Mosque Controversy

This pastor is actually someone I know.  He pastored a church in Newville, Alabama back in the eighties.  And although this story is a little old, this video was so revealing I had to forward them on to my friends overseas. 

Raised Southern Baptist, and as I understand it today, a fundamentalist Christian, I can see how this "moving in" of a mosque, especially after 9-11, would make people very afraid.  Of course, growing up, I didn't have any knowledge of Islam - or really any other religion - and so my perception was biased, I'd guess you'd say, or at least based on incomplete information.  Ironically, after traveling overseas, and meeting Muslims in Central Asia, I discovered that they are as varied as we are.  There are hardline types, yes.  And there are moderate types.  And then there are those who are traditional or cultural Muslims - almost like I see myself today as a cultural Christian -  yet don't practice in any real way.  In other words, it's just part of their heritage.  And then there are Muslims in big cities who are vastly different from their rural counterparts simply due to getting more education, having a chance to travel, and being exposed to modern ways of thinking.  What I see is that the more rural areas have the vast numbers of religious devotees, and the practice of the religion and the influence of the institution is more pervasive among those living in the rural areas. Presbyterian (PCA) in South Alabama, in these religious aspects, is going to have more in common with a Hindu in Northwest India than with a American living in Los Angeles.  And an white collar office worker in Beijing is going to be more in sync with a New Yorker than the New Yorker likely would be with a conservative Catholic in Northern Louisiana.  Gaining this perspective and understanding has helped process the information, for example, that I get from videos like this.  I actually know a lot of people who would side with this pastor who is against a mosque coming to his town.  And interestingly enough, there's a big part of me, for different reasons, that wouldn't want "more religion" coming to town.  And although this sect in Tennessee appears to be very moderate, I worry a lot about fundamentalist Islam, in general. 

I truly desire a pluralistic society where various religious, cultural and social groups can live together.  Even non-religious!  Especially non-religious!  Some of my best friends are not religious in any traditional way.  And a society that wants to beat that out of them or convert them or not interact with them is unhealthy in my opinion. And yet, likewise, I have to recognize that not welcoming religious folks of a more conservative ilk, whether Christian, Muslim or Jew, by its very nature, is not pluralistic, and not consistent with my overall philosophy. 

It is true, where you see fundamentalism - at least where it's a majority - there's often a lot of fear present. In fact, the religion or belief system (could be nationalism, "We're # 1"), gets "stronger" when there's more fear. And in some religions, this is all amp'd up by an "end of world" theology.  So the very places that need growth and jobs and a lot more "heaven on earth" often are at the bottom of the heap and can't seem to find their way out.  It's like an individual who is depressed, melancholy and stuck in a rut.  They're not ever able to live fully because of their self-doubt, self-hate and fear of others and change. When the total environment has more of this negative energy, it's almost impossible for it to thrive.  I see this in the United States and other places.

How would I answer those in opposition to the mosque in Tennessee?  I might first share something that Billy Graham said in a televised interview with David Frost on May 30, 1997.

David Frost: So is this still a Christian Country?

Billy Graham: No! We're not a Christian Country. We've never been a Christian Country. We're a secular Country, by our constitution. In which Christians live and which many Christians have a voice. But we're not a Christian Country.

And although I disagree with Graham I'm sure on many things, his response here makes a lot of sense.  Our democratic form of government, with a constitution and Bill of Rights that protects individual rights, can work anywhere in the world.  In fact, it does.  India, which has a majority Hindu population, is the largest democracy on earth.  And so, this town in Tennessee having a mosque simply reminds us of what our constitution protects.  And this may be the biggest battle of all:  the struggle between secular systems that foster individual rights and freedoms and religious institutions that desire these same protections.  At the same time, however, where I can see accepting a mosque into my town and rightly justifying it based on our constitutionally-guaranteed rights, I certainly don't mind saying that fundamentalist Islam - and again, I don't see this as that - should make any rational person very wary.

1931 Abbeville Kiwanis Club

Thus far, have identified one person in this photo who would be a relative of mine - Vann Owens.

 

Vann Owens was a grandson of WCH Vann.  His Mother was Mary Vann Owens.  They lived on the corner a few houses down from the WHC Vann home.

 

Vann lived in his parents home after they died. Vann had a grocery store on the Court Square.  Coot Vann died at the wheel in front of Vann's grocery store in the 60's.  Vann was probably one of the nicest relatives in our entire family.  Everyone loved him. 

 

Vann Owens had a son - Whit Owens. Whit did the genealogy work I sent you.  One day we need to Photoshop all of the genealogy charts and put his name on them.  He got us to where we are now.

 

Regards,

 

Jim Vann

 

Mary Vann Owens

Major, Take The Wheel

Major W. Espy, Sr. is going out for a drive - maybe in the country.  Daughter Mila looks on.

And here he's with his granddaughter Leslie at Six Flags in Atlanta.

More Downtown Treats

This is Amy at the BEFORE I DIE wall.  Also, in the video, cute Kade makes an appearance at French Broad Chocolate Lounge.  Earlier, just before Kade joined us for lunch at White Duck Taco Shop, Amy and I walked around Magnolia Beauregard’s, a remarkable antique and vintage clothing shop where you'd expect Lizzie Borden to be shopping.  The place was weirdly kind of cool, but also a little creepy.  After lunch, and then a quick stop at the chocolate lounge, the three of us walked to Donatelli, a first-class bakery and pastry shop that could easily be on a side street in Vienna.  We shared some fruit tarts, a strawberry Paris-Brest and some lemon and lime treats that were topped with the tastiest meringue.  And of course there was coffee.

Exploring Downtown

On an afternoon when rain and thunderstorms were looming, cousin Amy and I decided chancing trying to hike Mt. Pisgah or drive along the Parkway was not the best idea.  Instead, we opted for exploring Asheville's eclectic downtown, where we could still get in some good walking, yet hang out in a brewery or restaurant if the weather turned sour.  So off we went!  Our first stop was Chocolate Gems for gelato!  After sampling a few flavors, we selected Creamsicle, Cappuccino (made with Dynamite Coffee), Roasted Almond and Mint.  Our idea was that we'd keep nibbling as they day went on - stopping here, stopping there.   The gelato was outstanding, with Roasted Almond taking the top prize.  As we got our stuff together to leave, we looked out and, sure enough, it was pouring.  But rather than let it put a damper on our plans, out came a rain jacket and umbrella, and the expedition continued.  We walked very close to the buildings and would stop a bit under storefront awnings.  At one such stop, Amy says, "Hey, I like this!"  It was some antique silver.  We were right in front of Finkelstein’s, a pawn shop with some big history behind it that I didn't even know existed.  So I followed Amy on in.  Next thing you know we're talking with the owner (guessing) about a couple of huge early 20th Century safes that were on display.  And then I am looking at a $3600 guitar that was belonged to the '80s band Journey!  And by talking with the owner I learned that Finkelstein’s opened in 1903 and is one of the oldest pawn shops in the United States.  What do you know?!?!?   The rain continued, and so did we.  We exited the pawn shop and walked to Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, one of my favorite places in all of Asheville. I have taken several out-of-town guests there over the years, including my dad, my cousin Carol and an old friend from Headland (AL).  Obviously a great place for quality used books, BPBECB is unrivaled if you are looking for a relaxing spot for a glass of wine, a French press coffee, some champagne (of course) or some hot tea.  And if you have the munchies, you can go the sweet route and get some cake or a pastry.  If you're not into sweets, you can get a charcuterie board and cheese platter with nuts, jams, olives and fresh bread.  The whole point is that you can be in a place where you can sit still or have a conversation or read a good book or gather with some friends and drink a glass of wine.   And if you want to bring your pooch, hey, it's also very dog-friendly.  The overall concept is fabulous, and Amy said, "Wish we had one of these in Atlanta."  As you can see by the images above,  I ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir and a classic cheese board.  And we relaxed, nibbled on cheese and crackers and sipped wine and had a good conversation as the rain passed.  After an hour or so, we corked the remaining wine, gathered our things and were off again - walking, of course.  The target was Wicked Weed Brewing, and our goal was to try one of the locally brewed beers and have a light dinner.  Our waitress brought us some beer samples to help us make a decision. I ended up selecting one of the World Cup Series Beers on tap.  I chose the winner:  Germany!  Amy selected the Freak of Nature Double IPA.  For meal items, we halved fish & chips and a fried chicken sandwich topped with kimchi and miso mayonnaise.  It was just hard to beat.  Back on the street, as we walked to our cars, we saw the BEFORE I DIE public arts project.  It's a participatory, outdoor exhibit where, with a piece of chalk, you and thousands more complete the sentence, Before I die _____________.   We just had to!  Perfect way to end the day. 

Craggy Gardens, On The Fly

If there's a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook that meets these standards - very close to the city, stunning views, easy-to-moderate trails, accessible to any age group - it's Craggy Gardens.  And it's one of those go-to places that you can easily pencil in "on the fly." And if you are showing off Asheville and the mountains to an out-of-town relative, there's almost no better place to take them.  I did just that yesterday evening.  I took my cousin Amy to Craggy Gardens, and she was impressed.  It had that effect on me too, again, and I have been up there numerous times.

 

 

 

AND BACK IN THE DAY

 

Amy with her parents.  Uncle Major looks on.

Amy glancing down at her sister Carolyn. 
(left to right:  Miles, Mark, Allen, Leslie, Melanie, Amy, Carolyn, Beverly)

 

Vinnie's it is!

 

To me, Vinnie's is hands down the best Italian restaurant in town.  When dining in, Kade and I like to order the Sunday Gravy - spaghetti w/ meatballs and sausages.  Quite delicious!  And their in-house desserts can be pretty special.  I swear we had the best bread pudding of our lives at Vinnie's.  Bouchon, downtown, where I may be taking my cousin Amy tonight for mussels, also makes some fine bread pudding.  For take-away at Vinnie's, we do Sunday Gravy or sometimes Lasagna.  Check out the aluminum top from one such order.  Ever since someone snapped up my pizza at a local joint when I gave the more common name Allen, I had to start using my unique first name in special situations.  Anything involving delicious food is special!!

 

 

Pack's Tavern

Kade at Pack's Tavern with a couple of her colleagues

source

 

Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville.  Pack's Tavern, bottom right.
RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide

Here's some history of Pack's Tavern

 

Last night Kade and I went downtown to Shindig on the Green in Pack Square Park. 

I will add a little video I made in coming days.

 

From Shindig's YouTube page:

 

These are the official videos of Asheville's annual free Shindig on the Green in downtown Asheville. Shindig on the Green 2013 will be the 47th edition and begins on June 29th, along about sundown (7PM).

The Shindig on the Green takes place on eight Saturday nights each summer beginning in late June or early July and typically conclude on Labor Day weekend. All performers are volunteers. It is organized by an all-volunteer Folk Heritage Committee, which also produces the 86-year old annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival held at the Diana Wortham Theatre, which will be held August 1-3 in 2014.

Visit our website at here or like us on Facebook here. 

Failure to Launch

Dad is second from the left.  I am third from the right.  circa 1996

 

This vision never got realized.  The city didn't follow through for some reason, although the land remains in their hands.  I do remember seeing an artist's rendering of the proposed park when the town mayor brought it over to the bank to show Dad.  I will add more thoughts to this later.

The Prince of Tides

Tom Wingo: [narrating] In New York I learned that I needed to love my mother and father in all their flawed, outrageous humanity, and in families there are no crimes beyond forgiveness. But it is the mystery of life that sustains me now. I look to the north, and I wish again that there were two lives apportioned to every man - and every woman.

This movie is powerful.  I watched it a couple of years ago.  Made me think of my own parents.

Bridal Veil Falls & Grassy Creek Falls

Today I led some hikers to the Dupont State Forest to see one really popular waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls, and one that's a little bit underappreciated, Grassy Creek Falls.  We hiked 6.2 mile moderate miles.  And it was hot! 

 

 

Some of these photos are mine.  The rest are the property of two other hikers.

 

 

 

 

Laurel River Trail

Led a group to the Hot Springs area for a easy scenic hike along the Laurel River. 

We hiked a total of seven miles.

 

 

 

photos were taken by Mark Schmidt

 

Ziplining & Dining

 

 

 

Saturday morning I picked up my brother and nephews and we made our way to Navitat Asheville, NC for the Blue Ridge Experience.  What an experience it was!  Enjoy our photos and videos above.   The weather was perfect and the zipping (my first time!) was amazing.  And that evening, while they went to our older brother's and partner's lovely mountain home for steaks, Kade and I drove over to West Asheville for a meal and cocktails at The Barleycorn.  We had a Buttermilk Wedge Salad, Fried Calamari, Award-Winning Wings, a Morgan Farms Burger (w/ Bacon Jam) and Moroccan Cauliflower.  And our engaging lady bartender made us some homerun cocktails.  One was a strawberry margarita and the other was a drink with blueberries, mint, gin and other "in her mind"  secrets.  And being Asheville, no doubt the blueberries and strawberries were local.  The next morning, on Sunday, Kade and I escorted my South Georgia family to Biscuit Head (in West Asheville) for a hearty farewell breakfast.