The Royster Chronicle

“Based on your despicable actions worldwide, you should pray there is no afterlife where you would be judged.” Dr. BLR   I sat in front of my computer for several minutes before beginning this essay. My mind is overwhelmed with turmoil, and I didn’t know where to start. No doubt, those reading this already know what’s been happening in the world, especially the recent unprovoked war on Iran. The first report was about an attack on a school filled with children. As a father, I cannot imagine the pain the parents of the fallen children are feeling. Behind every death is a child who will never grow up. A parent who will never see their children blossom or become parents themselves. And for what? Just because a “man” said it was okay for our country to bomb another nation? What have we become?  For those witnessing the carnage inflicted on innocent citizens in various countries over the past few years, when will enough be enough? While I have no personal stake in these incide...

  “Wars expose the callousness in people, depending on which side you're on.” Dr. BLR   One of the greatest things about growing old is that you’re capable of “seeing the forest for the trees,” “smelling the bullshit,” and saying, “been there, done that.” Well, this is where I am now regarding the recent military action against Iran. To say the least, I’m fucking tired, and it has nothing to do with the lack of sleep. Over the past couple of days, I saw and heard President Donald Trump talk ad nauseam about his plans to possibly go to war. In the interest of full disclosure, I have no idea who has nuclear weapons, but I will say that if other countries have them, then who the hell are we to say another country shouldn’t have one as well? Is this a controversial statement? Yeah, but so what?  The United States of America, and yes, I spelled it out, has a record of bullying other countries. Our track record of invasions, coups, and regime change is well documented, but many...

  “What works for you may not work for me, so let me find my own way to figure it out.” Dr. BLR   One of the pleasures I get from teaching students is talking to them and providing them with the best advice I can, based on my six-plus decades of living. Over the years, I’ve noticed a trend happening as more students come through the doors of my classroom. A lot of my current and former students have admitted to smoking weed, even after I have apprised them of their Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination. Of course, I am joking, as I have been retired from law enforcement for the past 15 years. Yet, they feel comfortable sharing this fact with me. I then ask them why. I didn’t know what to expect from their individual responses, but they all seem to think that smoking weed helps with their anxiety. Not to seem insensitive, given my generation’s experiences growing up, I find that many young people today have poor coping skills and find solace in lighting up. I don’t b...

  “The art of fakeness has led many individuals to reveal their true character later.” Dr. BLR   As a kid, I never really looked up to athletes as role models. I enjoyed watching them play whatever sport, but that was the extent of it. Fast-forward several decades, and there have been generations of young people who place athletes on a pedestal. I cannot blame them, given the proliferation of social media platforms such as Instagram and X, podcasts, and the numerous sports programs on cable television. This, unfortunately, is the world we live in today. Athletes’ lifestyles are often admired for what their salaries have enabled them and their families to achieve. The big homes, luxury cars, and lavish vacations are often captured in the media. How could you not look up to them? Well, if you look beyond the surface and examine who they are, what they represent, and how they invest their money, you may think twice before hanging up a life-size poster of them on your childre...

  “Media conglomerates deliberately saturate news outlets with hued lickspittles who bend the knee to capitalism and abandon their respective communities.” Dr. BLR   The world was recently introduced to a phenomenal Latin artist, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny. After receiving a Grammy for Album of the Year and performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny is widely discussed. His music is being translated into English, and his politics are being placed center stage.  After the controversy surrounding his halftime performance, many overt and covert racists spoke out against his decision to sing his songs in Spanish. I must admit, while I liked the music, I had no idea he made subtle political and cultural references throughout. It was only after I went to Instagram and saw influencers explain everything that I was overwhelmed by their perspectives, because I had not kept abreast of Puerto Rico’s internal issues. I didn’t know that a...

  "Justice is color and status-coordinated." Dr. BLR   There is not a day that goes by without someone being reported missing to the police. The reasons for the disappearances vary, but the goal is always to ensure that the missing are returned home to their loved ones. Normally, the job of finding the missing is handled by local or state police agencies, unless the person is high-profile.  Over the past week, the news airwaves have been inundated with cyclical coverage of Nancy Guthrie. Who is Nancy Guthrie? You may ask. She is the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, a very popular media personality who has been on the airwaves for many years. I have watched her on a few occasions and have nothing good or bad to say about her. She was just on television.  On the day her mother was reported missing, I thought about the many Facebook posts I had seen over the years about missing children and adults from New Jersey. I silently hoped they’d be returned home...