Protest / Rally Regarding Sex Change Operations for Minors in Tennessee

In January of this year, a protest at a “Gender Mutilation Rally” was held in Murfreesboro, TN. Prior to this taking place, some people never realized that multiple children in Tennessee underwent surgery in Nashville to change their sex from boy to girl or girl to boy. The rally surrounded a proposed law in the Volunteer State to make it illegal for a juvenile to undergo a sex change operation or to begin hormone therapy to begin the process of changing their sex.

Protestors against the proposed law for children to be allowed to make the decision to change their biological sex suggested it would take away their rights. The ACLU argues hormone therapy or sex change procedures are the only solution to saving some children from suicide – if the child identifies as the opposite sex they were born as and is having identity problems.

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In Tennessee, you have to be 18 to get your ears pierced, get a tattoo or go to a tanning bed… but protestors believe a teenager, or a child has a brain that is developed to the point of being able to decide to forever change their biological sex.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent brain is not fully developed until the mid to late twenties.

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“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

— Nelson Mandela

Others at the rally highlighted another proposed law in Tennessee that would not allow for a child or teen to attend a show or event where sex acts are performed before the audience.

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12-Year-Old Needs a New Kidney

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Photo Submitted of Leaven Wilson

Murfreesboro, TN - A young man in Murfreesboro, Tennessee is in need of the communities help… in the form of a kidney transplant. Leaven Wilson, a former Blackman Elementary School student, is currently awaiting the process of doctors seeking the perfect kidney match for the 12-year-old. Making matters more difficult, Leaven's blood type is O+, which means the donated kidney will have to come from an O+ blood type donor.

His father Elijah Wilson is hopeful that Leaven will be home this summer and able to begin his next school year in-person at Blackman Middle School. But for now, Leaven is staying with his mom in Colorado where the transplant will take place.

It has been tough on the entire family, especially on Leavan’s older brother Atticus and their dad Elijah who continue to go to school and work in Tennessee while Leavan receives specialized care in the area of Denver, Colorado, which is almost 1,200 miles away. There, Leavan’s mom, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force, is able to take the 12-year-old to and from therapy, doctor’s appointments at the hospital and more. Sometimes, Leavan has to visit the medical facility 3-times per week.

Back in Murfreesboro, Leavan’s older brother continues his daily routine attending Blackman High School while their dad Elijah at Honda of Murfreesboro. Elijah, who works in the parts department, said when he told his General Manager what was happening with his son, the manager’s first response was that he is there to help, even with rides to and from the airport – just let him know what was needed.

Hear the entire 13-minute interview with the family:

If you would like to help the Wilson family, you are encouraged to donate funds into a special account that is organized by COTA, which stands for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. The non-profit focuses on helping children receive not only one kidney, but 3 over a child’s lifetime. While their initial goal of $50,000 has already been reached, the medical cost will far exceed that amount as Leavan ages. The fund will also pay for Leavan’s transportation to and from the hospital and for his family to stay at a nearby hotel. Keep in mind, the fund is overseen by COTA and is reserved for Leavan to utilize for his current medical needs and future surgeries as well.

Funds donated into Leavan’s COTA account are reserved for paying for his first transplant, followed by a second 20-years later and a third kidney transplant when he is about 52-years-old. Most people fail to realize that kidney transplant recipients typically need a new kidney every 20-years, which is the lifetime of a transplanted kidney. See the COTA website to donate by clicking HERE or visiting COTA.org/campaigns – and then type in Leavan’s Murfreesboro Zip Code of 37128. After that, a picture of Leaven will pop-up.

He once drove big rigs for a living

Like a song on the radio, his words stick with you throughout the day. “Are you gonna put this picture in a watermelon patch; or a cornfield like a scarecrow,” he asked as the shutter clicked. “Cornfield,” I replied. I then asked, “Where are you from?” He got serious and calmly replied, “Well, I'm originally from my mother, but was born in Florida [ending his reply with a slight laugh].”

Frank said that he drove a tractor trailer truck for about 35-years, giving up drinking while in the midst of that career at age of 47. “Even when I did drink, I couldn't stand being around people who were drunk,” suggesting the drama was too much. Continuing he said, “I'm a maverick, do you know what that is? It's someone who's a loaner.” He marches to the beat of his own drum.

“A trailer full of condoms, that was the most interesting thing I ever hauled across country,” Frank said. He then added, “When I drove through the desert in California, I would try to outrun the trains – sometimes pushing the semi to 90 and 100 miles per hour – but never could, those trains run so fast out there.”

Frank, whose real name is Franklin, turned 78 this past April and he still rides his bike almost daily. He lives outside near the foot of Lookout Mountain, but he loves it. The outdoors are home to this U.S. Marine from a different time period of life, one where people were often kinder, yet tough as nails. I guarantee you this... he has never met a stranger and never will.

He was born in a different era during WWII on April 29, 1944. 17-Months later in September of 1945, WWII was over.

17-Days before Frank's 1-year birthday, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's final message was prepared on the morning of April 12, 1945. One of the statements in his address included, "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith." Roosevelt never gave his speech and died several hours later on the afternoon of April 12, 1945.

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Street Photography: The flavor in an unflavored life

Street Photography on a tourist filled Saturday in bustling downtown Nashville, Tennessee: I can't control what people say or do... but I can photograph it.

People make life interesting, regardless of what side of the aisle you find yourself on. Different backgrounds can add flavor to what could have been an unflavored day.

Joe Biden stated, “Part of being a public servant, I came to understand in 1978, was absorbing the anger of people who don't know where to turn.” in “Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics”

#Nashville,#downtownnashville,#broadway,#streetphotography, #Leica,#blackandwhite

The road to North Carolina - Street Photography

Street Photography in Nashville: While on a walk in downtown Nashville, my wife and I came across a man sitting on a small ledge outside the richly appointed Omni Luxury Hotel. The stark contrast was poignant and perhaps humbling for those who noticed him.

Sitting in front of the man was a shopping cart filled with his life.
With a stutter, he said his goal was to save enough money to make it to North Carolina.

#Nashville,#blackandwhite,#streetphotography,#leica

Become a State Trooper, Tennessee is Hiring 100+ Troopers

Listen to the FULL Interview about the THP:

Few People on the Streets - Other than the less fortunate without a home

By far, the majority of people on the downtown streets of Nashville were homeless persons and not tourist. Those who called the street home, they talked about how the area has been deserted for days. Not only was the area without visiting tourist, it was also without a large presence of law enforcement, which is something that has never been seen in Music City.

Of the businesses that were open in the downtown area, procedures of serving guests was different.

At an ice cream shop filled with only one customer, samples of flavors were met with a pause as if you were speaking a foreign language. The guest was told that samples are not being served at this time due to the coronavirus.

Of the few bars that were open, musicians played for only a small handful of guests, very small handful.

Batman Building was Once Bustling

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The AT&T building, which is nicknamed “The Batman Building,” was shut down received a deep cleaning after one person tested positive with COVID-19 on March 9, 2020.

When I captured this photo, there was only one person sitting in front of the building.

Usually on a normal weekday, the building is alive with people sitting outside having a smoke, enjoying a sack lunch or tourist looking up photographing the unique structure. But today, March 19, 2020 - that was not the case.

EMPTY Nashville on March 19, 2020: COVID-19

The changes brought on by COVID-19 are having a huge negative impact on businesses all around the country.

In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee said…

If a mandate is proclaimed to keep everyone in the Volunteer state home, it could mean stricter enforcement of new rules or regulations.

The Mayor of Nashville already asked that bars shut down, but many have remained open. The Governor stated...

To the beat of a different drum

Being different while being yourself is sometimes the best thing you can do, especially in times like this when heroin is growing in popularity and crime seems to be turning to gang activity. Rap artist around the country continue to hit a great bass note, but the messages in their songs are still similar to the messages that were first made popular by the likes of NWA and the Ghetto Boys in the 1980’s and early 90’s. However, two rap artist who live in Murfreesboro want to change that with their music.

David Manning and Humble Me perform as a rap duo called “Change Musik.” Their songs may sometimes mention gang violence, but not in the sense you are likely thinking. Instead of glorifying criminal activity, they choose to rap about the negative lifestyle that goes along with such enterprise.

Manning stated in an interview, “Hip hop is very big on being real and true,” which of course is why you may hear songs discussing drive by shootings, drug deals gone bad and mistreating women – because the writer of the songs has lived just that – a life surrounded by crime or violence. Manning, who grew up living with a family that ran carnivals, traveled from state to state seeing all sorts of lifestyles with negative outcomes. Despite his surroundings, he picked positive things in his life to hold onto and value as opposed to negative sites or situations.

“I began to write music as my life began to change,” Manning said. He became a gospel rapper when he turned to Christianity. “Really, I want people to experience freedom man – and anything apart from truth will lead you to bondage,” he suggested.

Humble Me attended Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, TN and stated, “I scored really high in socialization.” After his short stint at Oakland, he was transferred to Riverdale High School. “When I got thrown out of Riverdale that’s when I got saved,” he recalled. Humble Me went on to state, “When people start graduating and getting out of school and you went to school and started when they went, it starts making you really look at your life.”

His next school was Holloway High School, which would be the third high school that Humble Me attended in Rutherford County. While there, he started to understand the value of good people and education. Of course, he was older than most students at age 19.

While at Holloway, he spoke to past principal Ivan Duggin who told him that the school would once again start a basketball team if he could find at least 14 people to sign onto the team roster, which he did. After helping to start the team he decided he wanted to play for the NBA. Amazingly, college representatives visited the school and watched Humble Me play and some colleges even contacted him at home asking if he would play for their school, but he turned the offers down when he felt that God told him to “Speak to his people.” It was then that he decided that he would speak to the masses through music.

It was during those high school years that Humble Me and David Manning teamed up to start a Gospel Rap duo. Together, the two focused on a solution to problems that their generation failed to see through the eyes of rap artist in their time like Tupac Shakur, Biggie, Jay Z, Eminem and Master P. Humble Me said, “All of those guys were not painting a picture of negativity, some of them were just expressing their environment.” He said there is also a solution to the problem of what those rappers sing about, but many of the rappers in his time did not see that solution.  

The question of what the solution was in order to live a better life was clear to both Humble Me and Manning. For them, their solution was giving their life to God. Manning said, “If I’m really going to make an impact in my community and I’m gonna’ really reach back then this is the best means to do it by,” talking about living a positive lifestyle and rapping about the good that God can do in someone’s life. The duo wholeheartedly believe that music can be used to change lives in Murfreesboro, Nashville and far beyond.

It is not always easy to be a Gospel Rap Artist and Manning said, “People look at us like – Man ya’ll are gospel rap artist?” He followed that by stating, “Man God wants to use whatever you got to bring people to him and bring glory to him.”  He said, “God has changed my life.”

In one of their songs they rap, “They say if you have faith just the size of a mustard seed, run into a forest blind probably wouldn’t hit a tree, David beat Goliath with a sling and a stone then we’ll sell a million records just singing these songs.” The goal of Change Musik is to change people by focusing on God and making sure that the Bible is intertwined with their songs.

In addition to making music, Manning and Humble Me preach to others on their television show called Change TV. The show is currently featured nationwide on CTN, Legacy TV and Walk TV.

To learn more about their music or to contact them, visit ChangeMusik.com

The Great Race stops in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee hosted a lunch stop on the 2017 Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty. The cars stopped in Murfreesboro on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 12 noon. The stop was at the Cannonsburgh Village.

The Great Race, the world's premiere old car rally, brought 120 of the world's finest antique automobiles to Murfreesboro for the $150,000 event. The Stones River Region of AACA hosted the event.

In all, the participants in the race will cover more than 2,100 miles in 9 days. The start was on Main Street in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on June 24.  The race will finish July 2 in Traverse City, Mich., on the banks of Grand Traverse Bay just off Lake Michigan as part of that city's annual Cherry Festival.

Teams and cars from Japan, England, Germany, Canada and every corner of the United States will be participating in their vintage automobiles dating back as far as 1916.

"There are more than 450 people just in our entourage from all around the world taking part in this incredible adventure," director Jeff Stumb said. 

Along the route, competitors will travel parts of the original Dixie Highway in seven states - Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. 

The Great Race, which began 34 years ago, is not a speed race, but a time/speed/distance rally. The vehicles, each with a driver and navigator, are given precise instructions each day that detail every move down to the second. They are scored at secret check points along the way and are penalized one second for each second either early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins.

Local Media is Important

LOCAL media has a lot of responsibility and that is not taken lightly.

I have noticed a growing trend in Middle Tennessee and far beyond. Quite often after a story is reported, published or broadcast, family members of the person arrested and named in an article, etc., will call the local media outlet demanding the story be removed.

Family will often state, "This story will cause too much harm to his/ her children, or mother or father, I insist you remove it - he/she is addicted to (name your drug)."

The fact is that he/she who committed the crime is the one causing damage to the family, not the media. The addiction is shaping their life in a horrible way. The crime is the aftermath of the addiction. The media has a job of making that addiction / crime known so others listening, watching or reading don't continue their narrow road and instead get help.

It could easily be argued that the majority of those arrested for serious crimes that are reported in the media have an addiction or a troubling and sad past. They need help, obviously.

Other times local media will receive a call or email suggesting that the family member arrested has a severe mental illness. While that maybe true, so do the majority of those arrested. The United States Department of Justice reports, “64 percent of local jail inmates, 56 percent of state prisoners and 45 percent of federal prisoners have symptoms of serious mental illnesses.” Again, a problem that needs to be reported so that change can happen.

If stories of such are NOT reported, then how will the public know of the issues we as a society need to work on?

For example, if someone is charged with DUI number 6, it should be reported by local media. If it is not reported, how would you realize that we have a problem with the way alcohol cases are treated by the laws we currently have in place? If it were not reported, how would you be reminded that many people in our society have extreme addiction and help is again needed.

Another example, when synthetic drugs were sold in gas stations as bath salts and persons on bath salts were arrested after getting high and randomly attacking and literally eating people, it was reported in local media. If things like that were not reported, then laws would not have been enacted to end the sale of bath salts in gas stations. Rehabilitation centers would not have known about some of the current drugs being used as swiftly had they not been reported in the local media first.

Local news is powerful and potentially life changing for the good, if used properly. It allows the residents of the community to help others like national media cannot do. It allows for big issues to be made known, laws to be changed and programs be developed to help the community as a whole as the result of the arrest of only a few.

One more thing... It allows those who are arrested for serious crimes to publicly choose to make a change for the good or to continue on their current road of destruction. Being publicly known means that the complaining family can fully address their loved one instead of hushing a hard conversation. Perhaps the problems have been kept behind closed doors for years and now it is out in the open. The story may create more pain in the present, but perhaps real recovery in the future - if properly addressed. It will also allow his/her children to know the true dangers of the addicted which means family can come along and fully support the children before that child makes life altering decisions for the negative.

As for how criminal names or stories are handled on social media with no heart whatsover, that is a problem of those commenting. Social media can be harsh because of people commenting without thinking.

I believe we should all take a step back before we comment and remember that we are about to comment on a real person who may have a very sad past of physical abuse, sexual abuse or an addiction. The person arrested could have a mental illness that has gone undiagnosed for years and years. Life is real and sometimes really hard.

I'll step down from my soap box now.

I took this photo in Nashville in 2015, I found it interesting how so many people are anxious to photograph what they believe to be newsworthy and comment about it on social media so quickly.

Time with her children is precious

I want to thank everyone who helped to put the homeless mother of two in a hotel room for the time that she has with her kids. If you missed my original post, the mother lives in a tent and her children live in a local Christian orphanage, which she placed them in when she became homeless. She will have the children to herself over the next nine days. It will be a great time of bonding. 

The mother was so grateful for the room and the two boys, ages 9 and 10, are very polite. One of you gave me gifts to give them… You can see the excitement in their eyes when they unwrapped them. The mother gave the children the gifts and the kids thought the presents came from her. It was awesome.

I had enough money left over to give her $80 in cash to take the kids out to eat a few nights. I also had to pay a $100 cash deposit with the room, because I did not want to use my credit card. Therefore, when she checks out she will have an additional $100 to purchase food for her camp. 

It was indeed a good day today. 

“I wonder if other mothers feel a tug at their insides, watching their children grow up into the people they themselves wanted so badly to be.” ― Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of twenty-three novels