Behcet Kaya Presents Murder at Tutley Brewery - A Fascinating, Extraordinary Set of Events! A Jack Ludefance Novel!

 

“The other day I wanted to buy some music, so I went over to Lenox to a music store. I asked if they had any Otis Redding tapes, and the guy at the counter just stared at me. “He finally said, ‘Uhmm, I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have any tapes.’ “So, I came back with, ‘What do you mean you don’t have tapes? This is a music store, isn’t it?’ “He tried not to sound snarky, but it still came off that way. ‘Yes, of course we sell music, just not on tape. Tapes were replaced, oh, maybe nine years ago. Music’s on compact discs now. How long has it been since you bought any?’ “I felt completely deflated, ‘Obviously too long.’ I was so embarrassed I just turned around and walked out. That’s what I’m trying to say. I’ve been so caught up in solving crimes that I’ve fallen behind. I don’t even know how to catch up anymore.” “Maybe. But I don’t think it’s that bad. And I’m not sure what that has to do with what we’re working on.” “I see the connection clearly, Ludefance. I’m so out of touch I didn’t even realize pimps operate openly now. I didn’t know that escort services are considered legitimate businesses. That’s what I meant. Anyway, let’s get out of here while we still can.”

January 19, 2022 The night watchman had lost count of how many times he had circled the second-floor observation walkway that night. Although the storm had begun to subside, the wind still howled outside, heavy rain lashed against the building, and lightning struck so close it shook the platform beneath his feet. As he approached the first row of fermentation tanks numbered one, two, and three on his final round, he noticed the fluorescent light above tank three had burned out. “Shit, now I’ve gotta change a friggin’ light.” Swearing under his breath, he climbed down the narrow stairs to the first floor. As he gathered the necessary equipment, he continued muttering, “Friggin’ past time for this old building to be torn down and replaced. So what if it was built in 1913? So what if it’s considered historic? So what if it still has the original fluorescent lighting? GD! Don’t they know what a pain it is to change them when they go out?” Still grumbling, he climbed back up, replaced the light, and switched it on. 

Out of the corner of his eye, something faintly blue caught his attention. He looked down into the tank and gasped. A body lay face down, floating atop the fermenting liquid, long dark hair spread out around it. What had once been a bright blue dress was now darkened by the liquid, and the shoeless feet were beginning to sink. Shaking, he climbed down once more and grabbed the emergency phone, preprogrammed with his boss’s number. He knew there was no time to waste. Jacob Wasserman, lead foreman at Tutley Brewery in Tutley, Georgia, received the call early that Wednesday morning, January 19, 2022. The night watchman’s urgent report of a body floating in tank three triggered a profanity-laced tirade. Wasserman arrived within ten minutes. Stepping out of his haphazardly parked car, he hurried past several idling 18-wheelers that had arrived early to transport the fermented liquid to another facility for bottling. He knew he would have to deal with them later. There would be no transfers from the fermentation tanks today. 

As he entered the building, he glanced up at the towering tanks, each nearly two stories high. Even in the midst of the emergency, the sight of the stainless steel structures never failed to impress him. There were fifteen in total, covering an area nearly the size of a half an acre. The pungent smell was strongest inside but could be detected miles away. This ground-floor area also housed the temperature controls, keeping the tanks at a steady 72 degrees Fahrenheit for the brewery’s prized golden craft ale. The night watchman approached, quickly recounting what he had found. Choosing the narrow metal stairs to the second-floor observation walkway instead of the vertical ladder welded to the tank, Wasserman made his way up to the platform. As he peered into the opening of tank three, he saw the body, the bare feet now under the surface. Another string of curses escaped him as the heavy scent of fermenting grain hit him full force. He cursed himself for not putting on a mask before climbing up. He descended as quickly as he could and picked up the phone by the front entrance, which connected directly to the brewery’s business office complex less than a five-minute walk away. Despite the early hour just before 6 a.m. he knew the Wein siblings, Hardy, Wolfram, and Wilhelmina, would already be in their offices. Hardy answered, listening as Wasserman quickly explained the situation, then instructed him to keep everyone out of the building. There would be no employees allowed in the building today. 

Wasserman stepped outside to get some much-needed fresh air. As Hardy and Wolfram approached, he frowned. “Where’s Wilhelmina?” Hardy replied, irritation evident in his voice, “No idea. Her office is locked, so she obviously hasn’t come in yet. Let’s go up and take a look.” All three donned masks and climbed the narrow stairs to the second floor. 

Looking down into the tank, Wolfram was the first to voice the unthinkable. “That’s Wilhelmina’s blue dress!” “It can’t be! Are you sure?” Wasserman’s voice cracked with shock. “Yes, I’m sure! She was wearing that dress when I said goodnight to her last night! We’ve got to get her out of there!” Hardy immediately dialed 911, notifying the local sheriff. With no time to waste, he called for a heavy forklift to be brought in, delaying the recovery effort by nearly fifteen minutes. In the meantime, the two-story double doors were opened wide to allow the forklift to be positioned near tank three. 

As the sun began to rise, Tutley County Sheriff Tom McFee arrived with Deputy Cal Jackson, Detective Hucksley Bail, Coroner Jim Bailey, and a photographer. Leaving their car doors open, they hurried toward the scene just as the forklift was put into position. No other vehicles would be allowed in the parking lot today.

~~~~~~

No other fingerprints? No unidentified fingerprints? How could that be? How could an unknown suspect have been in her office and not left any fingerprints? And how could that person have lifted and carried her without leaving a trail of blood? Despite these unanswered questions, a scenario began to take shape in my mind. Murder by severe head trauma. The location was her own office. The suspect was unknown. Premeditated? Or possibly an accident triggered by an argument, one violent enough to shatter several priceless antiques? Then, her body was carried to the fermentation building and dumped into the tank. Carried. Not driven. But why?

This just might be the best book written by Behcet Kaya. Of course, I've been know to quip that my favorite book is the one I'm reading now, so don't hold me to the fact that I found this a fascinating, extraordinary book from an author I've been reading since his first book was published. Nor that on the night before a major medical procedure, I couldn't stop reading until I finished this, even though I had to be at the hospital the next morning around 6 AM...

Kaya has the wonderful ability to move from one book to the next while creating a totally new and different chain of events that stops readers cold. What will happen in this latest?! And I must say that this book wins the prize for storyline. Yet, in some ways, it's right from today's headlines if you think about it...

Kaya hit me cold with concern when his main character was adamant that he was not going to take a case! After a case in which he'd been physically incapacitated and decided to take a lengthy time off, he still felt he didn't want to return to a case where he might get into a similar situation... And, when he had the call from the owner of a beer brewery he immediately explained that he wasn't taking cases.. But the owner had done his research of who he felt could find the answer to who had murdered his granddaughter, and he kept calling... It was only when his own family started pressuring him to return to what "he loved" that he changed his mind. It was clear, however, that he resented his family for taking the position they had.

Detlef Wein Jr. Please! Please do not hang up on me this time.” It was the same voice, the one that was now starting to wear on my nerves. When I didn’t respond, he continued. “Mr. Ludefance, just hear me out. I am calling because nothing in my life is more important than finding out who murdered my granddaughter.” The desperation in his voice was unmistakable. “Sir, you need to understand. As I told you before, I no longer take cases. Period. End of conversation.” I ended the call and immediately blocked the number. Honestly, some people have a lot of nerve.

Kudos to Ben because even I saw the difference in his main character and his desire not to return to his role as a private investigator and was hoping that he didn't plan to close out this series (I peeked and saw that there was another coming, LOL) In any event, after he had met with the owner and decided to take the case, he had learned that there might be a connection with another family in Germany who had been a competitor and bad family feelings.

Then, readers learn that his granddaughter had been placed as head of the company, while two brothers were also given high positions. As we continue reading, both brothers had quite different issues which might have played a part in how they felt about their sister. Their parents had been died so the owner, who was now in his 90s had moved to try to get the hierarchy established in a timely fashion. Me, I was already wondering about family relationships at that point.

And, right there is where Behcet placed a major twist that could shake the entire plot... What?! 

So while investigations continued on the possible brewery competitors, the investigation took an entirely different angle. And Jack was forced into exploring the personal lives of each of the three siblings much deeper than had been planned.

And that's when an entirely different plot twist was revealed. Actually, I didn't first see where the book was going, but once I did, the revelations related to certain files that are now being discussed and sought after to be released by the government soon was identified as, perhaps, how the choice of actions took shape by Kaya...

This is the type of book, however, where any revelation other than the previous paragraph, could be a problem, so I'm closing out discussion of the mystery and investigation as it moves further.

Jack Ludefance takes on a different personality during this book... Set during Covid, he had easily stopped accepting cases, so much so that, he had begun to appreciate being able to stay home and become closer with his child. In fact they had become so close that when he finally had taken this case and would need to travel, he would ensure that he spent face time with his child. Was it a combination of Covid, plus being given drugs without his knowledge, that began him thinking about retiring from acting as a Private Investigator? In any event, readers spend more time with his introspection than perhaps normal. There are several times when he flashes back to other cases that we learn about at an overview level. And we meet with one of his contacts with whom he'd worked in the past... From that individual, Jack learns a secret that shocks him and he becomes agitated as to whether this should be revealed to his client... I enjoyed getting to know internal thoughts of our main characters as he faced each extraordinary set of events that were revealed during the murder investigation.

Indeed, the amount of personal revelation was so high that readers will watch as he ponders just how he will present his findings--and to whom. One character, in particular, had admitted to an early sexual affair which ultimately led to being able to close the case. However, again, there was a request to ensure confidentiality of what he'd learned. In one important way, readers are placed into the character, Jack, as we wonder just what we would do, if we were an investigator, and had become so intimately involved with those involved with the murder. So much so that I was still worrying about whether this was a series heading for a possible ending... The author had several ways in which he could have closed this case and still meet the requirements of identifying the murderer...

I was gratified that I agreed with everything that Kaya chose to have as endings for his various characters--that were exactly what I wanted to see happen.  No wonder I've turned to Behcet (Ben) Kaya as a favorite author who I do want to keep reading! Congratulations for a story that is both important in content, as well as a murder mystery/PI case that keeps readers on the edge as we strive to determine the whodunit, as well as an ending that closes out every single events that came along... This is a personal favorite for me! Kudos to the author!

GABixlerReviews

Guns Everywhere - Humble Ourselves, Heal the Land - The Final Climax to The Crooked Places Made Straight

 

I finished the last two chapters of this book yesterday. This was the second time for the chapter related to Guns... I found myself highlighting even more--indeed, I'd highlighted almost the entire chapter of words... Words about our children, Uvalde springs first to mind, although that is just one of the latest we all watched occur, isn't it? 

The thing is, as I finished reading, I immediately wondered... What could I say about the fact that Guns are Everywhere in America... in our schools, in our churches, in our grocery stores, theatres, musical events--everywhere... Many times when I come on YouTube, I see the picture of a young child with his father talking about how he came to die while he was in school...

My heart--our hearts immediately begin to swell in pain, in anguish, in the final moments though, we are always asking WHY? But it is a rhetorical question... A hopeless question because we all know the answer, don't we? Every attempt to do something is stopped through the use of big money in the business of selling guns. And guns proliferating faster than we the people! Yes, there are far more guns in the United States than there are people! Far more than in any other country in the world!

And we have mass shootings in our country every day...somewhere... Someone--more than one--dies every day here in the land of the free?????

Right about then I began to ponder whether it was worth sharing further... For, as most writers do, they build up to the important points as we move further into a book. And Reverend Warnock does indeed know the pain of somebody who has died from a gun... Just as many have...

And, of course, the question was discussed... What are we doing to our children??? What are we teaching those who must attend schools, fearing for their lives... Practicing for a potential attack...

And we know that, for our Black neighbors, death has been a part of their lives right from the beginning when they were brought to America to be slaves to white men. Some may have died on the ship and were tossed overboard with no thought of grieving... Black mothers know that they must quickly begin to explain about how they can "live" with the white people who will consider them "beneath" their attention... How? Why? One thing I have learned is that what the white man has created is a race of people who are now prepared to survive, even more, to fight back...

I have learned that this is a significant difference between the black and white people... In different ways, I admire them more than many of those of my own color.

But as I went on to read the next chapter regarding climate control, with a few specific cases, documenting how it is we the people who are destroying earth, once again I came to the same conclusion... These two issues have been around for decades. Guns used for hunting were then used for sports; e.g., sharpshooting... sharp shooting led to children being familiar--too familiar with guns--guns that could kill more than animals.

So, too, has man chosen to use more and more of the earth's resources so that ultimately they needed to look for other ways to obtain them... Oil being one of those resources which is now, right now, costing all the world because of lack of control and/or consideration for planning for the future, rather than just continuing to use, use, use... Wars being fought or resources stolen, such as from South America... by those who are rich but not rich enough to be happy and live well in world around us...

And you know what, folks, from a time when, as a poor single woman, I was working to make a living to help my own family, I began to learn of those in the United States and from other countries who had much worse living conditions than we had ever had... AND, during the last decade, I have taken time to listen to multiple news sources and have read books from people who had the qualifications to help me learn more about what and why things had reached the point where we could in 2016 vote in a television reality character who had a background of bankrupted corporations, and a history of getting federal funds, while not following laws related to renting to all people, et.al. I Now Know Stuff...

And one thing I know is that the republican political party is the reason in almost every situation when guns and climate are being discussed that they have refused to even negotiate--or they may play at it, even approve it, only later to also agree to overturn what improvements have been made... 

Then beginning in 2016, it was the now president who began to either pull out of what was already established as a working group planning for the future, or removing the regulations and laws that had been put in place by earlier presidents to respond to these two important needs.

Let's face it, these two issues result in the most deadly situations that can occur. Yet congressional republicans continue to not only not support, but in some cases refuse to even negotiate on these subjects!

You know folks when I listened to the above video, I hesitated to include it, even if what was said was true.  You see, it was using satire to spotlight exactly what and how the republican party is treating the majority of United States citizens. It has exploded during this last term of the Trump presidency... So, why and how do I, we, think that anything can be done. Decades have gone by and little has been done to regulate and control guns... Decades have also gone by when not only is nothing being done on the climate crisis. In fact, many of the safety regulations have been removed by this administration... And they actually try to deny any problems with our environment. While we all watch and see more and more signs of natural and man-made created problems... Isn't it time that we begin, again, listening to our experts in science related to future plans for wind or other options...

Isn't it time that we ignore the claims of conservatives pushing pro-life, while at the same time, that same party is allowing children to be killed in devastating ways? What can we do but assume that their moral code is either ignored or not even known to exist? Just trying to understand how to proceed within this, right now, badly damaged country...

You know, folks, I woke up to a wonderful dream this morning. I was back to a time when I was young, my mother was still alive and we were living in a little town called New Geneva. There was a small store there and a woman ran that store. It was a day that Bertha, the owner and a member of our church, had fixed a meal to sell as a special. Time had no meaning, so I was also working and had come home wondering about what to fix for supper so I stopped in that little store... It smelled wonderful. The meal was Baked Ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans and creamed new onions... I have no idea how that last item got on the menu in "my" dream since I don't think I've ever tasted them... But I woke up happy. I woke up knowing that I had been given freedom to be very specific about what the republican party is attempting to do to the United States... And to all God's children... I knew that the stuff I had learned was to be openly shared and documented and sent out to whoever wanted to learn more... Speaking Truth is our Freedom!

Because, you see, I had also had a song identified... Almost Persuaded. Some of you may know that this is one of the songs that can be used at a closing of the sermon where the pastor performs what is called an altar call. It is a time when individuals who have not yet decided might have been persuaded by what was learned on that day, and would choose to formally received Jesus as our Savior...

I never really liked the song, but now I ran through the words, especially as it ended... where the one singing might be in some way affected, but is not really ready to give up what he or she thinks a Christian life might mean to them personally...The individual decides that "some more convenient day..." may be the one... But not that day...

And I wondered just how someone else had gone about deciding whether to follow a god... And then in amazement actually, I wondered whether each of us has created their own god... How else can religions have been formed in so many ways and by so many different people, Yet assume or believe that their god is the one god... 

But mostly I wonder just how religion and politics can ever be interactive without Love...without truth?

Or, at least, a basic moral code that would be acceptable to all people...

There wasn't a thing about this book that I didn't agree with. That was a confirmation needed at this particular time when the days have one thing said only to hear that it has been changed by the next day or even the next news program. Life in such chaos is not only confusing, but is not sustainable, given that there is no way any of us can really be secure in hearing, or, stating what they consider facts...

On the other hand, Reverend Warnock has opened my eyes to the value of the Book of Isaiah, and perhaps more, in helping to deal with today's world... For we know that the Bible has been interpreted to mean one thing while another might believe some other meaning... Or perhaps we just need more people like Raphael Warnock explaining how and when the old testament words reflect on today's world...

Because right now, many still believe that Trump was chosen by God... And, at least in one way, perhaps I agree... Because he certainly has opened the eyes of millions of people across the world and we can see why scripture says that the rich man will never find a home with God...

Key to this book, therefore, is finding the proof of Truth AND Love in Reflecting on the Moral Code of America... Confirming that something extreme has happened to create an atmosphere where words of our citizens have different meanings based upon a political party which is using criminal actions to try to stay in power and recreate a nation in the image of male white supremacists who are paying for their political officials to do what is best for the rich rather than for the majority of the United States citizens... Wow! That's a long sentence, but it seems to be accurate. LOL

Warnock ends with a CODA telling about a little country called Liberia--Land of the Free. It is a location where Reverend Warnock visited on a mission trip. It was formed at a time when some who lived in America were going back to Africa after slavery had been abolished, or at least, proclaimed by the government. This small place was working hard to create some part of the freedom known in America, even naming their capital city in honor of James Monroe, who supported repatriation. But this small location has had similar problems of civil unrest as has occurred in America... Yet they continue to believe... Warnock spoke at the local Baptist church about how the two areas have seen similar pains of separation of people. But our Senator confirmed there and now that he continues to support our country--even one which is now so divided. He urges us to recognize the dangers of our divisions. Of allowing demagogues* with no vision to deepen the differences and tear down what has been built with blood and sacrifice.

Urging for a future of hope for everyone, as Isaiah shared so clearly:

As the book closes, the Reverend shares that if the earth cannot sustain us, still those who are the least of these shall be with him... but to ensure that freedom shall survive, we must all work to raise the valleys, those of us who are in the lower "classes" of society, while the mountains--those at the top of society, the rich, shall fall lower... I've tried to share my understanding of this scripture... so I hope I've at least given you sufficient info to conduct your own research... For our Lord is stating that we must work to support the lowest in our land through voter selection and working against those who've corrupted out nation's government... 

I believe this book should be on your bookshelf and read before November...

God Bless

Gabby

*a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.

"a gifted demagogue with particular skill in manipulating the press"

Scar On The Soul of America - Began With The War on Drugs? Together With Mass Incarceration?

 

Jon Osoff was the second senator who was elected at the same time that Raphael Warnoff, both from Georgia, came to Washington to work for the United States Citizens... Jon speaks from a Jewish background, yet still speaks of God--the God of Truth... Both men choose to look at both the moral background as well as what is happening right now, today... I had learned from Reverend Warnock in earlier chapters, that when our Black brothers and sisters preach, they expect to be answered by those who listen. Did Osoff know this before he came to Beulah Baptist? I don't know, but, surely, Osoff is speaking to all those who are very concerned about what the past and present governmental elected representatives are doing to our country... BTW, you know, most times I don't go out and find suitable videos... These two appeared as a result of what I heard in the first video. I like to think that is God's hand in pointing the way to say what needs to be said, for surely I'm more a reactive individual as opposed to a creative writer... 

And, when I read the chapter, entitled Scar On the Soul of America, I truly was shocked. I was angry, embarrassed, even hurt, that such information had not been known to the average person who lived daily in the United States, without full awareness and understanding of what has been happening by government officials at every level. How dare this be allowed, I thought! And yet, I knew that even when this all began I was busy learning to work within a new job, meeting new people, and trying to establish what I might call a professional career. I was like most individuals who sang songs like The Ivory Palaces and believed that, in Heaven, there would be riches untold and there we would live... You may remember, though, that it was I who wanted to have God right here beside me--I wasn't really concerned about the hereafter even then... And I was to have that type of relationship from early in my life... So, when Osoff talked about the riches that was being thrown about by government officials--the jets that were given (requested) by a foreign country, or the jets that were purchased, with large bedrooms and lavish spaces, for those high officials under this administration, I again thought about the fact that I've never believed that God required nor wanted lavish surroundings...

How could he? He was always concerned about meeting the needs of his creation--His children.

I had a choice of sharing this song by, say, Whitney Houston or an older version song by his wonderful woman, Ethel Waters, I wanted to place your thoughts back to a time when we listened to people like Billy Graham and felt like we were listening to the words of God, Himself. That's when I learned most of my music--the words that come to me so easily now as I read a book or see a movie that reveals both what God's message is... But, often, at the same time, opens our eyes to the reality of what is actually going on...

Because, I know exactly when I became "aware" of what was happening... But, only this week, I learned from Senator Warnock exactly what had begun and evolved to the point that even the news was beginning to share the disgrace of it all... Or, rather, the invention of cell phones has allowed these moments to be captured and placed where they could be viewed and talked about! By the way, I happened to find an online discussion that explores the "recent" final legal judgment of "not guilty." I decided not to listen given my concern about how the legal system is failing... Instead, I'm using the following which highlights what I saw as well as a discussion. Ok, I admit that I've not seen much violence in my life. Seeing this man trying to deal with police circling him and finally taking him down was bad enough for me, only to watch as he started to talk about not being able to breathe... It was then I knew this was wrong! No man, who supposedly was "selling cigarettes" deserves to die by cop...

It was later when I started to form a very strong opinion of about police abuse--when Trump got involved...

Many of the news coverage videos will be familiar to many of you... It dealt with "Taking a knee" in protest during the national anthem... Yes, this could be debated... but by then I was fanatically watching every move of Trump and I could see how he was inciting the issue for nothing more than publicity--to divide us... And, it did... at least in my mind...

Because I had to attend a funeral within my family during that time period. A beloved relative of mine had died, by suicide... As I saw in the funeral home as people came and went, I began to listen to a new relative, by marriage, talking about this issue. A close relative was willing to participate and agreed... First, of all, I felt that this type of discussion was totally inappropriate within a group of grieving people. Second? I knew these people were republican supporting the president. It was clear by the tone of the individuals that they were also racist... I had made my opinion about the issue firmly... What was happening regarding the treatment of black people deserved to be protested in any way that felt appropriate... Including taking a knee...

So, what I was to begin to read in this book, just confirmed what my position would always be regarding how Blacks are treated in the United States... BTW, I'm not a sports fan, so my opinions had little to do with those individuals who were actually being named by politicians as they tried to create chaos for the sake of votes... or from personal prejudice.

Mass incarceration is one of the highest issues that Warnock spotlights for our attention. If you care about basic concern for your neighbors... If you care about poverty, the absence of fathers--family life, then you need to realize, perhaps for the first time, like me, that black men are being pulled out of those families by the privatized, mostly, prison industrial complex... Black bodies have been sucked out of communities for the last 40 years! But before, I go further into Warnock's info, I want to set the stage that is, right now, in our headlines...

Consider that all of the videos relate to immigrants as defined by this administration...That means anybody they can catch and easily detain, it seems... But, they are not white... mostly brown or black if refugees, for instance who live in Minnesota... Let's look at the facts... right now the government led by the republican party is working to relocate or detain in prisons all non-white immigrants...

Consider this, now... Most Black men are already imprisoned... Check out the stats! Our country has spent billions warehousing young people instead of educating them! It can easily be shown that those who are not in school are prone to end up behind bars... So what is the basis of this problem? Are you aware that the United States has the largest complex of prisons in the world?! And, in or let out of these facilities results in a stigma which prevents any hope to return to or achieve a life free of pain or fear... to be able to just "live..."

Warnock confirms what I had learned from an individual who was trying to share his life through a book that, even though he was released, he was not even allowed to vote! I don't know about you, but if all such individuals who may be placed in prison were convicted of major crimes, which is not the case, the courts have punished them forever, just by being unable to participate in working to change what has become a corrupt system at this time. We all can see it... But those who have been incarcerated actually are penalized for life in big or small ways... Getting decent jobs to create a life is one of those problems... That is, if you are able to escaped the long penalties that are administered...

 When an individual has "paid their debt to society," then don't you think they should be able to actually return to that society and work to positively move forward? "They are citizens effectively without citizenship!" Just reading that makes you stop and question how this is possible... And, yet, the evolution has gotten worse in time, as we now  know... God requires us in Micah 6:8 (NIV) to act justly and to love mercy... But our criminal system is often, if not always, "brutal, unforgiving, and sometimes vicious..."

Our nation includes less than 5% of the world's population... Yet houses 20% of the world's prisoners! I am aware that statistics are sometimes misleading. However, this statement alone places an awareness of how the U.S. deals with those who are often acting criminally just to steal food or other needs to be able to live... Further, of that 20%, 41% are Black... Think about it, if Blacks are held in prison through biased actions, yet there is still much crime happening, you should quickly realize that incarcerating individuals is not a solution if not tied into some other type of rehabilitating programs... Those have gone by the wayside once profiteering became the basic goal for imprisonment. Community safety is not part of the programs that were once part of the law enforcement and rehabilitation systems.

Warnock points out that the prison system has been developed bit by bit and will not easily be improved... Mentioning one book that talks about dismantling what now exists. In many ways, this is closely tied to the issue of slavery where many were used to providing absolutely no rights to who they claimed to own. Human Beings... It is not surprising, therefore, as we again see and experience the ever-growing gap between the two dominant political parties. And how they perceive what a federal government should be doing to support their citizens... Warnock refers back to the 1600s when four members of the Quaker religion initiated the first formal complaint against the act of slavery... They based that statement on the basis of The Golden Rule... It was interesting to read Warnock's inclusion of the various forms in other countries or religions which have supported this concept for their own... Thus, we know that the moral code for all is, basically, that of Loving Others...

And when we fail to act to support those in need, then, we are adding a level of responsibility toward those who have chosen a crime only because they were hungry, thirsty, or needed support for their daily needs... And it was the Quakers a century later who forbid that Black people could be enslaved... Indeed, it was the beginning where white men began to speak out against the treatment of our brothers, who happened to be Black. And so it was that, even as now, it is the southern states, the republicans who see no problem in, instead of loving others, actually moving against those people, using the Bible to justify a racist ideology and practices. Worse, then and now, were those who watched the degradation - and said nothing...

Warnock was personally aware of this problem and was among those who began to meet to deal with the mass incarceration activities that seemed glued to the Jim Crow era...

Michelle Alexander was one of those involved in the 2019 mass incarceration conference for faith leaders. By pointing out, that mass incarceration was the new system for subjugating Black people. As Warnock, agreed, he moved on to say that he believed that this may be the most significant moral issue of our time... What has happened has clearly proven this assumption. The only major difference, is that the government is now looking toward brown people and other non-white races... From the 1960s, incarceration increased 600%... By 2014, more Blacks were under control via incarceration than were enslaved in 1850! It can easily support a belief that male white supremacists are at work in trying to break up the United States of America...

This troubling change did not come about accidentally... It started with the War on Drugs which was initiated by Richard Nixon, a failed republican president... And, in essence, implemented by various offices until Ronald Reagan declared his "War..."

Perhaps like me you thought this was an action which should be commended... But, like many things where we lose track of what is actually happening, we do know that as of 2016 Donald J. Trump was using drugs as the primary reason for voting republican... So, me, with my questioning mind, began to wonder... just how long does it take to win this war on drugs? And why are there still drugs available for ongoing use? And, really, if our legal agencies in the government were so good, why did we continue to be told that drugs are entering the United States and causing significant problems for all of us?  Just Say No was the call when it began... So why so many years later on, do we continue to claim drug issues must be fought by the federal government?

Warnock reports that nothing significant happened until about 3 years later, even though major activities by the Reagan administration were immediately implemented by the republicans... News and PR events were developed, often using black images in their graphic development... 

In the meantime, laws were created and passed into implementation which were not only began immediately but also had harsher penalties based upon type of drugs involved. Money flowed in for increase law enforcement for this "war" situation... The big war (WWII) had grown cold as a money-making activity so it was easy to switch over to a new war on drugs where money could be spent on new for-profit penal institutions and associated businesses...

While the poor people's needs were ignored for more profitable methods of using government's tax dollars, prisons were being built, cops were arresting users, or sellers, off the streets and into the new prisons...

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like this administration is redoing the exact same money game that was used by Reagan and other republican presidents who've used "War" as a fear tactic as well as, more importantly a cash-making business...

So instead of getting over WWII, the republicans named a new war. This immediately stopped our nation's need and ability to move more efficiently and effectively into the technological age, instead of allowing private ventures which have been, for the most part, profitable for big money groups, but also negatively impacting the children of the nation. So much so that two countries, so far, have had to legally stop the use of computers by young teens because of the devastating impact on them...

Personally I don't know enough to talk about the various drugs that are brought in, made in the states, or purchased by the rich people for their own use and excluded from any stats... Yes, there are many news videos about the use of drugs at the very rich level of our nation, aren't there? Some have been notifications of tragic deaths due to drugs... Worse, others have included sexual assault attacks based upon the use of drugs for business or even dating (date-rape drugs).

Here's another sad statistic: More black men are in jail than in all of our higher education institutions. Raphael Warnock shares his personal interest and active involvement with the drug/educational issue. He shares how he was able to be funded through government programs such as Head Start, and was ultimately able to earn multiple higher education degrees. His choices led him to a keen awareness of what he was able to achieve with help, versus, what had been created to ensure that programs to help support the poor were being displaced with programs used to penalize the poor by, preferably, incarceration!

And like many leaders, Warnock soon was on to preaching and then working at the congressional level to act with social gospel in which he greatly believed and had worked toward. You know, the kind of work that goes beyond teaching the Word of God and working to react to the responsibility that we are to work also for the Good of Man...

For Warnock took responsibility and is personally involved when he learned that a close relative had been confined to prison for life, without a chance for parole... for a nonviolent crime by a military veteran with no prior criminal experience. And if you, like me, know that was an extremely prejudicial sentence, even for a Black man, you will know exactly how we got to where we are today in relation to how our government has been treating ALL of God's children...

If you don't see this type of abuse against members of our poor communities as a Scar upon the Soul of our Country, we can at least and understand just how America has been brought to the point of destruction that we are now facing...

Get this Book as your first non-fiction book covering what is happening in the United States...

Watch for Guns Everywhere Next...

Gabby

 

Ten Thousand Verses - Ten Thousand Angels!!! - This, Then, is a God Incident!

 

Reverend Warnock's young daughter once asked him why people had to sleep outside... It was during one of the many trips between their home and the Ebenezer Baptist Church that she had often seen men and women sleeping on those streets. He knew it obviously bothered her or she wouldn't have asked... He began to explain that they were some of the many who needed our help... I wondered as I read whether the little girl would understand...

Mainly because they were still out there on the streets...

A memory popped up into my mind and since it seems God has control of this post today--I was still debating on whether to write one this morning. I remembered when I was a young girl, this time I was coming out of the New Geneva Baptist Church, and I heard sirens--fire or police--it was the same response... I would briefly close my eyes and tap my fingers together 3 times seeking God's involvement with whoever needed help...As I think about that process, I can only assume that the three taps meant I was calling on the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit... As a child, I did a lot of thinking about meaning of words and how they were used... I remember I questioned the fact that "the Holy Catholic Church" was part of a statement that we had recited in church and I asked why that was included since we were Baptist... Be aware that children are not silently playing or thinking their own thoughts, they are listening and wondering... My most important question was "Why?"

And so when I next read that in 2023, 37 million Americans, about 11 percent of our population was living in poverty, I immediately heard "Why?" come to mind... Even though at least for the last decade I have been learning more and more how this could be happening in what is supposedly one of the greatest countries in the world...

The statistic that followed that number was meaningless since the numbers were so low... They were reporting those who were billionaires... millionaires... until I reached the final stat: 1% of Americans controlled 31%--nearly a third of our country's wealth!

Thinking in the larger numbers is almost an impossibility to me... Maybe for most of you as well. How do people accumulate this amount of money? And, how are they spending all that money? Most of us have never reached a point when the need for money was not a part of our lives... Now we see, for example, one man's rocket to outer space blows up and the only comment was that he would keep trying... We have another who is supposedly to be the first trillionaire... Yeah, the same guy that immediately closed and looted the USAID group which provided assistance to those in need...

Is this how somebody becomes very, very rich? By ignoring those who are living at the poverty level. Right now?

 

"WEALTH INEQUALITY IS UNSUSTAINABLE"

"IT IS A DRAG ON WORKER MORALE"

AMERICAN ECONOMY IS FUELED LARGELY BY EVERYDAY PEOPLE

IF AMERICA IS TO SECURE ITS FUTURE

"THOSE WHO SIT LOW MUST BE LIFTED TO HEIGHTS THAT HONOR THEIR HUMANITY"

"THOSE WHO OCCUPY LOFTY PLACES MUST GIVE SOME GROUND TO THE LOW"

WE ALL HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO EACH OTHER

WE SHARE A TIED DESTINY

REPEATING:

AND IF YOU SPEND YOURSELVES IN BEHALF OF THE HUNGRY AND SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE OPPRESSED

THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL RISE IN THE DARKNESS AND YOUR NIGHT WILL BECOME LIKE THE NOONDAY - Isaiah 58:10

There are around two thousands verses of scripture in the old and new testament about the poor and how we should treat them... Right now, we know that some who speak as Christians are on the wrong side of how we care for those who need just basic needs of living: food, water, shelter... This is true in all countries of the world. Specifically, those who don't claim to be a christian nation also treat their people with disdain or, worse, continue to turn away from their great need. So, what does that say, now, when some who speak against social programs, are still willing to fund billions of dollars to bomb other people, other countries... Or, spend millions of dollars grabbing people off the streets of the United States, and using violence against those who speak out and place them in detention centers even if not guilty of any crimes.

Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave. Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.

--Frederick Douglas, Writer

None of this is to assert that Americans or most people in other countries are slaves. To do so would be to make too little of the plight of slaves past and present. What I wish to point out is this: The writings of Frederick Douglass, one of our country’s most brilliant abolitionists, are not to be looked at solely through the lens of American history. Nearly any of the social reformer’s insights may be applied on a far grander scale as you ask yourself what it actually means to be free, and how the actions of your government can subject you to slavery – with your total complacency. --Frederick Douglas

https://reparationscomm.org/

Warnock shares the words of abolitionist Frederick Douglas who has written about the sins of slavery and Douglas is quite open to point out that he has learned about many slave owners and have found that those who are religious (christian) are the worst slaveowners. Adding, that they are the meanest, the basest, the most cruel and cowardly of all...

I remembered about the discussion of Thomas Jeffeerson writing about the rights of men in early years as the United States was being formed. That is, that he continued to own slaves and is even known to have had children by his slave(s)... In the context of talking about ten thousand verses to confirm how we are to love our neighbors, we can be very sure that keeping them as slaves and sexual activities would not have been supported morally...

“Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitude.”  Frederick Douglass

And, Martin Luther King pointed out the injustice of the white christian churches... Including the christians who are quick to say that they blame black people for being poor! They speak out against immigrants, refugees, or strangers as the Bible calls them... 

Of course, now we know that there are today those who claim christianity while supporting all the bigotry, prejudice, and destruction of our freedoms, right now, within and out of our government... Included in this section is a reference for Mike Johnson stating that he'd been praying about the Big Beauty Bill and then proceeds to list all those this administration has claimed to have prayed for and received "blessings" that were made... Especially all those elements that provide support to those in need, including public education, children's support, Medicaid, and so much more... that were deleted in order to provide higher ways for the rich to own even more of America...

Too many of America's poor are children...

~~~

The following reveals HOPE for our children

Yes, there is more to watch of this new Center...

Music provided to keep us singing today!

~~~

Isaiah 30: 20-21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it, ” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

This is the Way; Walk in It!

The following video, re Footprints in the Sand, is restricted because of content pics I think ... It certainly fits in with what is being shared here, so I hope you take a quick hop over and back on this one...

As mentioned above, I wasn't quite sure that I would post today... But I had a song come to mind - This little light of mine... I was feeling overwhelmed with, having read two chapters last night, I was disturbed with the next chapter... But the song, This little light of mine, convinced me that I was to share what I was feeling... Especially when I listened to the above video! So, most of the videos are based upon what came before me as I went to YouTube (except the last one and I decided to use the Footprints poetry...) I believe God led me in creating today's discussion about having Ten Thousand Verses which talks to us about caring for the poor and all others...

May you listen to what God is asking of You...

Gabby

Chapter 2 - Squeezing Out the Least of These - Who really owns our democracy? Is it secretly for sale to the Highest Bidder?

 

Who are the Least of These?

Matthew 25:40 New Living Translation

 

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Many years ago when I was failing to understand the King James Version of the Bible which had been presented to me when I was baptized, I learned about a different, newer translation called The Living Bible. It was then that I began to easily understand what Jesus was saying... In this case, "the least of these," was those like me... My mother was a recent widow when I was born. She had three other children for which she received a minimum amount of government support. What I remember most of all was that my Mom seemed to be working all the time... to ensure there was money to feed, clothe, and shelter us. We were considered poor for many years. It was only when each of the children were old enough to begin work to be able to contribute to the household that our lives became a little easier. For me, the youngest, my memory was of hand-me-down clothes as a major part of my younger years... Yet, we had family to help us through those times. Were we the least of these?

Today, my mind immediately goes to those in Ukraine, Gaza, Iraq, Iran, and so many other countries which have been bombed/attacked by others who destroy the homes of those who had nothing to do with the actions of those in charge and with money to seek vengeance or retribution... Those women, children, old people who I see walking on the roads moving away from a crumbled land where once they had lived. They have nothing except what they can carry on their backs or carts. They depend upon anybody who has the heart to give them, at least, food to eat... These, then, are the least of these...

And those who have destroyed their lives? They are those who squeeze out many for some obscure reason, decide to attack one or more people... No matter in what part of the world we live in, this goes on daily... But right now, we look at what was once the United States of America. Land of the Free...  Right???

It was before I was born when a new song was presented:

At that time, we were a country who sang of praising God for our new land of freedom... But even then, the world was at war, either in the past, or in the future... WWI, WWII, et.al. There has always been somewhere where some men had chosen to raise arms against another group of people... 

In the meantime, nearly all of those people also believed that it was "their" god that was the real god and that they were working to bless them through battle... For many, however, it was even worse. They believed that their god had sent his son to die for us--to save us from all anger, pain and fear... Somewhere along the line called those people were called christians. But then those individuals started breaking off from each other, even going to war to force their religion, their christianity on others--whether they wanted it or not... And so, thousands of years went by...some living in peace with their god; some fighting to have their god higher...Who really owns the democracy that is now called the United States? It is OUR TIME to ask the right questions...

You know folks, I'm opposed to having AI being used uncontrolled, for surely it will be used to create videos such as the one above, which clearly is not real... Yet it tells the story, doesn't it? We know from his own actions that this president is striving to be king over as much of the world as he can get. We also know that while during that, religion is being used as a tool in that process, to attempt to gain support from people in a religion which he can barely speak of... This, then, is where America is right now... Wondering, is it secretly being stolen from we who believe it is our country, land of the free?

Senator Warnock takes readers exactly where we need to be. Pointing out how the evolution of the government has been slowly moving toward where power and money is the most important part of the United States.

If you didn't know about the following, know that I didn't know either. I've revealed that before 2015, I was mostly involved in daily living--at work and at church. As long as things were moving forward, I wasn't paying much attention. Even in 2010, the highest court acted on a case: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which upended campaign finance reforms that restricted the amount of money that corporations and other outside groups could spend on political campaigns! It was a 5-4 decision which reveals that at that time, there was not a majority of one party on the Supreme Court. As we now know that has changed, to the detriment of the country. Soon money was flooding into campaigns for any party who was supporting candidates. And various groups were formed so that the amounts of moneys and the sources were kept secret... But there are always those watching and soon what was happening was revealed in the first book.

You know folks, my family background was with the republican party. When they talked about conservative, the first thing they mentioned was not believing in abortion. When you begin to really pay attention, you begin to see that even with this subject, there is a contradictory point of view... That is, how can you support pro-life, when at the same time you, as a party, oppose social programs for food, schools, the poor... Get the idea that conservative may well mean that those who are in that party want the government out of their businesses and money-making? Because that is exactly what was approved in 2010 by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court... And it's gotten worse since then! And it is the republican party that has led the conservative manner in which money has come to control political planning... Rather than the other way around...

This has dramatically altered the political and legal landscape to suit the self-serving conservative agenda.  "As the prophet Isaiah warned during Israel's dark days long ago, when a nation's leaders are corrupt, society's most vulnerable suffer. Your rules are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them. (Isaiah 1:23, NIV)."

The question then becomes: Who will defend those who are called the Least of These? Who will help those without power and influence? You know, those of us who our God gave His Son so that we in turn would Love and Care for our neighbors??? 

Reverend Warnock shares the work of his church Ebenezer Baptist in these efforts... As a young girl who also joined a Baptist church, I am aware of all that can be done through the efforts of church members. But Warnock points out that both the church AND the political part of our lives are called upon to respond to the needs of all those within the sphere of our reach. In the political world, that means the entire nation is responsible for all those who dwell within our land...

And we have responded to that call until the changes that began and are now being implemented against those who are the least! And, let's face it, we are now in a position where we can only be divided between the Have's and the Have Not's... That has become especially true during the years in which the republican party had a majority control. We have seen the devastation. We have seen people pulled out of their homes to be placed into detention facilities who, without any type of legal support, are left to those who can profiteer from the least of these, while at the same time, those individuals suffer from poor food, sickness, and loss of freedom for no reason other than that those in the government want to punish, to lord over those who are different in some way, and, especially, with the fact that they are poor... Or in need of sanctuary...

Warnock shares how a federal program, Head Start, was the first support his family was given so that he could have the chance to move forward... We now see that, as one who received, he is now working to ensure that that gift is passed on to others who also need a start to a life, that can only be found by the support of those who are able...and willing...to pass on support that was once given to them...

So, how did we get to this point in America where only those with so much money that they could feed the entire nation, still want to keep those in need from any type of support... A few claim it is about race and some not being "like them..." How do YOU justify not helping as you are able?

And, yet, that is just what is happening. The rich who have gotten into the political world now work to ensure that the rich get more and better tax breaks. That the rich can gain power through donating large amounts in order to gain favor from those in politics.  Instead of We the People, Of the People, and For the People... We must ask! Who really owns our democracy? And...if it really a democracy as it is now being run by the rich? Certainly with there being no longer a congressional separation, that there is no longer a separation of the Justice area of government... And that lies are being used to create a reality that serves only those who are already rich and who do not want for anything.  A specific example was used as it relates to the DeVoe family, one of whom became Secretary of Education in the 2016 term of office. We watched as an individual who gave major contributions to the candidate was then given a position for which she was not qualified, and who strived to create public funded private schools for the rich while never even being willing to visit public schools and support them financially...

Matthew 19:23-26 KJV (King James Version)Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Raphael Warnock reports that his life in public service is a testament to what is possible when the government lifts up hardworking Americans whose incomes fall short of meeting the substantive needs of their families. 

That, unfortunately is no longer the case...

He notes that, increasingly, "I’ve seen our government tilt away from caring for society’s most vulnerable and toward the interests of the financiers who have leveraged their wealth to tear down the protections put in place over time to level the playing field, to give every child a fighting chance. The legal restrictions on campaign finance were aimed at keeping those with money from gaining outsize influence over our elected officials." We now know the tragedy of that case won by the republican party.

But with the Project 2025 and so much more, things have gotten even worse as the government's historical advancements are being torn down and destroyed, while the people who need some level of income to even keep going is being squeezed out... They are being fired from their jobs. They are losing family benefits that were awarded through previous non-partisan congressional actions... And the country has surely been taken over by white male supremacists who are working to squeeze out and even remove individuals they believe are inferior if they, too, are not of the rich-and-famous top level of America's citizens.

One of the highlights noted of the impact on tossing out the limits of campaign money was a movie regarding Hillary Clinton... These days, we see this type of activity by both parties; however, the amount of money being spent by the republicans clearly reveal where the real money is being provided to thwart unwanted candidates... My guess, since I have little desire to research the past, is to merely suppose that it was Hillary's being a woman which really threw the republicans into an emergency situation since a woman president had yet to be accomplished. Some of you may remember that there was a Women's March on the day of the inauguration of the 2016 election... Clearly women had a different opinion about just how Hillary would be as the president...

It should be noted that the founder of Citizens United, Floyd Brown, was well-known in right-wing circles as a political consultant—some might call him a campaign hit man—who specializes in digging up dirt on political opponents, or at least exploiting a sensitive issue in hopes of destroying the opposition’s election chances. So I have to ask just why the republican party would choose this type of man to pull together a group called Citizens United... As we have seen since 2016, this type of dirt flinging was to be a main method of campaign destruction for that party and is now so bad that even some republicans are beginning to speak out against this president's actions.

The Tillman Act in 1907 was the first recognition that there was a problem in having money become a major issue during campaigns. That Act lasted for about 100 years. And we are surely feeling the difference in so many, many ways! Corporations are not part of We The People!

Nor are lobbyists, and any other methodology that places finances above the will of the people... If a hundred years could pass without this type of meddling, then, don't you think it is time to stop the evolution that has occurred so much that the needs of our own country are not now being fulfilled?!

This book names names of those who are pushing for more and more methods by which money can be used for corrupting our election system. They are in The Crooked Places needing to be straightened.

Reverend Warnock met with his church members as he felt led to run for the Senate... One woman after another stood to support him and ultimately the members sang this song... For surely, since God is being used as a tool by one of our political parties, we must ensure that God our Father is guiding our actions at this important time in history... May God continue to touch those who are finally seeing God's Truth and Love. Knowing that He seeks our participation in Providing for the Least of These, no matter who that may be at any given time...

Watch for

Chapter 3    Two Thousands Verses

Gabby