totally sold by talk of the blue wave in November. Certainly it is something to hope for but I don’t have much faith in the majority in these times, especially not the majority of the folks who manage to register and vote in the age of internet manipulations, intentional voter suppression, auditless electronic balloting and the attack on truth itself from the highest offices.
It was in February that Ted Cruz famously said of Texas Democrats, “They will crawl over broken glass in November to vote.” He may very well have been right. Tonight I saw more Democrats at one time in Lake Jackson than I have ever seen before.
The Southern Brazoria County Democrats held a fundraising barbecue at Jasmine Park in Lake Jackson. The place was packed with Democrats. And it was a lot more fun than crawling over broken glass.
Adrienne Bell (U.S. House, Dist. 14) was there. Rita Lucido (Texas Senate, Dist. 17) was there. Mike Collier (Lieutenant Governor) was there. And there were lots of other candidates for state, county, regional offices and judicial seats.
And there were all the “just plain folks” like me who were there to eat barbecue and enjoy the friendship of people who have decided that it is not alright to accept the behavior of the sitting president.
Lila Lloyd was there. Sharron Stewart was there. Mike and Ann Lange were there. And there were probably a few people there who would as soon not be mentioned as having been seen consorting with Democrats. But we love them just the same and look forward to having them join us, next time in the privacy of the voting booth.
The time for pretending that it is normal to vote for Republicans for any office is over. Done. The only patriotic thing to do in November is to NOT vote for anyone under the R column. That is my best nonpartisan advice. Then, as soon as we get ourselves out from under the kleptocracy, we can go back to being Democrats and Republicans again. And all of us can keep on loving the country we live in.
This video (www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2018/aug/22/beto-orourke-nfl-protests-texas-video ) was carried in The Guardian today. It runs about four minutes as Beto O”Rourke answered a question regarding how he feels about people kneeling in protest when the national anthem is played at sporting events.
His response was thorough, sensible and respectful. It is good to hear this kind of discussion and Beto O’Rourke is the kind of senator Texas needs. If you agree, then it is time to get involved.
Beto’s response was pitch perfect. I would only add to his thoughts on the matter that I interpret the protesters’ kneeling as anything but disrespectful. Kneeling is an expression of reverence for the ideals the American flag represents. Kneeling would seem to be the correct response when those ideals are not being respected by law enforcement or anyone else in authority.
A new Montessori preschool classrom will be offered at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Lake Jackson beginning this fall. The church has recently renovated space, purchased materials, recruited and trained a masters degree teacher for the opening school term.
A commercial group is planning to offer Montessori classes in the area but they are still in the process of acquiring property, designing and building space. That group earlier sought a zoning variance to allow them to purchase and build a school on land near Bess Brannen Elementary. The city of Lake Jackson denied the variance because of the already difficult traffic situation around Bess Brannen. They have since acquired property in Richwood on Highway 288-B.
The Chapelwood project has been carefully planned over the last three years. The school continues to offer traditional classes along with the Montessori class.
The Montessori class will be under the direction of Ms. Rachel Silvas who is in the process of completing her training at the Houston Montessori Center which is affiliated with the American Montessori Society.
Spaces are still available. Yesterday’s article in The Facts gives more details on how to get more information and enroll a child between ages 2 and 1/2 and six.
That the party of God and country, family values, fiscal responsibility and national security is now the Democratic Party? We have been tarred and feather as tax and spend, weak on defense libertines since 1980. Who knew they would hand us their brand without our even asking?
Of course we were always that party but somehow, Republican propaganda and the big dollars behind it were able to persuade a lot of voters otherwise. Looking forward to being able to welcome some of our old friends back into the party.
South of Town: Notes and Scenes from Texas' Upper Gulf Coast 