By Bill Freeman January 15, marked as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, a day when our nation collectively reflects on the profound impact of a man who stood as a beacon for change. MLK Day serves as a reminder that one individual can ignite transformation, paving the way for a more just and equal society. As we’ve recently commemorated that day, I thought it important to talk about the essence of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, particularly his unwavering commitment to nonviolent civil disobedience – a philosophy that still resonates and beckons us towards…
Author: Bill Freeman
By Bill Freeman Graduation is a very special moment in our lives. Our hearts go out to those hard-working graduates whose celebrations have been cancelled or, at best, postponed, because of the coronavirus. My dear friend Reverend Enoch Fuzz recently apprised me of the situation at Meharry Medical College. Like so many other schools encountering this disappointment, Meharry’s 2020 class of 86 graduates will be unable to attend or experience their traditional graduation ceremony. Due to COVID-19, there will be no cheering crowds, no families huddled around them in celebration, no walk across the stage to receive diplomas and no…
By Bill Freeman In true federal government tradition, the case against President Trump is progressing slowly but ceaselessly. In a situation remarkably similar to both the Watergate scandal and our own homegrown Blanton scandal, the case against President Trump involves concerns of corruption, cover-ups and coercion. In the Congressional inquiry into President Nixon’s actions involving the Watergate scandal, it was Tennessee’s own Howard Baker who played a crucial role, when he sided with law and reason against partisanship and expediency. Our best hope for seeing history repeat itself lies with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), whose own political ideals have been…
By Bill Freeman Nashville’s seen a remarkable amount of change in recent years, with parts changing for the better and aspects still warranting improvement. Some things have stayed reassuringly the same. The first issue that’s improved dramatically, all things considered, is how we all get along. I remember clearly tanks in the streets of downtown Nashville. The strife Nashville experienced from the civil rights birthing process was nothing short of traumatic. I remember reporters attacked for their coverage of the civil rights challenges we lived through. It still boggles my mind that Nashville endured multiple bombings, particularly Hattie Cotton School…
By Bill Freeman Dignity is just about all our neediest neighbors have left, and Trump proposes to take even that away with the harshest budget cuts I was greatly concerned when President Trump unveiled his federal budget during his recent State of the Union address. Media outlets and expert groups have worriedly described these cuts as “radical change,” “inefficient,” “stigmatizing” and “prone to failure.” While it was not at all surprising to see the harsh cuts that he has proposed, it is still disheartening to see that the Trump administration is choosing to continue onward with their proposed cuts to…