Novaelist Walker Percy could well be the greatest novelist ever to come out of Louisiana. He is recognized as the nation’s premier Catholic writer. His novels were legendary covering so many topics that affect each one of us in today’s world, and I read them all. He had a great influence of my early writings as we both went to the University of North Carolina and both wrote for the student newspaper, the Daily Tar Heel. Walker Percy is honored yearly at the festival named adtee him , reviewing all of his writings with authors around the country coming each year in Saint Francisville, Louisiana. The gathering happened this past weekend. I write about his influence in this week’scolumn. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
Was there a bigger charismatic movie star than Robert Redford? Fans like me didn’t care about the story he played in. It was Redford! Whatever the movie, there was something you just had to see. And there were many really big ones. Of course “Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid.” But there were so many other “can’t miss “movies. My four favorites were Jeremiah Johnson, 3 Days of the Condor, The Candidate, and All the President’s Men. If I had to pick one, it would be “Jeremiah Johnson.” I like I said, I want to see anything he starred in. We sure will miss him.
9/11. Do you remember? It’s been 24 years, and many Americans weren’t even born the. But this date in in infamy became a demarcation line for America’s fight against terrorism. Many of us were glued to the TV. To hear my personal experience of just what happened on this terrible day, read my new column. You can find it by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
Well, now we have the President saying that there should be a major revision in our election process. Actually, boating on election day.y makes good sense. Something special about gathering up the kids, and heading to your polling location. There certainly should be exceptions for those in the military, those who are handicapped, and public workers you need to be working on election day. I know about working on election day, and I write about it in this week’s column. You can read it now by going to the red flashing box above, or by Clicking Here.
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long ago. Twenty years has passed, since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. No one had any idea what would happen in the aftermath. When the hurricane hit, it did not look that bad. But we were surprised for the worst. So many of us down in my part of the South are we living all the terrible happenings of this vicious hurricane and the attitude of public officials. I write about it again in this week’s column. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
What do old guys like me do when they start to slow down a bit. Actually, I’m only 85 so I have a long way to go. But I have started a new hobby. I paint and also work with ceramics. My only regret is I did not start painting and making pottery long ago. I read where some of the great impressionist painters had to quit painting when they reached 75 or so because of arthritis and the fact their hands were shaking. I sure know how that feels. In any event, you can see a few of my works below from my efforts, primarily in the North Carolina mountains. I’m not that good, but I find Ito be an invigorating hobby.
The world’s best watched and listen edto in the world. His name is Jimmy Swaggart, and he was from my hometown in Ferriday, Louisiana. Brother Swaggart, (Pentecostal ministers and their flock called each other, Brother), passed away recently, and the press did a number of stories about my relationship with him. When he died, I probably knew him longer than anyone else still living. I did legal work for him in the 1960s and joined him a few years back giving the final eulogy to Jerry Lee Lewis, my first client and Jimmy Swaggart’s first cousin. I write about our relationship in this week’s column. You can read it now by Clicking Here or clicking on the Red Flashing Box above.
Hard getting the Brown family together since we are spread out all over the country. But we did have a great time over the Memorial weekend with kids and grandkids gathering in Baton Rouge.
I’ve decided to slow down a bit and smell the roses. You may not know it, but I’ve been writing a weekly column for some eighty newspapers and websites in Louisiana for over 20 years. That’s a lot of shooting my mouth off and sharing my opinions. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve written seven books while over 1000 newspapers, and so many Podcasts, syndicated radio programs, and TV interviews. Most of my expressions are right here on this website. This weeks column share some final thought as I say goodbye. I will continue to write occasional columns and post my thoughts here on the website, but will be doing so on my terms. So I hope you will enjoy keeping up and taging along. You can read my final weekly column by clicking on the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here
A Sunday luncheon with my two grandsons at Antoine’s restaurant in New Orleans. James Harvey Brown the fourth (Ruger), on the left, celebrated his first communion at St. Rita’s Catholic Church.
There’s heavy floods coming down the Mississippi river from throughout the Midwest. All the snow that is taking place is created the potential for some heavy flooding. And it all heads right down towards Louisiana. Flood control protections in Louisiana, including the Bonnie Care spillway are about to kick off and put in place. So who’s protecting us? All the 23 Levee boards operating throughout Louisiana? I raise serious questions about just how much help levee boards are in this week’s column. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
A number of legislatures in the south are dealing with high automobile insurance rates. Louisiana is at the very top. But our these legislatures on the right track in finding ways to lower the cost of insurance? Some areas they could make a difference or being ignored. I write about money and politics in this weeks column. Take a look. You can read this week’s call by Clicking Here or going to the Red Flashing Box above.
If you live in Louisiana, you are either Catholic or surrounded by many Catholic friends. There are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church, and such a large number of Catholic priests and Catholic laymen who have given their lives in bringing? The spirit of the Lord in their influencing of so many church lives. Unfortunately, there is a cloud hanging over certain parts of the Catholic Church because of the pedophiles. The beginnings of so much of what took place emanated from Louisiana. I hope the worst is over for the church, and that’s the focus of this week’s column. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
We so often fail to recognize real commitment and special talents when it comes to public officials. They leave office, pass on, we only hope that those who take their place show the same abilities. United States Senator Bennett Johnson was a very special case. He had the ability to work with elected officials from either party, and often was able to reach compromises, regardless of political persuasion, My column this week is about Bennett as he passed away just last week. You can read the column by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
To listen to latest podcast, go to www.datelinelouisiana.com.
The death penalty was rendered operative recently. Louisian’s current governor is pushing aggressively for a number of new death penalty sentences to be imposed. I was in public life in Louisiana for 28 years, but I never witnessed a death penalty decree, even though I was invited to witness such a punishment on a number of occasions I did witness the death penalty sentence, and I write about it in this week’s column. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
Every year, Louisiana voters seem to be facing new constitutional amendments. Yes, our current constitution is 50 years old and needs some updating. But take it to the voters? Most voters don’t even know what they’re voting on. And our current constitution gets bigger and bigger. How about a new one? That’s the focus of my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
A nice turn out for my talk on my latest book Jesus, Jews, Jihad and Me last week at the Country Club of Louisiana. Also picture below with me is Missy Couhig, owner of the Cundrum bookstore in Saint Francisville, who who coordinated my talk to this group.
The president has called for English to be the official language of America. Many people assume it already is. So how does the country deal with so many immigrants coming into the country, and what is the obligation of both the nation and each state to supply governmental materials in languages other than English? I write about this issue in my new column now posted. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.
