Chapter 17

  ROAD EXCURSIONS:  JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM NASHVILLE

                                                        Written By:  Rashon Leyf

            To be at once both good and bad, and to have effected outcomes both right and wrong, that’s a legacy shared by many. And I think it’s held by the man whose home I just visited. And now, in this parking lot, as I am sitting in my car, I’m mentally outlining what I’ll write about him and his home. But I’ll again need to follow the stipulation of no proper human or structural names. So, if you can, imagine me here today, some miles outside of Nashville. And I’ve just finished seeing what I came here to see. And, as I’m preparing to start my car and drive off, suddenly a desire has struck me! I want to take a twenty dollar bill out of my wallet and stare for a moment at the picture of the man which appears on its front side.

            Yes, I know Nashville is a great music city. And I experienced that greatness while I was there – before I came out here. But here’s a place where political memories abound. And there’s a garden here, and some bodies lie at rest near it. And by God I’m certain that the souls which at death were separated from those bodies now await reunification with them in the timeless light. Oh – but for here and now, from under a façade of concrete, both heroism and sorrow step forth still.

            And years pass. And not even the greatest of mortal leaders, or the best of political alternatives to cynicism can stop time’s ever forward advancement. But it’s a sunny day today. And God how this place reminds me of how much I owe to those who so selflessly gave of all they were capable to give! But yet, I’m also aware here of how sometimes powerful leaders have caused great hardship.

            And today I’m wondering if formerly great earthly leaders find the same sort of peace in eternity as is most likely granted there to former earthlings who, while they’d been great mortals also, had been earthly followers to be sure. And thus, from this car seat, and with your portrait in hand, I say “Pray for us you who were a great nation’s seventh president. And oh, remember us in your prayers of heaven. Advocate for us, because you know our fervent hope must be that we’ll someday join you where you are today. And don’t allow our words or actions to be hurtful as yours sometimes were. Rather, show us the good you did. And be meaningful for us now. And help us in our search for earthly peace and heavenly reward.”

            But it’s been many years since you lived and led upon this planet. Yet, as you surely know, today, as when you were mortal, mankind still suffers for, and lives in the fear of political, economic, and religious terrorists and troublemakers. Thus, tell us how a ruggedly independent and self-sufficient mortal such as yourself contended with their deviousness long ago? And how should we do so today?

Few, I believe, have ever stood against, and faced-down injustices as you did. So powerful

in your demeanor, you never flinched at anyone. And you never backed away from any problem. And yes, you were always right there - right there to help preserve a nation. But you were controversial. And some of your actions caused strife for Native Americans.

            And yet, isn’t it also true that members of an entrenched “status-quo” don’t like people like you. They believe that by attempting to always remain the same, and likewise by always striving to keep life as it is today, they’ll serve themselves and the kingdom of God in the best fashion.

            Still, sometimes I think the “status-quo” needs to understand history a little better. And sometimes I think that class of stagnant status is manipulated by devious elements of society which actually use its call for inaction and non-change as a tool to extort from, and subjugate the middle class. And, how often do we find certain people criticizing others for doing exactly what they themselves are attempting? 

            So, in your case, in an effort to disguise such ingenuousness, some of your adversaries pictured you dressed in the attire of royalty. They said you wanted to be the first king of America. And some of their caricatures of you show you with a sword in one hand, and a bag of money in the other.

            But you believed it wasn’t right to enrich a few at the expense of many. And although some may not like to read this, I truly believe that if today you were once again the president of this land, those elements from both the right and left wings of the political spectrum who now domestically manipulate our economic system and energy supply wouldn’t be able to do so; nor would those who now internationally terrorize innocents be overlooked as they apparently are.

            And I often wonder how many people understand that printed money lessens and diverts the effects of inflation on one hand, and recession on the other? And, I’m not sure that I completely fathom basic economic certainties myself. But I know that people must live from day to day. So, I say, let’s give some extra credit to those who produce as well as only consume.

Yet, it probably wouldn’t surprise many if down the road financial manipulators and reconfigurers would find ways to spin matters of money differently than they’re being spun today. And that could be dangerous as well. But I don’t think our seventh president would tell people they needed to work until they were almost dead before they could retire.

And although some may attempt to reinterpret certain parts of the past in an attempt to make them seem more acceptable here in the present, physical remnants of bygone eras should always be considered the greatest witnesses to testify in any discussions concerning life as it was before now living members of humankind were born. Yet, isn’t it also essential that all physical objects, as well as written memories of times past be always considered according to both past and present trends, fashions, and mindsets? Yes, however, I fear it’s likewise true that such consideration seldom produces absolute answers to questions involving verifiable problems of the present, or potential dilemmas of the future.

So, I won’t try to justify your forced relocation of Native Americans. History tells us it caused great hardship and remorse for many people. We’ve read about the misery it caused, and therefore, I must say, perhaps you could have accomplished its objectives in a less hurtful fashion. And perhaps somehow integration of various cultures could have been striven for more during your day; but then again, it’s easy for me to say that, removed so many years now from that so-called day.

            And although it perhaps didn’t always seem so, apparently you were a people person. And yes, you were a husband, farmer, lawyer, politician, and of course military hero. 

            But your home and legacy are still intact. And your house is as beautiful today as when you died within it some sixteen years before the onset of a war you already then feared might come. And your fears weren’t exaggerated, that dreaded war came along to divide and terrorize your nation.

            But that nation was reunited under the leadership of one of your successors - another man

who faced down problems and problem creators just as you had done before him. And arguably, he’s

left an even a greater mark on history than even you.

And today as I walked down the dividing hall at your home, I envisioned you there. And then your presence there seemed so real again! And yes, I could see you there again, once more reading your papers and books, and once again talking to family members and guests about what could be done to alleviate the problems currently significant to both your nation and the world. And as I envisioned you there, my realization of you became somewhat clearer still, although in times past, before I’d even visited your home, I’d so often thought about you and all you’d done. And despite some character flaws, and some mistakes you made, I think you were a successful leader within the times that you lived. And you were someone who was quite willing to fight not only military enemies, but a restrictive code of conduct as well - a code of conduct which sought always to stymie the advancement of the middle class.