The Royster Chronicle

  “Fascination with the intoxication of power might indicate a mental crisis.” Dr. BLR   One of the wonderful things about life is the freedom to do what you want, regardless of the consequences. Having free will allows people to take chances, venture onto uncharted paths, and, literally, not give a damn. Oh, my younger days were filled with delusions until reality set in, and the fear of paying for my transgressions looked me in the eye. I couldn’t fathom life away from my family or being sent to a facility where my freedoms would be stripped. Looking back, life was a bit simpler than what is being foisted on this new generation. No social media, no internet, no cell phones, no computers, and definitely no access to hundreds of cable channels. The good old days are nostalgic for some and forgotten by others. I’ve often wondered how I would’ve fared in these trying times. I’m so glad I didn’t have to experience them when I was younger. Now, what are we doing? There is no doubt...

“Refuse to let yourself get excessively out of sorts before you decide to address your lack of discipline.” Dr. BLR   Children are always trying to find things that interest them as they grow up. Oftentimes, they look to peers to see what’s either fashionable or fun to get involved in. This curiosity never escaped me, but only for a short time.  I knew from age thirteen that I enjoyed making money, so I didn’t have to ask my mother, a single mom. My first job, at a car wash in Jersey City, showed me what discipline can do for a young man living in an inner city. Washing cars taught me I had what it took to venture out and find my own way. This experience led me to the front door of Napoli’s Pizzeria, where I begged three immigrant men to hire me. After a cursory glance, I was told that if I passed their initial test, the job would be mine. The test involved scrubbing about 150 flour-coated pizza pans. I accepted the challenge, knowing that whatever they told me to do, I w...

  "You are only as important as you see yourself, not how others see you." Dr. BLR   In 1972, I was in third grade when my teacher, Mrs. Williams, handed out copies of a Scholastic magazine. The front cover featured Franco Harris, a Black Italian American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was so struck by his appearance as a Black man that, from that day on, I’ve been a Steelers fan. Fast-forward. We’ve won 6 Super Bowl titles and made the playoffs this year, but we’ll have to do it without our star wide receiver, DK Metcalf, who was suspended for two games after confronting an unruly fan during a game against the Detroit Lions.  This was his first year with the team, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, after an uneventful play, Metcalf walked past the stands, and it looked like a fan had said something that upset him. Metcalf grabbed the fan, had a brief conversation, then pushed him back. I thought, no harm, no foul. He wasn’t ejected from ...

“Victim manipulators can never be the chosen ones.” Dr. BLR   How much death and destruction can one person or group endure before they give up and say, “If it happens, it’s God’s will”? Over the past few years, I have had a few conversations with people who professed their religious beliefs and said the same thing: “It’s God’s will.” I will never discount anyone’s belief system, but I allow myself to ask, “Where are the chosen ones I’ve heard so much about?”  The question is rhetorical because they would only regurgitate the group they either read about or were told about in their youth, a group that has stayed with them. For me, this is problematic. How can anyone say that one group is better than another, yet in many societies, many people believe it without question?  I bring this up because the world has changed drastically due to wars in foreign countries, and these wars have ties to U.S. taxpayers. Faith bears responsibility for most of the conflicts. However, I ca...

  "A wise leader makes decisions based on carefully considered consensus, and a fool follows their self-absorbed vision of reality." Dr. BLR   Lights, camera, action! These are the words of movie producers as they prepare to captivate audiences with their latest creation. Most moviegoers have waited to see the new release featuring the latest heartthrob, but this fantasy is only for the starry-eyed. The world has been glued to television or social media, waiting for words from the former reality-show sensation-turned-commander-in-chief.  Over the past six weeks, the entire world—truly, everyone—has unfortunately been held hostage by President Trump's unhinged words. Clear communication is crucial when you're held to the highest standards and the world is watching. In my sixty years, I have never heard or seen the President of the United States use profanity to express himself. While I don’t mind dropping an “F-bomb” or two in casual conversation, I never imagined any ...

  “Silent leaders earn greater respect because they prepare others for leadership roles.” Dr. BLR   The world often produces some of the most impressive individuals. Surprisingly, they come from all walks of life. Many are simply naturally brilliant and born that way. We cannot replicate the depth of their knowledge because it’s innate, with no logical explanation to justify it—just something to accept.  However, some believe they belong to that class and can’t be told otherwise. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in this predicament. Leaders are placed in important roles based on either their past job descriptions or perceived abilities. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen this happen with negative results. Well, here we are again.  One thing my military and law enforcement background has taught me is that some people excel at convincing others of their abilities, even when they don't know much about what the job really involves. There are many intangible qualities...