Jay Kersting's Blog

Yesterday morning, I checked my e-mail after watching Fox News Sunday and Meet The Press.  It was then that I learned of a church shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Church shooting!  WHAT??

As most readers of this blog know, I spent ten years of my life in Knoxville, Tennessee, and still have friends (and for the next few weeks, family) in that area.

This church was not in a dangerous area.  Far from it.  Kingston Pike through Sequoyah Hills is a very nice part of Knoxville with a number of churches and synagogues on it.  In fact, my friend Dan Reilly labeled the area, with no disrespect intended,  "God's Strip Mall" because of the variety of faiths represented on that short stretch of roadway.

I remember the Tennessee Valley Uniterian Universalist Church.  I had been in the building once that I recall.  That was to look at a pre-school/daycare coop program.  Due to a number of reasons, we did not end up sending Ben there.  But we knew it was a very good program.

I also remember living near there, literally on the wrong side of the tracks, on Sutherland Avenue.  And the radio studios are about a mile away.  Since I was a traffic reporter, I drove down that stretch of road several times each day. 

I do not think that I knew either of the victims, nor the shooter.

I will close out by directing you to the blog of my friend Dave Foulk.  Dave was the one who sent out the e-mail alert from WNOX-FM in Knoxville that told me of this sad story.  He tells another story that may shine some light on the insanity that sometimes grips our world.

-----------------

Last week I got a call from a man that I met back in April.  In April, he came on the show to share his story of how he faced terminal brain cancer and beat it.  Then he set out to share his story of hope with others and doing so through a rather unique medium.

Professional wrestling.

Michael Burris set up a match at Blair Oaks High School and brought in Ted DiBiase (The Million Dollar Man) as a name that wrestling fans would know.  I was very interested in the stories that both men had to share.

Michael told me last week that he has had a reoccurance of the same type of cancer.  Tomorrow, he has surgery as part of his battle.  

I find his attitude to be quite refreshing and admirable.  I told him that it reminded me of the approach that Tony Snow had when he faced colon cancer.  And I added that I hope his success is greater than that of Mr. Snow.

If you wish to keep up with the progress of Michael Burris, check out his website at www.rejoicinginhope.org for updates. 

--------------------

For those expecting some political stuff this morning, I do not want to let you down.  I did watch Barack Obama on Meet the Press.  My advice to him is simple. 

Senator Obama, the American people are very forgiving.  I have offered this same advice to President Bush.  Admit that you have made a mistake regarding the troop surge.  Do not tap dance around it as you have.  Simply admit that, in hindsight, you were wrong.  That shows GOOD judgement.

Not doing so, shows bad judgement.  And that is what many critics, like ME, have been hammering you on for a long time.

Learn from Bush's mistakes.  Do not copy them.

The last thing that this country needs is ANOTHER President who doesn't make mistakes.  (Bill Clinton didn't make any...and later admitted a slight error.  And George W. Bush admits that trading Sammy Sosa was a mistake, but that is it.)

You should be human.  Show it.

Oh, and a sense of humor would go a long way.  Seriously, lighten up.

----------------

Have a great week.