The Royster Chronicle

“In a civilized world, there would be no need for law enforcement, the military, or a gun.” Dr. BLR Living in a country as violent as the United States should make everyone stop and think about how we got here. The Second Amendment states, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Who knew that these 27 words would carry so much weight and keep a nation of people at arms, no pun intended.  The idea of people owning guns is controversial because nearly every day, someone is killed by another person with a gun. But wouldn’t the death toll decrease if everyone had a gun for self-defense? I often tell my students that if they are of age and can pass a criminal and mental health background check, they should apply for a permit to purchase a gun. I say this because I am very aware of the world we live in, and that at any moment, they could be confronted by someone trying to end ...

“The loss of a loved one inflicts the heart, beat by beat." Dr. BLR Sometimes I sit in front of my computer and wonder, “What will I write about today?” Often, when something interesting is on the news, I get lost in rabbit holes and do a little research. But today was different. I searched my mind and decided to go down memory lane, landing in the year 1969.  This year was both very special and sad. Although my memory is a bit foggy, the moment that stands out most is when my father abandoned our family, leaving a young mother to care for her four children. I will always despise my father for this cowardly act, but I have learned to move on and understand that something truly meaningful happened that profoundly impacted my life.  At five years old, my godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, asked my mom if I could be the ring bearer at their wedding. I didn't understand everything, but when I was given a stylish black tuxedo to wear, I was all in. It was their special day, an...

  “America will never reach racial equality because it relies on racial superiority when negatively affected.” Dr. BLR   The ongoing call for Black Americans to take responsibility and stop waiting for a savior to resolve their issues has been expressed by many Americans across different generations. I disagree because every group has a history that can influence its current circumstances. The history of slavery is well documented, so I won’t revisit it here. I have chosen a specific year to focus on in this essay.  The year 1921 saw many significant events. Alex Haley, the author of the book “Roots,” which brought the history of slavery to print and television, was born. The notable Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein was also born. The infamous Adolf Hitler rose to power, becoming the leader of the People’s Socialist Party, also known as the Nazi Party. Finally, and the reason for this essay, the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Race Massacre occurred, revealing that when Bla...

“A lack of accountability may encourage those without the courage to resolve conflict uncivilly.” Dr. BLR There is a saying that sums up how people should treat others: “Your word is your bond.” It’s not complicated, just simple words, but in the past few months, we’ve learned that for some, words mean nothing. So, what and who am I talking about?  It's well-known that the world has been flooded with videos from indigenous Palestinians showing the mass slaughter and genocide of their people by Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, but of course, the Israelis deny it. For the record, I cannot verify any of the claims made by either side. However, you may ask, why haven’t any of the major news outlets covered this? I will explain. It’s because Israel won’t permit it, which is unprecedented, but Israel has that power. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until numerous protests that the mainstream media, which had been slow to respond, started calling a spade a spade. So, the evidence shows that s...

"Seek knowledge by trespassing through the portals of the unknown." Dr. BLR For those of us old enough to remember the Jetsons cartoon from the 1960s, the rise of electric cars, drones, robots, and computers is only part of what older folks saw on television but never thought would become real.  Then the 1990s arrived, and the world was introduced to the internet, which turned life upside down. We went from sitting at home in the living room watching television with the whole family to staying secluded in our bedrooms, exploring what our minds could imagine. Believe me, we tested this new invention and got into a lot of “fun” trouble; well, that’s what I called it.  Meanwhile, new technology introduced flip phones and pagers that helped us stay connected, making pay phones on the sides of buildings and businesses outdated. If you ask most young people today whether they have ever used one, they’d look at you quizzically. Over the decades, new innovations appeared, and a f...

  "Treat life like a game of sidewalk hopscotch; hop, jump, skip, and have fun doing it." Dr. BLR   There will come a time in everyone’s life, if you’re lucky, when you realize that your best days are behind you. For some, it's a positive realization, considering the lifestyle they’ve had since their youth, and they’re grateful just to be alive.  Growing up, I did my best to stay active and eat well. I never thought about aging because I was living my best life. I read a lot to keep my mind sharp, and I surrounded myself with intelligent people, making sure I wasn’t the smartest one in the room. To say the least, I thought I had prepared myself for my later years. Interestingly, though, as a young to middle-aged person, you never pictured yourself getting old like your parents. However, the day will come when you start to slow down, and doing the simplest things, like getting out of bed, becomes an arduous task, which requires thought and careful planning lest you pu...

“The day a police officer considers themselves only 'Blue' is when they've become lost.” Dr. BLR   Many careers attract people based on their job requirements and the challenges they may bring. However, only a few are considered a “calling” that requires specific types of individuals. I am proud to say that law enforcement is one such profession. Not everyone can do it, nor would most even consider it. Enlisting speaks volumes about who you are and how you view your purpose in life.    The job itself is exhilarating, with no two days ever being the same. The simple fact that you're not always guaranteed to go home at the end of your shift should protect you from criticism, but it doesn't always. Nor should it. Yes, it is a dangerous job, but you signed up voluntarily. So, all that bravado and honor go out the window. You have a job to do, and the expectations are high. The uniform you wear symbolizes a long history of those who established your department, allowing ...

  “You can never be considered a good person unless you express your concerns about all injustices, not just those causes you deem worthy.” Dr. BLR   It’s not every day that you encounter a refined group of people who stand out from others with similar backgrounds. They are educated, polished, and truly the best of the best… until you lift the curtain. In life, a person’s motives reveal their true character or the absence of it. With this understanding, I have seen the light and refuse to support or align myself with elitism in any form. While I may miss out on the benefits of joining, I choose to stay isolated for self-preservation and clarity of thought.  As someone who has never sought the spotlight, I find it confusing that some people chase after this kind of attention. Many of these individuals reflect broader society, including people of all races, religions, and political beliefs. They aim to deceive, but they are difficult to expose because they hide behind ...

“Unlike material possessions, the value of education will never depreciate.” Dr. BLR Every group and generation faces its unique challenges. Overcoming them isn't simple, but most are still expected to continue with their lives. For Black Americans, descendants of enslaved people, a common question is: “When will you get over slavery?” It's a difficult question to answer because it has many layers. One key point is that it's unkind to suggest someone forgets the oral history passed down through generations, which has helped Black Americans remain proud of their resilience despite slavery’s harsh legacy.   While the question can often be dismissed because of the ignorance of the person asking it, it's too easy to let them go without challenge. The old adage, “Walk a mile in a man’s shoes,” speaks volumes about the historical trials and tribulations overcome to still be standing. It would be understandable if this question were asked by newer generations of white American...

“The status quo will not change if it benefits them.” Dr. BLR At some point in life, you must accept the unavoidable: you’re growing old and need to step aside to let a new generation take over. Though it can be tough, time is of the essence. This is a complex topic because I am talking about my generation. I was born at the end of the Baby Boomer generation (1946-1964), so I had the chance to enjoy the benefits of an era when things were relatively affordable and the dollar went further. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am that, as I approach retirement, I am financially stable, and that concerns about rising costs of goods and services won’t affect my generation. Honestly, we need to step back and downsize so that future families can enjoy the larger homes we still occupy. Most of our children have moved out, leaving us with unused space in our homes.  This isn't easy for many of us because we're motivated by wealth and status. We worked hard to achieve our goals and pai...

  “Giving is an art expressed by those who prioritize kindness, as this act resonates with the receiver.”  Dr. BLR I just want to put this on the record: I’m not a cat person. I’m actually allergic to them, so there. I wanted to write this story to document what I’ve had to endure over the past month or so. It all started one day when I came home from work and saw a black cat roaming the neighborhood, but I paid it no mind. Stray cats are common in my area. I think of them as natural pest control, and they save me money when they’re around the city. Mice begone!  On weekends, I usually cut my grass, and since it’s fall, I tend to the fallen leaves scattered in front of the house. As I passed one of the standard light poles on the block, I saw a flier asking for help finding a lost cat. The picture of the feline resembled the black cat I had seen before. I snatched the flier off the pole to get a better look. As I was getting up there in age and didn’t have my glasses...

“The refusal to permit redress in an unequal world only exacerbates the simmering firestorm within those who have been denied.”  Dr. BLR Essence of the Wall Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, the music scene lacked songs that made me want to spend my money until 1979, when Michael Jackson released his fifth album, “Off the Wall.” It was a mix of genres that appealed to and connected with a wide range of music lovers.  In the same year, an English rock band, Pink Floyd, released its eleventh album, “The Wall.” It topped the charts for several weeks and would later be recognized as one of the greatest albums ever made.   While music’s version of the wall brought people together to sing and dance, politics and religion have led to very different views of it. I am not someone who plays politics or advocates religion because I am agnostic, but I have observed the damage they have caused over the years. Beginning in 2015, a well-known conman, Donald Trump, announced he wou...

One day, you're playing in the yard or sitting in a classroom with your best friends, and the next, your world falls apart. Life can throw many hardships at you, and it is up to you to make the best of them and move forward. However, when you’re a child and don’t understand why things are happening, you hope that things will get better. Yet, that is not the case for the devastated children living in the occupied country of Palestine. Over the past two years, they have had to mature quickly and cope with bombs destroying their homes, killing their families, and leaving some without certain limbs, all through no fault of their own. The rubble is everywhere, and sometimes they can hear moans coming from beneath the debris and frantic efforts by countrymen trying to save the injured. They ask why, and no one has an answer because speaking out can get them targeted again. Adding to the confusion, they cry out for medication to relieve the pain but are told none is available.  How c...

"Intolerance will never suffer from cardiac arrest because it has no pulse."   I had a conversation with one of my students, and I told him that sometimes I sit at my computer, thinking about what to write, which has been on my mind. He looked at me as if I were just an old, bored man, and maybe there’s some truth to that, but I still do it.  Since the October 7, 2023, retaliatory killing of some Jewish people by Hamas, an alleged terrorist group fighting for Palestinian freedom against the apartheid system the Israeli government has imposed on them for many years, everything in the news has focused on Jewish sympathy. Growing up in the historic Weequahic section of Newark, N.J., which was predominantly Jewish before the 1970s, I was somewhat familiar with this religious group, though only in a limited way.  There seemed to be a fascination with their history, which has always escaped me. Not to be insensitive, but I had my own problems to handle. I have taken several sch...

“Everyone is a terrorist when the oppressor labels them that way.” Dr. BLR   No matter what you say or how you try to spin it, I am not the terrorist. This is a common defense for those labeled the “boogeyman.” However, when the truth is revealed, the exposure is apparent but not surprising. As long as I have paid attention to this issue, the powerful have always chosen those individuals or groups who carry the label.  Historically, poorer countries have been looted and robbed of their natural resources by occupying forces for their own benefit. This has been a common practice, and no one is allowed to complain until those affected say enough is enough; therefore, they continue what they do. Often, the colonizer destroys infrastructure and communities mainly to push an agenda that maintains control. They then make it seem as if others are to blame, but enough of the nonsense. Let’s look at the evidence.  The U.S. has participated in many wars over the past century. I...

Sean Bell, an African-American male, who on November 25, 2006, was celebrating his bachelor’s party with his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, when he was fatally shot by members of the New York Police Department (NYPD). The circumstances surrounding the shooting were controversial due to the fact that the three male victims, two African-American and one Latino, were all unarmed. The shooting fueled concerns whether the NYPD were policing in a racially biased manner, even though three of the officers involved were African-American or Hispanic.   The NYPD is no stranger to debatable police encounters with members of the minority community. However, this shooting sparked several protests, led by Reverend Al. Sharpton, National Action Network, an African-American civil rights leader, who over the years, had led several contentious demonstrations against police brutality. Sharpton demanded that (then) Police Commissioner Ray Kelly be fired and cried out for the end to police ...