As we near the end of February, Black History month, I found myself thinking about the origins of slavery, why it was accepted, and what if it had never existed. So, I gave myself a little history lesson and found myself coming up with more questions than answers. Slavery is nearly as old as civilization; the institution can be traced as far back as ancient Babylonia. The pyramids in Egypt would probably not have been built if it weren’t for slaves. The Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and, even … [Read more...]

I was tooling around in my car Monday morning when my radio went crazy and started broadcasting strange voices calling a murderer a hero. The Todd and Don show on KLBJ is a daily respite from the Mark and Sam hysterics we get first thing in the morning. Only Ed comes through from time to time with a hint of sanity, and he is often beaten down by callers and Sam Cox disagreeing with his attempt to bring some common sense to the conversation. Last Monday was a day of hearing caller after … [Read more...]

By Frank Garrett Jr. Austin Times Staff I opened last Sunday’s local paper to the news that incumbent governor Rick Perry has a healthy lead over his two challengers. My surprise at the gap between him and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison soon gave way to remembering exactly where we are - Texas. The good old boy state will always be a day late and a dollar short in fundamental politics. As badly as change is needed here, it won’t happen on the republican side of politics. Why upgrade a … [Read more...]

Alexander Pope said, “To err is human; to forgive is divine.” A former banker of mine said, “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” Doug, the banker, was on to something. There is something special about being willing to forgive. The soul opens up when you forgive. Perhaps that is when we are closest to Divinity. A few years ago I used the phrase “A culture of lying” which means there are so many ways we conceal our lies, but I think we have moved into an “age of … [Read more...]

By Frank Garret Jr., The phony angry woman facade used by Sarah Palin and other republican operatives to keep their base packing guns, and protest signs with misspelled words, is nothing more than an act. Any time your main talking points are put downs of someone else, and never include anything constructive about yourself, you are faking it. The right wing fakers are very good at acting incensed about the government and President Obama – the reasons they are rich. Sarah Palin is getting … [Read more...]