Confederate History Month

By CHARLEY REESE

April is Confederate History month. Before the pall of political correctness descended on the country and drained politicians of what little courage they had, Southern governors routinely proclaimed the month. These days, I suspect few will.

Nevertheless, there are only two really important events in American history. One is the American Revolution, and the other is the War Between the States and Reconstruction. The latter has been called America's second revolution and, by some, America's French Revolution.

Sad to say, the America we live in today comes from that second revolution, not the first. Contrary to the politically correct version of history, Confederates saw themselves as defenders of the first revolution, not as defenders of slavery -- though, to be sure, slavery played a part in the conflict. It came to symbolize all the other differences.

It was not a civil war because the South never aspired to overthrow the government of the United States. The Southern states simply withdrew peacefully from what they believed, and in earlier years all Americans believed, was a voluntary union. The U.S. remained, and the government in Washington remained. No Confederate official or military officer was ever tried for treason because no treason had been committed.

The war, which the North started (we Southerners refer to it as the War of Northern Aggression), was a conflict between nationalism and federalism. Regardless of which side you agree with, the events are so important to understanding America today that you owe it to yourself to get up to speed on what really happened, as opposed to the Hollywood version.

I've chosen four short books that will help. The best short overall history of the politics and the war is "North Against South," by Ludwell H. Johnson, published by the Foundation for American Education. A more recent book, "The Real Lincoln," by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, published by Prima Publishing, is a devastating critique of the man who literally destroyed constitutional government in America and foreshadowed the modern Machiavellian politicians.

"When in the Course of Human Events," by Charles Adams, a Northern historian, will disavow you of the notion that the war was about freeing slaves and preserving the union. It was about money and control of territory and resources. The publisher is Rowman and Littlefield.

Finally, Eric Foner's "A Short History of Reconstruction" will show you how the modern world and many of its problems were created. The publisher is Harper Perennial, and the author is no friend of the South, but he is honest and keeps to the facts, no matter how unflattering to any side of the issue.

Naturally, there are tons of books on the war and Reconstruction, but I deliberately chose well-written short histories. If you wish to read Shelby Foote's novelized history in three volumes, you will need a long summer. You would need another long summer to read "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government," by Jefferson Davis. I think you will like these shorter volumes better.

I would also recommend that you consider, if your ancestors fought in either army, two fine organizations, Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Both are full of people interested in history and genealogy, and I find such people to be mighty good company. Real veterans of the two armies founded both organizations.

Through these organizations you can find re-enactors, who are people who replicate the equipment and uniforms of the two armies and replay the battles. The Web addresses are SUVCW .org and SCV.org.

I would hope all Americans would develop an interest in our country's history. The more you know about America, warts and all, the more you will love it.

Kentucky's Berea One Of 'Best Value Colleges'

By Berea College News Service
Berea College is the nation's No. 2 best value private college according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features it on its "Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges" ranking list and profiles the school in the 2007 edition of its book, America's Best Value Colleges (Random House / Princeton Review, $18.95), published recently.

The book has profiles of 150 colleges chosen for their excellent academics, generous financial aid packages and relatively low costs. It includes 103 public and 47 private colleges in 40 states.

The Princeton Review compiled the ranking list and chose the colleges for the book based on data the company obtained from administrators at 646 colleges, and its surveys of students attending them. Says Robert Franek, V.P-Publishing, The Princeton Review, "We considered over 30 factors to rate the colleges in four categories: Academics, Tuition GPA (the sticker price minus average amount students receive in gift aid scholarships and grants), Financial Aid (how well colleges meet students' financial need), and Student Borrowing. We recommend the 150 schools in this book as America's best college education deals for 2006." The Princeton Review will post a complete list of the schools in the book on its website on March 28. America's Best Value Colleges has three-page profiles on the colleges, ranking lists of the top 10 best value private colleges and top 10 best value public colleges, and advice about applying for college admission and financial aid. It is one of more than 200 Princeton Review books published by Random House in a line that includes the annual Best 361 Colleges. Known for its test-prep courses, books, and college and grad school admissions services, The Princeton Review is an education services company not affiliated with Princeton University or ETS.

Related Links
Princeton Review
BC's 150 Portal
Sesquicentennial Events Calendar

Trillion Reasons To Keep Estate Tax

By MIKE LAPHAM
My grandparents and great-grandparents paid the estate tax when they passed along the family business. Some decade soon, my own parents will.

With hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars to gain, I should be cheering for the proposal coming before the Senate in May to do away with the estate tax, which applies only to multi-million dollar inheritances. Instead, I'm organizing wealthy members of Responsible Wealth to oppose repeal of the estate tax. As multi-millionaires, we have benefited handsomely from all that our country provides: public education, roads, clean water, legal protection, research funding and public safety, just for starters.

One Responsible Wealth member, Martin Rothenberg, grew up using the public library, went to school on the GI Bill, received a government fellowship, and built a $30 million software company using publicly funded research and publicly-educated employees. "I hope the taxes on my estate will help fund the kind of programs that benefited me and others from humble backgrounds," he says.

Given the choice to be taxed or not, we all tend to choose not. That's just human nature. But we have to look at the wider implications of what we ask our elected officials to do for us.

In 2001, when Congress voted to phase out and repeal the estate tax, the federal treasury was expecting a $5 trillion surplus. Times have changed, however. Now there's more than $8 trillion in federal debt. There are a trillion good reasons to retain the estate tax in the years to come. Permanently abolishing the estate tax would cost almost $1 trillion in the first 10 years.

I believe our country has higher priorities for $1 trillion than giving families like mine a huge tax break. Besides our existing $8 trillion debt, consider some of the additional expenditures coming down the pike.

The Iraq War will continue to be costly in both human lives and money. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and his coauthor Linda Bilmes estimate a total budgetary cost of between $750 billion and $1.27 trillion.

In late 2003, Congress passed an expansion of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. The Center for Medicare and Medical Services projects a 10-year cost of $797 billion. Congressional leaders have pledged to abolish the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for individuals, especially as an estimated 30 million taxpayers will pay the AMT by 2010. Eliminating the AMT will reduce federal revenues by $611 billion to $790 billion over 10 years.

The Republican leadership in Congress would like to extend the tax cuts they passed in 2001 and 2003. The cost of this extension would be $1.4 trillion in lost revenue over 10 years.

Estate tax repeal, combined with these other expenditures, would balloon our national debt in the coming decade. With lighter and lighter taxation of wealthy asset-owners like my family each year, more tax dollars would come out of the pockets of working Americans. In this context, considering estate tax repeal is fiscally and morally irresponsible. A new poll shows that most Americans agree. Voters chose keeping the estate tax as one of the two best ways to reduce the budget deficit. Almost three-quarters support reforming the tax or leaving it intact rather than repealing it.

In a society where the economic rules are strongly tilted in favor of the haves at the expense of the have-nots, where tax laws give generous loopholes to the wealthiest among us, the occasion of passing on wealth to the next generation is an appropriate time to tax our accumulated fortunes. Most of the appreciated value of these assets has never been taxed. The choice is whether to remove a tax on estates of more than $2 million, affecting only the 6,343 wealthiest individuals who die each year. Responsible Wealth members believe that a fair tax system, fiscal responsibility, and priorities like healthcare and education are better choices than lining the pockets of our progeny.

I could be sitting back hoping my parents' estate won't be subject to the estate tax. Instead, I'm hoping the majority of U.S. Senators understand what many of them don't: that we in the richest 1 percent can and should pay this very fair tax, as an appropriate way for us to give back and create opportunities for others.
--
(Writer Mike Lapham is director of the Responsible Wealth project of United for a Fair Economy. United for a Fair Economy is a Boston-based national, independent, nonpartisan organization that puts a spotlight on the dangers of growing income, wage and wealth inequality in the United States and coordinates action to reduce the gap.)

Immigration Greater Threat Than Terrorism

By CHARLEY REESE

A friend of mine sent me an excerpt from the Mexican Constitution. It makes for good reading while illegal aliens are demonstrating and demanding a say in our politics.

In Chapter 3, Article 33, the Mexican Constitution states: "The Executive of the Union has the exclusive right to expel from the national territory, immediately and without necessity of judicial proceedings, all foreigners whose stay it judges inconvenient. Foreigners may not, in any manner, involve themselves in the political affairs of the country."

There are, some say, 11 million illegal immigrants in our country. They are not citizens. They have broken our laws. The present penalty for such a breach is deportation.

Yet the yellow-bellies in Congress and the president are scheming to grant them amnesty, by legalizing their presence and offering them citizenship. This will send a loud and clear message to all the people suffering from bad government and poor resources to our south to come across our borders in even larger numbers. The present hordes are a direct result of previous amnesty. The Mexican government, which ruthlessly expels its illegal immigrants, encourages Mexican citizens to violate our laws. Mexican government officials even harass our Border Patrol.

What the yellow-bellies in the House and the Senate and that scoundrel in White House are doing, of course, is catering to the corporations, businesses and individuals who love cheap labor. Cheap labor is more seductive than most drugs and even sex. How nice it is to have an employee who cannot complain about poor pay and bad working conditions.

You may say that most of the illegals are nice people. I won't argue with that, though certainly some of them are a long way from nice. You may say that they work hard, and I would agree with that.

But nevertheless, we are either a nation of laws or we're not. How can any nation on Earth claim to be a sovereign power if it cannot control its own borders? Drugs, terrorists and common criminals cross those borders, and the U.S. government has been criminally negligent in enforcing our immigration laws.

After all, illegal immigrants are not hard to find. All the federal government has to do is locate them and levy stiff, stiff fines against those who employ them. If we have to build a wall and man it with soldiers, so be it. Hadrian did that in Roman Britain to keep the Scots out.

As I often said, if you don't think uncontrolled immigration will cause you to lose your country, ask an Apache or a Sioux. This is a more serious problem facing America than terrorism, and it should be Americans, not illegal immigrants, who are pouring into the streets and demanding that the federal government do its duty.

God knows that the federal government in imperial Washington likes to stick its nose into all of our lives, but as far as doing its legitimate duty, it is absent without leave.

There are literally millions of people to our south who live in countries that, because of bad and corrupt governments and a scarcity of resources, cannot support them.

If I lived in those hellish conditions, I would cross the border, too. And, if Americans showed themselves to be too timid and too saturated by entertainment to defend their country, then I and my compatriots would take it away from them, exactly as our ancestors took this land away from the Native Americans — and, I should add, from Mexico.

Don't kid yourself for one minute that there is any affection for the gringo south of the border. We have done much harm, but no favors, to the Mexican people, and if we have forgotten our own history, I assure you they have not. Finally, amnesty under any guise for illegals is a slap in the face to the legal immigrants who often wait years in order to obey our laws.

© 2006 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Responsibility

By CHARLEY REESE
If I didn't have to transmit my copy by computer, I would be writing on a typewriter instead of on this computer, which yesterday refused to work for reasons as mysterious as the subtlest passage of the I Ching.

My knowledge of computers consists of the on/off button and clicking on icons with a mouse. When what is supposed to happen doesn't happen, I'm sunk. I believe this computer knows that I despise it. Several times it has provoked me into using foul language, and once it provoked me to slap it. I make that statement in keeping with America's new motto, which is, "I ain't responsible for anything."

Of course, I am responsible. It's my temper and my choice to say or do what I say or do. The computer is a dumb, inanimate object, simply a glorified calculator with storage capacity. These days, however, many Americans desire to blame someone else or something else for whatever they do or for whatever happens to them.

That's because some folks view the tort system as a trip to Las Vegas or as a lottery. If they are involved in a single-car crash, then it's the car's fault or the road's fault. If they are stupid enough to get out of a car when live power lines are laying on it, it's the power company's fault that they die. If they get fat or harden their arteries, it's the food industry's fault. If they become drug addicts, it's the drug dealer's fault. If they stupidly shoot themselves, it's the gun manufacturer's fault. Et cetera, et cetera, and so forth.

"Responsibility," like "frugality," is a word that is out of favor and rarely seen these days. That's because if you're responsible for your own mishap, there is nobody to sue. The truth is, we are individually responsible for practically everything that happens to us. Not always, but most of the time that is true, especially in America, where there is still some liberty.

Just because a traffic light turns green on our side doesn't mean we shouldn't visually check to see if someone is about the run the light before we proceed. Having the right of way might be of some comfort in court, but not in the hospital or the cemetery. If we're going to drive a vehicle, we need to know how to drive it when a tire blows or when there is snow or ice on the road. I'm convinced many of the people who sued tire companies caused the accident themselves because they didn't know how to react to a tire blowing out.

(You grip the steering wheel tightly, keep the vehicle straight, take your foot off the gas and stay off the brake; when the car slows enough from the engine drag, you ease it over to the side of the road.)

Growing up as I did before the sexual revolution and the flood of lawsuits, I got a lot of advice from my father. The advice about sex was simple. Get a girl pregnant and you marry her, no ifs, ands or buts about it. For a young man not desiring to settle down, that certainly cooled my ardor.

The rest was all practical stuff. How to duck your head if you fall so you won't break your neck. How to lift heavy objects with your legs instead of your back. Why you should never wear jewelry or loose clothing when working around moving machinery. How to avoid being kicked by mules or horses. How to drive safely. How to handle a gun, a knife and other tools safely. And, yes, how to fight. Such advice was common then, but I wonder if it is today, with laws mandating helmets and such stuff. A helmet can protect your skull, but it won't keep you from breaking your neck. I was taught two cardinal rules: In driving, avoid the head-on collision at all costs, and in falling, avoid falling on your head, no matter what you have to do.

Any good martial artist or gymnastics instructor can teach your children how to fall properly and safely. If they learn that skill, they will have a better chance of staying out of a wheelchair, provided they are not stupid enough to dive into water the depth of which they do not know.

We are all responsible for ourselves, our family, our community and our nation. We need to shuck this "It ain't my fault" syndrome and start taking care of business.

Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
Copyright 2006 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Passings Reported March 30-April 6

Demond Lee McKnight Dies
Demond Lee McKnight, 29, of Crewe, died March 19, 2006.

Surviving are his wife, Deborah McKnight and daughter, Chanell Bowler of Crewe; his father and mother, Clifford Sr. and Lucy McKnight of Dundas; sisters, Brenda Smith, Nicole Craig and Lucy McKnight; and brothers, Clifford McKnight Jr. and Clifford A. McKnight.

Services were held Saturday, March 25, at Rosebud Baptist Church, Dundas. Burial was in the church cemetery.

W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home, Blackstone, was in charge of arrangements.


Lawrence 'Candy Man' Clifton Dies
Lawrence Moore Clifton, 79, of Blackstone, died March 23, 2006.

He was known as "Possum" and "Candy Man," A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he served with the 1st Calvary Division. He was employed by Barrow Grocery for 37 years and Fort Pickett for eight years.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years Susie O. Clifton; and a brother, Thomas G. Clifton of Roanoke Rapids, NC.

Services were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Hamner-McMillian Funeral Home Chapel, Blackstone. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 7819. The Rev. Sylvia Meadows officiated.

The family received friends Friday evening at the funeral home.

Services Held For Edna Barton
Edna Patterson Barton, wife of the late John T. Barton Jr., of Green Bay, died March 22, 2005.

Surviving are her children, Margaret Taylor of Chesterfield, Helen Barton, Jerry Barton and Tony Barton, all of Green Bay; a brother, William C. Patterson of Watsonville, CA; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, at Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home Chapel, Crewe.

The family received friends Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Meherrin Volunteer Fire Department or Rescue Squad.


Florence N. Sadler Dies
Florence N. Sadler, 68, of Burkeville, died March 21, 2006.

Surviving are nine children, Gracie, Lewis, Darlene, Elizabeth, Paul, Lisa, Mark, Michele and Scottie; two brothers, William and David; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Hamner-McMillian Funeral Home Chapel, Blackstone.

The family received friends Friday evening at the funeral home.


Thelma W. Ponter Dies At 88

Thelma Warrington Ponter, 88, died March 23, 2006.

Surviving are two daughters, Thelma Whitlock of Crewe and Phyllis Mitchell of Indiana; two sons, John Ponter of New Jersey and Harry Ponter of Florida; 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro, N.J.

Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home, Crewe, was in charge of arrangements.


Elizabeth Barlow Ross Garrett Dies At 88
Mrs. Elizabeth Barlow Ross Garrett, 88, of Crewe, died March 28, 2006.

She was the widow of the late Haston Robert Ross and John Thomas Garrett and was a retired waitress of the American Cafe.

Surviving are six children, R.M. "Mel" Ross of Rockville, Betty Jean Henkel of Crozet, Shirley Irvin of Pennsylvania, Ernie Ross of Farmville, Linda Arrington of Midlothian and George Garrett of Prospect; a sister, Cornelia "Nenia" Moxley of Sandston; 12 grandchildre, 28 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 31, in Crewe Cemetery. The Rev. Jim Compton officiated.

The family receive friends Thursday evening at Shorter Funeral Home, Farmville.


Services Held For Alice Jefferson
Mrs. Alice M. Jefferson, 70, of Wilsons, died March 26, 2006.

Surviving are five children, Gloria J. Evans, Diana M. Jefferson of Blackstone, Frances J. Royal of Amelia, Clinton L. Jefferson of Kenbridge and Cynthia D. Evans of Richmond; two sisters, Adell Goodson and Lillie Edmonds; a brother, Carlton Clark; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchldren.

Services were held Thursday, March 30, at Manassa Hill Baptist Church, Amelia. Burial was in the church cemetery.

W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home, Blackstone, was in charge of arrangements.

Sharon Lester Traylor, Of Crewe, Dies
Mrs. Sharon Lester Traylor, 57, of Crewe, died March 30, 2006.

Surviving are her husband, Ernest Lee Traylor; two sons, Bobby Lester of South Hill and Andrew Lester of Blackstone; a brother, Dennis Ray McReynolds of Georgia; a sister, Christine Clark of FLorida; and three grandchildren.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home Chapel, Crewe. Dr. Ben Powers officiated. Burial was in Crewe Cemetery.

The family receive friends Saturday evening at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Nottoway Emergency Squad or Crewe Christian Church.

4-H Shooters Sweep BB Competition

BUCKINGHAM, Va. -- The Nottoway Regional 4-H Shooting Sports Team dominated the recent 2006 State BB and Air Rifle Competition in Buckingham.

Nottoway's top BB team will head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the third year to compete in the international competition. After competing against numerous youngsters from across the state, Nottoway took away the top prizes.

The BB competition consists of youth between the ages of 9 - 15, shooting a four-position match at 5 meters, along with a "brain event" testing their knowledge of the NRA BB Gun Rules.

The Air Rifle Competition "Sporter Category", consists of shooting a three-position match at 10 meters.
Nottoway's coaches, Ed Rogerville, Marty Cogar and Rudy Elder, are excited about the future of the team.
Nottoway is now preparing for yet another competition to be held in May at Holiday Lake.

Members of the Nottoway overall first-place team are: Rudy Elder, Nick Rogerville, Josiah, Montanye, Jessica Montanye, and John Yacovelli.

Public Comes To Aid Of Retriever

By RICK GUNTER
CREWE, Va. -- An outpouring of love and financial donations greeted recent news about the injury of a Golden Retriever owned by a Crewe family.

The story of Sandy, a Golden Retriever owned by Grace White of 101 West Pennsylvania Ave., prompted calls of interest and concern as well as financial contributions.

The 7-year-old female retriever was struck by a driver on Carter Street late last month. Its hip was broken and there remains a wound on the dog's leg.

When The Journal reported the story in a recent edition, the full extent of the injuries was unknown. A followup visit with Dr. Mike Kaski, of Countryside Veterinary Center in Amelia County, late last week showed that the dog suffered no internal injuries, according to White.

"But Sandy still needs to be operated on," White said. "They tell me that this is a necessary operation."

The Journal originally reported that costs of the surgery and after-care could run as high as $5,000.

That figure has been rolled back to between $1,300 to $1,800, said White. One contributor gave $250, a truly generous deed in behalf of man's best friend.

The public, reacting to the dog's plight, had contributed more than $800 in the days immediately following the first Journal story on the dog. The total reached more than $1,400 in more recent days and some $5,500 has been pledged.

White had said that she would have the dog put to sleep unless she can come up with the money to have the operation done.

"Sandy will remain in pain without the operation, and I cannot stand to have that happen."

Late last week, White learned her dog needs two operations, one on her hip and the other on the leg. The first surgery is planned for the week of April 17.

White, who acquired the dog on Mother's Day, 2000 in Kansas, views the dog as a "daughter." Golden Retrievers have an innate way of winning such affection. They truly are "people dogs," and their loyalty and love for their masters and others in their circle bring out the best in dog and people.

These dogs also are very democratic in that they move from one person to another in a household.

Even when the dog clearly was hurting and had not used the "restroom" last week, she responded warmly to a stranger from The Journal who visited the White home.

The other good news is that White has been able to motivate Sandy to do her toilet business outside the White home.

Sandy also has been able to "play" some with her best canine friend, "Buddy," a Jack Russell terrier that lives next door and is owned by Kate Burcham.

While Sandy's injuries are no longer considered life-threatening, the retriever may still be in pain until an operation is performed.

"We will have the operation," said White, who expressed thanks to the public for helping her special dog through a difficult period for it and Sandy's family.

The Journal, at least in this decade, has not received as many calls on a story than it did on this one. People expressed concerns and love, and Sandy's plight probably also helped some dog owners appreciate their canine buddies all the more.

Those wishing to contribute to pay for Sandy's surgery are asked to do so at Booker's Supply in downtown Crewe or send the money to Countryside Veterinary, P.O. Box 469, Amelia, Va. 23002.

Easter About The Cross, Not Bunnies

CREWE, Va. -- As with many other things, I may be wrong about religion and the Cross and Easter, but I want to think out loud a little about all three topics this week.

I really was moved by a Cross I saw in the yard of Crewe Christian Church as I drove by the other afternoon. Anyone who doubts the power of symbols in our life only needs to pass by that scene at the corner of West Maryland Avenue and Carter Street. The Cross on the church's lawn says more than 1,000 sermons could, at least it does for me. But I bet you that not as many folks as you might think could really tell you the significance of Easter.

For crying out loud, Easter is not about the Bunny Rabbit, Easter egg hunts, and hams with a glaze, and new dresses. Easter is about the Resurrection and the Cross. It is about Christ dying on that old rugged Cross for our sins. Did I say sins? How dare a broken-down newspaperman utter the word" sins" in 10-point type! What has the Fourth Estate come to these days?

I feel closer to Christ than I ever have, perhaps it large part because I have witnessed so many of my friends (and some of my adversaries) pass across the river in recent months. There is no way any of us can handle these situations without a strong religious faith.

A relative asked me recently if I believed in heaven."Yes," I answered without hesitation. "And I also believe there is a Hell and an accounting."

Some of my very best friends in the past did not believe in Heaven. They viewed it as a charade. These were smart folks in the ways of the world, too. Some current friends do believe in the Resurrection, either. For them, it is dust to dust. Maybe they are right. But as a matter of faith, my house and I put our belief in Christ and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is more to this worldly existence than to be born, to live a few years, and depart. Christianity, in large part, has survived all these years because it says, in effect, that there is victory over the grave. It preaches that there is victory over sin and hatred and intolerance because Christ died on that Cross to wash away all the brutalities and intolerances and inhumanities that the human race is too capable of perpetuating.

I am the last and probably the worst person among you to bring this message. I do not in any way do the message -- which is the message of the ages, by the way -- justice. I just believe that we need to stay focused on what Easter really means and not diminish its significance by wrapping the cloth of the season around the Bunny Rabbit when we should instead place the cloth on the Cross as those good people did at Crewe Christian Church. It is not my intention to diminish the fellowship and happy times that can be Easter. But let's not forget that this is a powerful occasion, so powerful, in fact, that not even death itself can undo the message of the Resurrection. Amen.