Can 2020 Get Anymore Stupid? My Opinion

Can 2020 get anymore stupid? If the past is an indicator of the future, I suppose the answer is yes.

2020 Persian Gulf Crisis

In January we were experiencing ‘The Persian Gulf Crisis due to military tensions between the United States and Iraq. President Donald Trump approves the targeted killing of notorious Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad, Iraq, without the consultation of Congress. These two evil men were responsible for killing US military troops, and their own people. Many thought this would lead to WWIII. It did not happen. Does anyone think Congress would have given the OK to take them out?

In response Iran launches a ballisitic missile attack on nearby US military bases injuring at least 60 service men. The Democratic response is to hold a Presidential debate with six candidates posturing ridiculous goals and promises.

What A Pervert Looks Like

The media concentrates on the pervert Harvey Weinstein.

116th Democratic Congressional Leaders

The Democratic Congress goes in a tizzy passes a ‘non-binding’ resolution limiting the Presidents war power. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Liu to hammer out a trade deal since the Chinese have been stealing technology and undercutting America for decades.

The Gang of Four

Four days later, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, Nadler, and their minions began the Impeachment of President Trump. Meanwhile Trump is busy creating a Human Trafficking office at the White House, to curtail the practice of sex slavery that has been ignored.

2020 Iowa Caucus

By February the famous Iowa Caucus is held and becomes a joke when the voting system becomes broken. President Trump, while being impeached, delivers the State of the Union Address to Congress, and gives Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Janitors are called in to clean up the fecal matter on the Democratic floor of the House.

Trump Acquitted

President Trump is acquitted of all charges by February 5th. We may never know how much tax money the Democratic held Congress has spent for this sham impeachment. We will also never know how much money the victims of those unfortunates the were investigated by this tribunal have incurred in legal expenses to save their necks.

Hunter and Joe Biden

In my opinion perhaps the worst that has come out of this trial is that Presidential hopeful Joe Biden allowed his son to be entangled in running Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company due to his influence as the vice president under President Obama. His son's employment was linked to United States loan guarantees to the country.

Princess Cruise Ship Evacuated

And now Corona Virus makes it’s entry when 300 Americans are evacuated from the Princess Cruise ship. 14 people have come down with the disease. Thus begins the global pandemic. Later in the year, Princess Cruise lines, a foreign business, will ask the United States for monetary assistance due to their lack of business.

Wells Fargo Scandal

Financial firm Wells Fargo pays a 3 billion dollar fine due to being caught opening fake accounts for it’s customers in order to generate bonuses for managers. Within days the Dow Jones Average plunges almost four and a half percent due to Corona virus fears.

The Democratic caucus are held, but the Republicans cancel their caucuses.

Mayor Catherine Pugh Sentenced

The liberal mayor of Baltimore is sentenced to three years in prison for corruption.

Trump signs a peace deal with the Taliban while his impeachment continues.

Good-bye Tom and Pete

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer, and total idiot Pete Buttigieg suspend the campaigns due to lack of public interest in either man.

Bernie Wins Democrats Abroad 

Socialist candidate Bernie Sanders handily wins the Democrats Abroad Primary causing J. Edgar Hoover to spin at 90,000 rpm’s in his grave.

March 6th and 7th is when all hell hits when the first cases of COVID-19 aka The Virus Formerly Known As Corona occur in Florida, West Virginia, the West Coast, and Washington DC. Festivals announce they are closing for this year.

Officer Kenneth Walker - Breonna Taylor

Breonna Taylor is shot to death when police in Louisville respond with a ‘no-knock’ narcotics investigation warrant to her apartment and her boy friend fires his gun at police.

Millions of workers are sent home as business close due to the pandemic. President Trump signs into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law and announces he will invoke the Defense Production Act to improve U.S. medical resources.

He also directed the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) to suspend evictions and foreclosures until the end of April. He also announces the temporary closure of the Canada–United States border; cross-border trade will continue.

2 Trillion Dollar Stimulus

Trump signs a Two Trillion dollar stimulus package giving eligible US citizens $1200 each to supplement income of lack of.

By the end of March there are more than 163,000 and more than 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States.

President Trump depoys anti-drug Navy Ships and AWAC planes near Venezuela to slow drug trafficking from this country.

Republican West Virginia Governor is sentenced to pay a fine of $5 million for mine violations found in mines that he owns.

Bernie Sanders Quits Presidential Race

Although experiencing robust support from fans, and ‘The Bernie Bro’s”, presidential candidate and Socialist liberal Bernie Sanders suspends his campaign once again due to extreme arm twisting tactic by Democratic party leaders. This leaves Joe Biden, who does seem to be able to complete a coherent sentence, and is very distasteful of ‘yellow dog pony soldiers’ as the default Democratic choice for the Presidency.

Michigan Governor Charged

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer faces two federal charges of violating citizens Constitutional rights during the COVID lockdown. Water in the Michigan city of Flint is still undrinkable and not fit for washing, but this largely goes unnoticed.

By now 22 million Americans file unemployment claims because of the COVID lock down and business closures. President Trump signs a $483 billion dollar law into effect to rescue small businesses.

US Economy Shrinks

The Department of Commerce reports that the U.S. economy shrank by 4.8% in the first quarter of 2020, its most severe contraction since 2008. This is due to business closure and the COVID pandemic.

Giant Murder Hornet

In early May, the United States faces and invasion of giant murder hornets. The media goes wild.

General Michael Flynn Cleared

The Department of Justice drops it's investigation of former Trump Security Advisor General Michael Flynn citing the fact, "Oh we were just messing around. Sorry for everything. Have a nice day". Democrats purchase more Depends to contain themselves, but pursue investigating the investigators.

George Floyd being restrained

By the end of May Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is caught on camera restraining George Floyd, who is Black, by kneeling on his neck. Floyd repeats that he cannot breath, but this goes unnoticed.

Minneapolis Rioting and Burning

Floyd soon afterward dies and a result, and havoc and rioting ensue across the United States. Shop windows are broken and looting occurs. Public statuaries are vandalized and destroyed. Buildings, even police stations are set on fire. Churches are vandalized. Officer Chauvin and other officers involved are arrested and charged with murder.

Rayshawn Brooks struggles with police

Another incident occurs in Atlanta when Rayshawn Brooks, who is Black, passes out at a Wendy's drive-thru. He is asked to get out of his car by police officers and given a field sobriety test, which he fails. When the officers attempt to restrain him by putting on handcuff, Brooks becomes belligerent and combative fighting with the officers. He gains control of a TASER and fires it at one of the officers. Brooks then runs, and is shot dead by the other officer. This causes more rioting, the police chief of Atlanta hands in his badge and resigns. The officers are charged with murder.. Riots erupt in Atlanta, as does vandalization of property and buildings.

Seattle's Idiot Zone

The governor of Seattle allows an autonomous zone to be established by a bunch of filthy depraved rioters.

When the Police are Defunded

The outcry of "Defund the Police" is echoed throughout the Country. This of course is a genius idea, especially when there is a crime or accident and you need protection or help. Two shootings and deaths occurred in Seattle's autonomous zone and police were not allowed to intervene.

Washington DC rioters

A similar autonomous site is at this time being attempted in Washington DC, where vandals are vandalizing churches and monument, even the Vietnam Memorial Wall. They are trying to pull down and destroy National landmarks.

In my opinion those protesting have forgotten the original cause they are rebelling for, and just in it to wreak havoc. It has been proven that many of these participants are from radical left wing groups who want a revolution.

President Trump Tulsa OK Speech

President Trump held a rally in Oklahoma, and the turnout was less than expected. But view of the event on television was estimated at over twenty two and a half million viewers.

Joe Biden remains at home in his basement as of this writing.

The Masked Singers

Singing in Church is now a real problem based on CDC guidelines that suggest aerosol saliva could contaminate choir members. The Governor state of California is said to have issued an outright ban on the practice.

If you wear a mask when you sing, I’m not sure if that contains the ‘aerosol’, but what do I know?

Couple Arrested

In other California news, a White couple was arrested and charged with a hate crime after they painted over a Black Lives Matter mural that they claimed was offensive to them. They can each receive a year in prison.

People Not Arrested

Excuse me, but are we not continuing to see statues vandalized with BLM painted on them, being torn down, and stores looted because people found they were offensive? Is there a dual standard?

Diocese To Receive $8 Million 
From Federal Government

Closer to my home, it was reported this week that many religious organizations received millions of dollars in federal aid for the payroll protection act. Most of these institutions have schools they run. I hear these institutions, especially the local diocese sounding the “separation of church and state” claim when it comes down to criminal acts committed by priests. “We’ll take care of this in house.”

I guess separation of church and state only applies if it doesn’t come to receiving money.

Hillary Could Have Saved Us!

Hillary Clinton tweeted last week that she could of prevented the pandemic deaths if she was president.

May I remind you that Hillary could not prevent four deaths Bengazi, and besides she lied about the cause of that tragedy.

My Wife Linny - Angiography Goes Wrong In 2019

My wife, Linny O’Hara, was scheduled for an angiograpy on Friday, October 11th, 2019.

A cardiologist who has been in practice for at least 30 years performed this procedure. He said that he cleared an 80% blockage in a stent that had been placed in her heart in 2016.  The stent had been clogged with plague and naturally occurring tissue.

He also found another blockage, and used a catheter with a balloon to enlarge and remove that blockage.

SHE WAS AWAKE DURING THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE, DESPITE BEGGING TO BE ANESTHETIZED!

After the procedure, the doctor came into the waiting room and told us he had intended to insert the cardiac catheter into Linny's radial artery, but she went into spasms. He had to instead insert the catheter into her femoral artery, which caused the procedure to be extended.

At that time she nor I were not aware of several things. One was, why did she not have anesthesia. We did not know the other issue either, which was in removing the catheter, the guide wire the physician was using had apparently punctured her femoral artery, and this puncture caused bleeding into her the rear of her abdominal perineum to occur.

Apparently doctor was not aware of the fact that he had punctured her artery.  He sent her to cardiac care for overnight observation before releasing her to go home. Which is the routine procedure.

That morning the nurses in the cardiac care unit monitored her blood clotting factor for the next four hours, before removing 'the plug'. This procedure required two nurses to perform. A blood sample from the site was taken and placed on a slide on the electronic device. This occurred multiple times prior to removing the plug.

Later that evening, Linny was still feeling weak and bad. A couple of nurses asked her if she could walk to the bathroom. She made it to the toilet, where she fainted and passed out. An emergency Code Blue was called.

At least 20 doctors, nurses, and lab technicians came running down the hall and into her room. They lifted her off the floor, revived her, and to make a long story short, much lab work was ordered.

After I pointed out that Linny's pain was radiating from her groin, above the incision one of the nurses yelled, "damn, she is bleeding!". As the nurse applied manual pressure to her groin, and it was noted that her blood pressure immediately improved. The head nurse put in a call to the cardiologist. An emergency CT scan was then ordered. That was when the site of the bleeding was discovered.

The order was placed for her to be immediately moved to cardiac ICU. And a vascular specialist was called in for possible emergency surgery. I overheard the nurse's phone conversation. It was late in the evening and he DID NOT want to come in to the hospital. Eventually he relented and showed up.

Over the phone this vascular doctor ordered an unusual tourniquet called a ‘Femostop’. The nurses had to call several different units before one was finally discovered. It was placed on her in the cardiac care unit, prior to her being moved to Cardiac ICU.

This Femostop device was placed around her lower abdomen. It consists of a plastic frame that has a large plastic ball on one side of it, with straps that go around the groin which can be tightened by inflating a manometer similar to that on a blood pressure cuff.   The ball was squeezed into the site in her groin where the cardiologist had made the large incision to insert the heart catheter into the femoral artery. This gave substantially more pressure than a nurse could manually apply.

After being transported to Cardiac ICU, Linny had to wear this device for over 3 hours. By the time I was allowed into the ICU, I found her screaming in absolute agony, and she was out of her mind in pain.

Weeks later, after later reading the literature, I do not believe the device was used following manufacture directions. The manometer was to be inflated to the systolic pressure and gradually deflated. In the ICU, the deflation occurred only after the 3 hour period had ended. Many institutions no longer use this device. However it appeared the hole in her femoral artery developed the desired blood clot.

Late that same evening a male nursing assistant and two male RN's made three unsuccessful attempts to put a 'straight' urinary catheter into her bladder. One RN even announced, "I cannot find the hole". This was not just embarrassing and painful, but intrusive for any woman. And due the trauma caused by the Femostop, and the blood loss made the cauterization incident much worse for Linny. She later developed a urinary tract infection, which was healed by medication.

The next morning a female nurse placed a Foley catheter in Linny without any problems. This achieved the desired results, and the container immediately filed up with almost 5,000 cc's of urine.

All night Friday and most of the day and night on Saturday she was in and out of consciousness. Around 4 am on Sunday morning she was given 2 units of blood, and then she began to perk up. Why did they wait so long?  We will never know.

The next day she was visited by another doctor in the cardiologist practice. Instead of apologizing, he explained that ‘it seemed the guide wire used by the doctor may have punctured her femoral artery. The was a known complication that occasionally occurs’. 

He did not explain anything about us incurring additional medical bills for her extended stay in the intensive care unit caused by the cardiologist error, or why little or no anesthesia was used during the procedure.  Why did that physician say, "You don't need it!"?  Seeing my wife in her semi-conscious state, I was too much in shock when I spoke with this man to ask him the questions that I later should have asked him.

She was released from ICU late on this Sunday afternoon, and moved to a step-down cardiac care unit where she was on Sunday evening October 13th. At that time, we were told a doctor has ordered another CT scan for October 14th, to check that all bleeding has stopped.

But the CT scan was later cancelled and we were told that "It was an expensive, and unnecessary test since her blood pressure is back to normal now, and her blood work shows that she is no longer low on blood". It was just assumed that the bleeding has stopped.

A different doctor visited her on Monday,  October 14th and released her from the hospital later that afternoon. He admonished her to "just take it easy".

On Wednesday, October 16th, that cardiologists office called our home to ask if she was feeling any better. She let them know that she was not, and was unable to do much other than sleep, and it was  now hard for her to breath. They ordered her to go the the emergency room right away.

She arrived at Saint Elizabeth Edgewood's emergency room around noon.  X-rays and blood work were ordered. We overheard a doctor in the hall ask someone, "I'm not going to get involved in a hornets nest for treating her?".  That doctor arrived about an hour later with the results, and stated that Linny had pulmonary embolism in both lungs. She was immediately put on blood thinner. He indicated this was an extremely terrible situation, and it was probably caused by the 'retro-peritoneal' blood that had pooled in her body, which was being absorbed.

Linny spent almost eight hours in the emergency room on intravenous blood thinner, and fluids. She was then transferred to a coronary step-down unit. She was released five days later on Sunday October 20th.

About a week later she was asked to come into the cardiologist office at 380 Centre View Blvd., Crestview Hills, KY 41017 to see Dr. Kami Tehrani. He seemed unaware of the situation. He reviewed her chart, examined her and noted that her blood pressure was very low. He reduced the amount of Carvedilol that she was taking, and suggested that she monitor her blood pressure. She already does this routinely.

Linny was put on Eliquis. The first month was free. However as she is on Medicare, any manufacture discount does not apply. This medicine, with her prescription health insurance would cost around $240 a month, which I was set to pay.  She was seen by our family doctor, Gigi Tcheng in mid-November. Dr. Tcheng had enough samples of Eliquis to give Linny a two month supply. We are very grateful.

Not only was my wife's life almost prematurely ended by some physician malfeasance, but I had to take off work for over two weeks, without pay, to take care of her.  On October 11th, 2019, I noted on the surgical procedure board in the outpatient waiting room for the Cauterization Lab well over 60 patients that were having procedures done. I doubt if any of those other patients were injured.

I am grateful that my wife is now on the mend. For anyone reading this, please keep her in your prayers.

Larry Norman's Funeral (A Remembrance)

Larry Norman April 8, 1947 - February 24, 2008

I originally posted this on March 2nd, 2008. Larry had passed away a week earlier on February 24th, 2008. This was from an article posted by Dave Hollandsworth on the Yahoo Jesus Music board on March 1st, 2008. He wrote "Someone (Greg from Portland) just sent me this... "

Larry Norman

"What a gathering! Perhaps 500 (?) of us poured into a church in Salem, Oregon this morning to pay our respects to Larry.

The Program

As we entered we were handed 'circus programs' (instead of a boring pamphlet) that read:

Admit One Ticket to
 Larry's Going Away Party

"Larry Norman Presents: A Going Away Party." We were also handed an "admit one" ticket, a sheet of paper on which we were to write notes to Larry's family, most notably any future grandchildren.

Only Visiting This Planet
 In Another Land

Also, depending on which door you entered by we were given an  Only Visiting this Planet CD,  an album that was Inducted Into The Gospel Music Hall Of Fame, the 2001 version or In Another Land,  the 30th Anniversary Edition CD. It was a gathering of friends, family and fans alike.

Inside of The Program

As people caught up with one another organ music filled the air. Then, all of a sudden...

SCREEEEEEETCH! It was the sound of a record player needle ripping across vinyl.

And then his voice that brought to mind these words he wrote:

"I ain't knocking the hymns, 

Just give me a song that has a beat. 

I ain't knocking the hymns, 

Just give me a song that moves my feet." 

The organ music was designed to be a "funeral march". So much so that I commented on it to a friend who attended the service with me.

The screech was followed by Larry's voice singing:

"I don't like none of those funeral marches I ain't dead yet!" 

Larry's Mother

What followed was a wonderful montage of music, photographs, and videos of Larry throughout his life. Friends and family spoke and there were a few performances.

After it was all over we ate hot dogs, popcorn and Cracker Jacks and M and;M's. A party! Just like Larry wanted.

Larry's Family

Thanks to Charles and Kristin for your efforts! I'm thinking of you.

There were few industry people there. I recognized Alex McDougal (drummer on Larry's 1979 tour) and Dan the keyboard player from his 1986 tour. Donnie and Michael Gossett from Salvation Air Force were also in attendance. I also saw one reporter.

Larry's Sister and Mother

Some of the most memorable moments for me were: A pastor from Portsmouth who started his first speaking segment with a word given to him by the Lord: phenomenal.

"Larry was phenomenal because he served a phenomenal God. He also sang (he was the first to admit that he doesn't sing well) the first song he heard Larry Sing "Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation."  He encouraged us to join him on the choruses.

An old school friend of Larry's, said, "...that we live life as a dash. When you look at a gravestone you see the birth year and year of death separated by a dash. The years are not important, it's the dash that is important. Larry had a great dash."

Larry Norman Obituary

Kristin Norman (Charles' wife) and her musical partner in the Fjord Motor Company sang a few Norwegian folk songs that Larry enjoyed accompanied by a saw player and later Larry's brother, Charles Norman.

Larry's sisters, Nancy and Kristi sang a song that Larry wrote about a trip to the circus to end the tributes.

The pastor from Portsmouth closed the speaking moments off reminding us that we need to live our lives out loud.

After this, we got to do a karakoke (following a bouncing ball until the guitar solo) to "The Rock That Doesn't Roll".  Everyone was singing, and a few tears were flowing as well.

The closing photo and video montage was amazing. "The Sun Began to Rain" was played over photos of a Larry up to about age five.

Then a photo of a  slightly older Larry was backed by one of Larry's rare songs, I can't recall the title.

This was followed by "Looking for the footprints" backed late teens/late 1960s photos.

Then the seventies and eighties and photos and video footage began. The photo that they left us with was one taken from behind Larry during a performance, from about where the drum kit should have been.

Larry Norman

It was black and white and all you could see was spotlight on Larry and Larry standing with his guitar. I suspect it was from the seventies but could have been any time early in his career.

See you there Larry.

LIfe in Black and White

Television in the 1950's

Black and White,  Black and White (Under age 45? You won't understand) You could hardly see for all the snow, Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go.

Huntley and Brinkley

'Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet.'

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning.

My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter and I used to eat it raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting E.coli.

Almost all of us would Have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then. If we didn't have a swimming suit with us...well we went skinny dipping.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.

We all took gym, not PE.. and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now. Flunking gym was not an option... Even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention. We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything. I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations Oh yeah... And where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed! We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites.

When we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $99 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either; because if we did we got our butt spanked there and then we got our butt spanked again when we got home. I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front stoop, just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a jerk.

It was a neighborhood run amuck. To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that? We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes. We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA; AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T, SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!

Silent Night is 200 Years Old

One of the world’s most famous Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” celebrates its 200th anniversary this year.

Over the centuries, hundreds of Christmas carols have been composed. Many fall quickly into obscurity, but not “Silent Night.”

Translated into at least 300 languages, designated by UNESCO as a treasured item of Intangible Cultural Heritage and arranged in dozens of different musical styles — from heavy metal to gospel — “Silent Night” has become a perennial part of the Christmas soundscape.

Its origins — in a small Alpine town in the Austrian countryside — were far humbler. As a musicologist who studies historical traditions of song, the story of “Silent Night” and its meteoric rise to worldwide fame has always fascinated me.

Fallout from war and famine The song’s lyrics were originally written in German just after the end of the Napoleonic Wars by a young Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr.

In the fall of 1816, Mohr’s congregation in the town of Mariapfarr was reeling. Twelve years of war had decimated the country’s political and social infrastructure. Meanwhile, the previous year — one historians would later dub “The Year Without a Summer” — had been catastrophically cold. The eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Tambora in 1815 had caused widespread climate change throughout Europe. Volcanic ash in the atmosphere caused almost continuous storms — even snow — in the midst of summer. Crops failed and there was widespread famine.

Mohr’s congregation was poverty-stricken, hungry and traumatized. So he crafted a set of six poetic verses to convey hope that there was still a God who cared. “Silent night,” the German version states, “today all the power of fatherly love is poured out, and Jesus as brother embraces the peoples of the world.”

The original handwritten text of the poem Silent Night

Mohr, a gifted violinist and guitarist, could have probably composed the music for his poem. But instead, he sought help from a friend.

In 1817, Mohr transferred to the parish of St. Nicholas in the town of Oberndorf, just south of Salzburg. There, he asked his friend Franz Xaver Gruber, a local schoolteacher and organist, to write the music for the six verses.

On Christmas Eve, 1818, the two friends sang “Silent Night” together for the first time in front of Mohr’s congregation, with Mohr playing his guitar.

The song was apparently well-received by Mohr’s parishioners, most of whom worked as boat-builders and shippers in the salt trade that was central to the economy of the region.

The melody and harmonization of “Silent Night” is actually based on an Italian musical style called the “siciliana” that mimics the sound of water and rolling waves: two large rhythmic beats, split into three parts each.

In this way, Gruber’s music reflected the daily soundscape of Mohr’s congregation, who lived and worked along the Salzach River. But in order to become a worldwide phenomenon, “Silent Night” would need to resonate far beyond Oberndorf.

According to a document written by Gruber in 1854, the song first became popular in the nearby Zillertal valley. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows.

The song then became popular across Europe, and eventually in America, where the Rainers sang it on Wall Street in 1839.

At the same time, German-speaking missionaries spread the song from Tibet to Alaska and translated it into local languages.

By the mid-19th century, “Silent Night” had even made its way to subarctic Inuit communities along the Labrador coast, where it was translated into Inuktitut as “Unuak Opinak.”

The lyrics of “Silent Night” have always carried an important message for Christmas Eve observances in churches around the world. But the song’s lilting melody and peaceful lyrics also reminds us of a universal sense of grace that transcends Christianity and unites people across cultures and faiths.

Perhaps at no time in the song’s history was this message more important than during the Christmas Truce of 1914, when, at the height of World War I, German and British soldiers on the front lines in Flanders laid down their weapons on Christmas Eve and together sang “Silent Night.”

The song’s fundamental message of peace, even in the midst of suffering, has bridged cultures and generations. Great songs do this. They speak of hope in hard times and of beauty that arises from pain; they offer comfort and solace; and they are inherently human and infinitely adaptable.

Sarah Eyerly is assistant professor of musicology and director of the Early Music Program at Florida State University. This column was first published by The Conversation.

Literal Translation of German lyrics (blessed boy in curly hair)

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, 

Alles schläft; einsam wacht 

Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. 

Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, 

Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! 

Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! 

 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, 

Hirten erst kundgemacht 

Durch der Engel Halleluja, 

Tönt es laut von fern und nah: 

Christ, der Retter ist da! 

Christ, der Retter ist da! 

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, 

Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht 

Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund, 

Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'. 

Christ, in deiner Geburt! 

Christ, in deiner Gebur

Wolverton Mountain

This song was a hit record on the Country and Pop charts back in 1962. And this was the year my Uncle Clyde passed away, and I can vividly recall the day of his burial.

Woolverton Mountain, Arkansas 

I was 10 years old, and Mom had lathered my hair up with Vitalis to make it lay down. It was a hot summer day, and a long drive from northern Kentucky to the cemetery in Augusta, Kentucky in a car that was built before air conditioning was a feature. It seemed like we were at the graveside for hours, with Mom, Dad, my grandmother, siblings, my Aunt Margaret, Clyde's wife, and my cousin Peggy.. My head felt like it was on fire from that oily hair tonic. This was the first funeral I had been to in my young life, and I was scared. When we left, I was ever so glad.

Dad liked to have the radio on during the drive to a back, and I appreciated that. I knew a lot of songs at a young age. We stopped for dinner at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and Dad put a couple of nickels in the jukebox above the table. One song was call Put another nickel in the Nickelodeon, which I had heard many times. The other song was called Wolverton Mountain. It peeked my interest.

"They say don't go on Wolverton Mountain if you're looking for a wife.
Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter,
He's mighty handy with a gun and a knife.

Her tender lips are sweeter than honey and Wolverton Mountain protects her there.
The bears and the birds, tell Clifton Clowers, if a stranger should enter there.
All of my dreams are on Wolverton Mountain I want his daughter for my wife.

I'll take my chances and climb right up that mountain,
Though Clifton Clowers, might take my life.
Her tender lips are sweeter than honey and Wolveton Mountain protects her there.
The bears and the birds, tell Clifton Clowers, if a stranger should enter there.

I'm going up on Wolverton Mountain it's too lonesome down here below.
It's just not right to hide his daughter from the one who loves her so.

And I don't care about Clifron Clovers I'm gonna climb up on his mountain I'm gonna take the girl I love.
I don't care about Clifron Clovers I'm gonna climb up on that mountain and I'll get the one I love."

The song was about a mean old, overly protective father, that would not let his young daughter out of his sight, for the selfish reason that he needed her companionship, and he needed her as a farm hand.

I was fascinated by the singer's deep baritone voice, and the story. It would not be until 50 years later I found out more about it, so here is the real story behind that song.  I found this story on a Facebook page by a person identified only as JH.

Songwriter Merle Kilgore

Songwriter Merle Kilgore often said that, although he was born in Oklahoma and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, his real roots were planted in the Arkansas Ozarks. His mother and grandmother had been born in those mountains, and most of his relatives called those wooded lands home.

Kilgore started playing guitar at a very young age, and began writing songs as a teenager. By the time he turned eighteen in 1954, one of his songs made it into the hands of Webb Pierce. “More and More” became a #1 hit for Pierce, and reached #7 when Charley Pride covered it in 1983.

Obtaining a spot on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Merle not only sang, but became the top accompanist for many of the show’s best-known acts. A master showman, he was a crowd favorite. Very outgoing,

Kilgore made friends easily, and soon found himself on the road with the likes of Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves and Elvis Presley. He continued to work the Hayride through the fifties, but by the end of the decade was contemplating taking a big chance and changing the course of his career.

In 1959 Kilgore took some time off and drove up to Arkansas to visit his uncle and aunt. He wasn’t sure if he should give up the career that he had built thus far, just to move to Nashville and try to make it there. Merle wondered if that was too big a risk. He trusted his Uncle Clifton a great deal and wanted to discuss his predicament with him. Merle’s

Clifton Clowers plowing on his farm

Uncle Clifton lived on the same mountain where Kilgore’s mother and grandmother had been born. There was a peace as well as a sense of belonging that Merle felt when he walked the long trails and studied the picturesque vistas of Woolverton (the mountain’s actual spelling). Here, the pace was slow and the people were honest. It was the perfect setting not only to reflect on life, but also to gain insight and inspiration.

As Kilgore spent time at the old place, he began to think about the mountain and his uncle’s simple, but rewarding life. Grabbing his guitar and a pen, Merle wrote a song that he called “Clifton Clowers” (his uncle’s name). When he finished the piece, he went looking for his uncle, finding him out in a cane field making sorghum molasses.

Kilgore sat down right there and played him the new song. When he finished, Uncle Clifton smiled and told Merle, “Son, you just wrote yourself a hit.”

Johnny Horton

Confident that everyone else would have the same reaction as Uncle Clifton, Kilgore raced back to Shreveport and played it for one of his best friends, Johnny Horton. Johnny listened to “Clifton Clowers,” shook his head and said “that is probably the worst song I have ever heard.” Kilgore was taken aback by Horton’s response. Usually Johnny loved his material. Still, Merle didn’t give up on his latest composition.

George Jones

The songwriter simply went looking for someone else with a recording contract. The next singer Merle ran into was George Jones.

He started playing it for Jones, but this time Kilgore didn’t even finish before George cut in. “I hate mountain songs,” he said. Again and again Merle tried, but no one wanted to take a chance on “Clifton Clowers.”

 In 1960, Merle finally took the plunge and moved to Nashville, bringing along his guitar, his songs and his uncle’s blessing. Quickly landing a recording contract at Starday, Merle managed to chart with three releases. One of those records even landed in the top ten, but none of them established Kilgore as a solo act, so Merle went back to songwriting and opening for better-known performers.

He also began to dabble in acting. One day Kilgore received a call from Tillman Franks. Franks had previously managed Johnny Horton, but after Johnny was killed in a car wreck on November 5, 1960, Tillman had picked up another young singer from Shreveport named Claude King.

Claude King

Merle was familiar with King, as he had been a local sports star while Kilgore was still in high school. After college, King returned home and had become a fairly popular folk singer in the area. He was a solid performer who had even scored a couple of Top Ten hits in 1961 on the Columbia label: “Big River, Big Man” and “The Comancheros.”

Tillman Franks told Merle that he was planning to do a folk-style album with King. Folk music was really hot at the time and with the right songs, it was hoped that a top-selling album might be produced. Franks asked Kilgore if he remembered a mountain song that he had once played for Johnny Horton.

Merle fabricated the story somewhat and said that not only did he remember it, but Johnny had loved it! So Kilgore dug up “Clifton Clowers” and took it over to Franks. Claude King listened to it and thought it had some potential, but he wanted to make a few changes. Merle gave King the authorization to proceed.

After Claude adjusted some of the lyrics, he decided to record the number. When Kilgore found out that he was going to cut it, Merle gave Claude half of the songwriting credit because of the changes he made. One of the most noticeable changes King made was the song’s title. No longer was it “Clifton Clowers.” He had retitled it “Wolverton Mountain,” (removing one of the o’s from the mountain’s actual spelling).

1962 45 RPM of Wolverton Mountain

Released in mid-spring of 1962, it grabbed the top spot in June, holding it for nine weeks on Billboard’s country chart. On the pop listing, the record also made a strong showing, peaking at #6. Not only did “Wolverton Mountain” become the most important country folk song of its era, but it captured the imagination of thousands of people worldwide.

Suddenly the state of Arkansas was being flooded by calls from people all over the world wanting to know how they could get to Wolverton Mountain. It was a media frenzy and the reporters made the most of it.

Kilgore’s Uncle Clifton was not only receiving scores of phone calls and letters, he did interviews with correspondents from all over the world. He had his picture taken with literally thousands of tourists. The song made him a celebrity and created a rush of traffic on U. S. Highway 65 for years afterward.

"Mike" singing for
Clifton Clower's 102nd Birthday

The mountain is located just north of Morrilton, Arkansas in Conway County. Clifton Clowers would continue to live on Woolverton Mountain for the rest of his life. When he died at age 102 in 1994, newspapers all over the world ran his obituary.

Merle Kilgore singing
Ring of Fire on Hee Haw 1987

His nephew Merle Kilgore toured the globe, singing, acting and lecturing. He wrote another country classic soon afterward – Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” in 1963, in which he shared songwriting credit with June Carter, although it’s generally known that Kilgore composed the song himself, written about the burgeoning romantic relationship between Carter and Johnny Cash. As a favor to his friend Cash, Merle authorized June’s name to be placed on “Ring of Fire” as co-writer because of her strong link to Johnny’s career.

Later, Kilgore also became the longtime manager of Hank Williams, Jr., receiving the “Manager of the Year” award from the Country Music Association in 1990.

The song which Kilgore wrote about his uncle warned, “They say don’t go on Wolverton Mountain.” Yet, it seems few people took those words seriously. “Wolverton Mountain” was revisited several times after Claude King first took listeners there.

Dickey Lee had a record on it just weeks after King’s version came out. Bing Crosby also cut the song, as did Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. Hank Williams, Jr. included a reference to it in one of his own hits (paying homage to writer Kilgore).

And, before his death in 2005, Merle often went back there to reflect, find a little peace and a lot of inspiration. – JH