The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill".
Another week of mighty dry weather around here last week.
Maybe by the time this column comes out we will have received some rain.
Rain
There are beans planted in fields of rye, harvested fer haylage, that lay in dry soil patiently await'n enough rain ta get them ta sprout, in the mean time the rain skirts around ta the North, East, and West.
Those fellers up North are a gett'n too much rain, if'n ya can imagine such a thing in comparison ta our territory. Chris S. tells me up in the Mason City, IA area they had delayed planting due ta a very wet spring.
Some just finished plant'n the last week or two. There are many stories up there of 4 wheel drive tractors pull'n 24 row planters ta the point of mired down and buried in a swamp of a wet hole. Others wisely just planted around swamps created by excessive and continuous rain.
Now Chris tells me last Friday they got a 5 inch deluge followed on Saturday with a 4 inch "goose drowner". That's 9 inches rain in two days on ground already saturated. They only thought they was wet before them storms rolled through. Water stand'n ever where now, as ya can only imagine.
I reckon some of that water will find its way to the Mississippi River and flow south. I spect we can see the river rise around these parts soon.
Take a Knee
This Thursday, June 14, is Flag Day. In honor of Flag Day I'm enclosen the follow'n thoughts on the subject of "Taken a Knee".
It was given me by a retired marine in Florida and is worth reading:
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two.
There won't be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience.
Then, take a knee on the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces, the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. From Khe Sanh to Saigon, anywhere will do.
Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well, and spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat. Wear you Kevlar helmet and battle dress.
Your number won't be printed on it unless your number is up! You'll need to stay hydrated but there won't be anyone to squirt Gatorade in your mouth. You're on your own.
There are a lot of places to take a knee where Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That's what the red strips mean.
It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you're on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken, but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains, every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans, just American men and women, delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us, blazing a path so you would have the right to "take a knee."
You haven't any inkling of what it took to get you where you are, but your "protest" is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is retired.
If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on Sunday and we'll both kneel before Almighty God.
We'll thank Him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We'll beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We'll appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom.
We'll pray for liberty and justice for all, because he is the one who provides those things. But there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave. It goes like this, GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Atheist Holy Day
Well, that's very good Jim, thank you fer share'n those thoughts. Additionaly Jim shared the follow'n information from Florida where a court set an Atheist Holy Day:
In Florida, an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter, and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counselor, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, "Your honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool's Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned..."
You gotta love a judge that knows his scripture!
Now, for one last serious note.
THE SNEEZE
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would NOT pray during the commencement, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. (The traditional time honored baccalaureate was not used this year for the same reason.)
The principal and several students were careful ta stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent fer just a moment, and then, it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED !!!! And not just a quiet gentle sneeze but a very loud booming sneeze - all in unison.
The student speaker on stage simply looked at the audience and said, "GOD BLESS YOU!" and he walked off the stage.
The entire audience exploded into a very loud and enthusiastic applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
This is a true story; it happened in the state of Maryland and it could happen in Colchester.
In reality ,with a little ingenuity, there are ways to get around these silly court orders that are forced upon us taking away our many traditional freedoms and values.
Where there's a will, there's a way:Yankee ingenuity. Americans have always been able to overcome the King Georges of the world.
Well, that's it fer this week's column. There's plenty here fer the boys to dwell on fer sure.
Don't forget the Tractor Drive this come'n Saturday morn'n in Stronghurst.
Have a good rest of the week, ever one. Hope'n ta see ya in church this week along with yer family and others ya love.
Remember where ever ya are, what ever ya be a do'n - "BE A GOOD ONE".
And from all of the boys' and Mrs. Bruke and me : GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!!!!
Keep on smil'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke