The world we live in today

Log being taken over by fungi

It was only a few weeks ago that I discovered that this particular fungi, Trametes versicolor, is edible. Well, "edible" might be a little bit of a stretch. Although it's pretty, it's rubbery and tough. But it does have medicinal properties, and some say it can take the place of chewing gum! Next time I see it, I might harvest a little bit and take it home. Many forms of fungi are poisonous, but apparently this type never is. It is usually dried and ground and made into a tea.

Sunday again, and here I am thinking about what to write. Last week I picked up an interesting book at the library, The Sun Does Shine, by Anthony Ray Hinton. He was arrested and accused of crimes he couldn't possibly have committed, and spent thirty years on Death Row in Alabama, before the US Supreme Court unanimously exonerated him. His only crime, as he says in the book, was being born black in Alabama. His lawyer at the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson, writes a moving foreword to his book. A quote:

I have represented scores of condemned prisoners during my thirty years of law practice. Many of my clients were innocent people wrongly convicted or condemned. However, no one I have represented has inspired me more than Anthony Ray Hinton, and I believe his compelling and unique story will inspire our nation and readers all around the world.

Stevenson explains that, in the fifteen years he worked to exonerate Ray, he had never before had so many correctional officers, guards, and other prison workers pull him aside and ask how they might be able to help Ray. He was beloved by all, a man filled with forgiveness and love who tried to help his fellow prisoners however he could. I am halfway through the book, and as hard as it is to read, I realize that one of the things that separates me from his fate is that I was not born a black man in Alabama. What a story he writes! He was released in 2015 and travels around the country as an inspirational speaker. He is now 62 and hopefully has many years ahead of him to enjoy his freedom.

Tonight will be the 91st Academy Awards, and I've seen all the movies that have been nominated. One of the movies, Green Book, also tells a true story of an accomplished black musician who wanted to perform in the South during the 1960s, and hired a driver to safely take him there. The book referred to in the title was compiled to assist African Americans to know where it was safe for them to stay or dine in the Deep South. Both men who starred in the movie have been nominated for awards, as well as it being nominated for Best Picture. I suspect that Mahershala Ali will win as Best Supporting Actor and that will be it for the film. It was good, but not great, although the performances were outstanding.

Another one of the movies, also a true story, covers the infiltration of a black man into the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado Springs in the 1970s. BlacKkKlansman is also nominated for Best Picture and several other awards. I enjoyed this movie very much; it's got lots of humor and pathos and some great performances. Of all the movies, this one would be my pick for Best Picture, although I don't think it will win.

That brings me to wondering about the world today, how the issue of race and fairness still resonates enough to have movies and stories still capture the imagination and interest of many of us. And it also makes me wonder whether we will ever be a country where the color of your skin makes little to no difference in how you are seen as a person. My optimism tells me that yes, there will come a day when the world will not judge us by our race, or our age, or how much money we have in the bank. It won't be tomorrow, or any time soon, but it is not only possible, but probable. As Martin Luther King, Jr., once said in a powerful speech, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

 I hope that is true. It's people like Ray Hinton who spend their lives working to bend it, and people like his lawyer, Bryan Stevenson. If you get a chance to read the book, I'd be interested in knowing what you think of it. And, of course, there are plenty of online videos to watch if you want to "meet" Ray. After I finish the book, I might just do that myself. In any event, tonight I'll be watching the Academy Awards and hope that some of my favorites will win.

And with that, I realize I've spent more time than usual writing this post, and it's getting late. Time for me to get up and start the rest of my day. My sweet partner is still sleeping next to me, and my tea is long gone. The day beckons, one which I hope will be sunny, if not actually warm, as we continue our journey towards the first day of spring. Not long now. It's been a rather difficult winter season for many of us, and as the days lengthen, we can look forward to a delightful spring. Until we meet again next week, I hope you are happy and healthy, and that you enjoy yourself and your loved ones. Be well, dear readers.