‘Boonies’ Novel written in 2023 – A Summary of Intro Essays
By Dr. Dippie
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Mysterious Boonswick
‘Boonies: Tristate Treasure’ is an adventure comedy satire-spoof of Goonies, Indiana Jones, and National Treasure type films. The author has not seen the horror film called ‘The Boonies’ yet, but this book’s fictional setting of Boonswick (based on the Brunswick to Boonsboro area) is also along the Appalachian Trail (psychological mid-point between Maine and Georgia). Less of a slasher-horror than the film by the same name, this book does have some rural gothic-horror aspects like the pop films it is based on. The kids of Boonswick form a gang called the ‘Boonies’ to have a local identity, while still second class citizens to their insane parents. As fans of action movies, the Boonies know they must follow a map to hidden treasure, or monsters would destroy their middle-class dreams, before the economy ruined their journey into adulthood. So the Boonies kidnap and torture a National Park Service ranger to give them the secret information they need. Too bad that only the ghost of the Wizard Zittle can tell them where John Brown’s treasure is. Will they find the treasure before the police from three different states catch up to them? Will it even matter?
Starring: Marc, Paul, Chris, Angela, Leslie, June, Jason, Josh, Keith, Kirk, Donald, Pat, Pete, Joe, Fruity, Rob, Tom, and Ben.
Featuring: John Brown; The Wizard Zittle; State Troopers from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia; Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies, local police; and cryptids.
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Boonie Born
Developers had been threatening to ruin the rural county for years, but in the 1980s things had reached a climax of excess. Cable companies were perched to invade, and things would never be the same for the Boonswick community. Social life was dying a slow death to television and movies, workers could no longer unite to resist commercial control over every aspect of their lives.
Walmarts and other corporate depots would soon be every-where, replacing local family owned businesses. The change in culture would make most people slaves to plutocrats. Plutocrats were an elite minority (less than 1% of the total population) who wanted to make the destruction of the middle-class permanent.
Yet most adults seemed oblivious to the bigger picture, in large part due to their industrial obedience to paying taxes, bills, and banks. The need to get paid seemed to suck youth away from people, leaving them ‘responsible’ subservient husks of adults. The problem was that while these adults were providers, consumers, and even sometimes supervisors; the future environments for civilization seemed bleak for the slave children.
Average working class adults could only boss children around, so local kids who had not lost their creativity began to form unions. One such Boonswick gang called themselves ‘Boonies’, and they were at war with the system, because kids were powerless and doomed if they simply obeyed adult orders.
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Dawn of the Boonies
Founding members of the Boonies were Marc, Paul, and Chris. Besides these three, other members included: Angela, Leslie, June, Jason, Josh, Keith, Kirk, Donald, Pat, Pete, Joe, Fruity, Rob, Tom, and Ben. The Boonies had various hobbies, including giving ghost tours and starting a Ghost-busters franchise.
The Boonies were neighboring Boonswick children of various ages, from their early teens to late teens. There were rumors that the National Park Service (NPS) were keeping secrets of crashed alien ships and ancient artifacts for government ‘black operations’. Paul said new technologies were created by the ‘military industrial complex’ (MIC) using these top secret relics.
Boonies built forts or bases of their own when and where they had free time. Most of their club-houses or meeting places were on public property, but some were on private property and one or two were on properties belonging to oblivious strangers. Boonies stored food, drink, and weapons at their hide-outs for ‘when shit hits the fan’. They also kept communal things to share during their informal meetings aka hang-outs.
Boonie parents were mainly working class poor and lower-middle class, and the parents of the 3 founding members held house parties for neighbors. Keith’s survivalist mother hosted parties for Boonies where the teens could drink alcohol and smoke pot, because his kind mother treated them as equals and allowed them freedom.
‘Boonies’ as term is American slang for ‘rural areas’, and Boonswick was founded by a relative of pioneer Daniel Boon. So for a group of ‘lost boys’, Boonies was a perfect name. The Boonies gang was smart and ambitious; with half-baked dreams cursed by precocious arrogance that led them to wild dangerous adventures.
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Boonie Member Pledge
Paul based Boonie member pledge cards on GI Joe file cards he collected. After initiation Boonies signed a hand written statement they made, declaring why they were true and loyal Boonies. June wrote that she would be the voice of reason, and “keep the younger Boonies from doing too many dumb things”; as an older member.
Members also had to recite the Boonie oath:
I will never betray my fellow Boonies.
Mundane life is for the loonies.
I will be friend to the end.
Boonies forever.
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The Novel is longer than the Script
The big plan is to eventually make simple scripts for local theater groups to perform the ‘Boonies’ play because it is set regionally; from which independent film makers can make scripts for movies or shows; and to produce merchandise of the illustrations, code ciphers, and characters etc.
10-20 speaking roles in a stage play for small groups on average
Most performed high school musicals and plays in recent years 2020-2023:
Addams Family, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, Clue, Midsummer Night’s Dream, It’s A Wonderful Life (Radio script), She Kills Monsters (D&D drama), Alice In Wonderland, Little Women, Christmas Carol, The Laramie Project (gay murder), The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
If you would like to order a book, here is the Amazon link – [coming soon]
“President Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore both visited my home town for Earth Day in 1995. Behind them in the sky a small UFO appeared, and aliens told us to stop polluting our planet and waging wars. In the years that followed we were told by corporate political professionals that we were mistaken about what happened. We were told it was enemy propaganda or insanity.”
Edited By Walton Stowell from an earlier educational collaboration Nena did for teaching
In the 1700’s and 1800’s slavery fueled the Southern plantation economy, and it was spreading West. Over 388,000 Africans were brought to North America against their will and enslaved to work as property on properties. Since ancient times slaves were at the mercy of masters who owned them. The Old Testament features the liberation of Jews from Egypt by the will of God and his cleric Moses. Abolitionists wanted to end slavery because it was immoral. All workers should be free to travel at least, even when bosses refuse to pay.
Abolitionists fought fiercely for freedom for all, using many strategies. Some like Harriet Tubman helped slaves escape using an illegal system of secret hiding places and spies called ‘the Underground Railroad’. Social contact for abolitionists was dangerous, because they could be legally assaulted; yet people of all ages and colors participated in trying to expand civil liberties for individuals and a greater American society as promised by the Declaration of Independence (“…all men are created equal,…”).
Abolitionist lobbyists tried to change state and federal civil laws to grant more rights to more people. Frederick Douglass had outstanding speaking skills and influenced national leaders like senators and President Abraham Lincoln. Douglass dedicated his life to securing equal rights for all citizens of the US by peaceful means. This tedious process was slow with setbacks, and led other activists to believe violent revolt was needed.
‘The Freedom Trail’ was and is the path taken by the radical abolitionist John Brown on his last trip across the Mid-West towards Harpers Ferry in the East. Brown had already made several trips before to lead attacks in bloody Kansas. John Brown rescued slaves via the ‘Underground Railroad’, fleeing towards freer areas to the North-East. The physical ‘Freedom Trail’ was blazed from February to October 1859, when Brown came to Harpers Ferry with 21 armed men; but the spiritual and political liberation path continued and continues to grow today. His plan to capture the town and free slaves failed. Many were killed or wounded, and Brown was captured by marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee and his aide J.E.B. Stuart.
During the raid John Brown kept hostages and took refuge in the fire engine guard house. The engine house became known as ‘John Brown’s Fort’, and blacks visited it as a shrine. It was amazing a crazy white man and his loyal band could threaten white institutional tyranny.
The Fort remains an important symbol of the struggle for freedoms and civil rights. The Fort was moved to Chicago, then back to WV at the Murphy Farm, then to Storer College, and finally 150 feet from where it was originally.
After their capture Brown and 6 of his raiders were taken to jail in Charles Town and tried at the County Court House. Blacks and abolitionist journalists were not allowed at the pro-slavery trail, and could not visit him in jail until after sentencing. Brown wrote over 100 letters defending the Raid during the month between his trial conviction and execution. Brown and 6 troops were executed on December 2, 1859. However 5 of Brown’s troops had already escaped north after the Raid.
“I John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had, as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much blood-shed, it might be done.” – John Brown
John Brown had 20 children! Only one died in Kansas, and two died in Harpers Ferry.
5 Raiders who escaped: Osborne P. Anderson, Charles P. Tidd, Owen Brown, Barclay Coppock, and Francis J. Meriam
Osborne P. Anderson – the only black escapee, lived in Canada and Ohio (see note at essay end) Union Veteran, RIP 1872
Charles P. Tidd – lumberjack from Maine, farmer in Kansas, Union Veteran, RIP 1862
Owen Brown – stayed at his brother Jason’s house in Ohio, grew grapes on an island in Lake Erie, moved to California, RIP 1889
Barclay Coppock – from Iowa, fled to Canada, Union Veteran, RIP 1861
Francis J. Meriam – of wealthy Massachusetts family, Union Veteran, 1865
During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry became a refuge for African-Americans who were freed by the Union (North). These men, women, and children were called “contraband”, but they often had their first experience of freedom at Harpers Ferry. Military tents and shebang shacks lined Camp Hill. Osborne P. Anderson was the sole survivor of Brown’s raiders who escaped to write a book ‘A Voice from Harpers Ferry’ and serve as a Union soldier.
Harpers Ferry was shelled by canon-balls from the heights. Although the area had been deforested for weapons and charcoal, there were ruins, rocks, and trenches for snipers to hide and shoot. Safety and freedom were at odds.
When the Civil War was over, Frederick Douglass worked intensely to have the Union Federal government pass laws to end slavery nationally. Abolitionist efforts finally resulted in the 13th Amendment which ended slavery. The 14th and 15th Amendments established due process rights and the right to vote for African-Americans. Women would have to wait.
Property and state rights were freedom issues for both the North and the South (Confederates); but Confederate states considered people (slaves) to be property, and Union states ran factories with poorly paid labor who could move or quit.
The Freedmen’s Bureau for abandon lands and refugees was founded to provide assistance to African-Americans after the Civil War. One of the most important things that the Bureau did was to establish schools for freed men. In 1865 Reverend Nathan Brackett established a primary school for liberated slaves in the Lockwood House at Harpers Ferry, which had previously been used by armory masters and military officers.
Skin color and religion were bigger issues back then, but family blood-lines and laws protecting the rich (from having to share) still keep the classes divided today in much the same ways. Racial labels are attempts to divide humans into sub-species or breeds like we do with other animals; despite that the human race evolves across boundaries as cultures merge over centuries.
Brackett’s ‘Freewill Baptist Freedmen Normal School’ eventually became Storer College (1869), which accepted students of all colors and women too. John Storer was a rich merchant from Maine dedicated to Union equality for all, regardless of race or gender; and so he donated $10,000 for its’ higher education. Four former Federal Armory buildings on Camp Hill became school buildings (Lockwood, Brackett, Morrell, and Anthony Hall).
“When John Brown stretched forth his arm, the sky was cleared. The time for compromises was gone… and the clash of arms was at hand.” – Frederick Douglass 1881
Storer College trustees like Douglass advocated graduates to become civil rights teachers and spread the legacy of John Brown and Freedom’s Trail. The price of ending slavery was war, and the price of having freedoms is practicing them with vigilance. “John Brown’s Body lies a mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on!” – folk and battle hymn song 1861
Even with an end to slavery and legal changes, it was still more challenging for blacks to rise from poverty in a bigoted class based system. After the South suffered Reconstruction era depression (1865-1877), rich racist whites took control in the South again and made Jim Crow laws to segregate blacks in society again from 1890 to 1965. There were court cases over the years (Dred Scott V. Sandford, Plessy V. Ferguson), but two Federal Rights Acts (Civil and Voting) finally restored the legally protected general equality promised and glimpsed 100 years earlier.
In the 1900’s two important African-American men had different opinions about the best way to achieve equality for blacks. Their names were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. They both contributed essays to ‘The Negro Problem’ in 1903, and they wrote ‘The Negro In The South’ together in 1907. Booker attended and taught at Hampton Institute, and founded the Tuskegee Institute in the South (1881). He had four children and wrote about Brown and Douglass. Booker felt that blacks should learn a craft or trade, and work within the system respectfully.
Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois believed in bold activism against discrimination, not accommodation. Equality meant to Du Bois that all adults should have the right to vote, children can attend quality schools, and fair law enforcement for all citizens. Du Bois was a socialist sociologist, Pan-Africanist historian, and civil rights lawyer from the North.
Du Bois and other activists suspected that conventional Bookerite meetings for black civil rights (Carnegie funded Washington) were not sufficient for progress, and so they decided to have their own public meetings. Bookerites worked to sabotage and suppress their rivals; but by 1900 Du Bois was awarded a gold medal for his Paris Expo work, which set the stage for his leadership.
The Niagara Movement was named for ‘Niagara Falls’ where their first meeting was held. The second meeting location of the Niagara Movement was Harpers Ferry in 1906. Harpers Ferry is an ancient confluence location for its natural beauty and river transport junction, but John Brown and Storer College make it most important for freedom issues. Du Bois and his fellows made plans to attain more equal rights for African-Americans.
“A more suitable place for the Second Annual Meeting of the Niagara Movement than Harpers Ferry would have been hard to find.” – Max Barber
The 1906 Niagara Movement Harpers Ferry meeting was important for several reasons. In Harpers Ferry they met in public for the first time on US soil. The meeting was peaceful despite numerous recent riots in other states. Women also became voting members, demonstrating that they recognized broader civil rights for all adult citizens. Niagara grew chapters in many states, with hundreds of members. They published a magazine called ‘Horizon’ from 1907 to 1910.
“We are not more lawless than the white race; we are more often arrested, convicted, and mobbed.” – W.E.B. Du Bois
In his speech ‘Address To The Country’, Dr. Du Bois clearly outlined his plan for securing equal rights for African-Americans: “First, we would vote. Second, we want dis-crimination in public accommodation to cease. Third, we claim the right of freedmen to walk, talk, and be with them that want to be with us. Fourth, we want the laws enforced against rich as well as poor; against white as well as black. Fifth, we want our children educated.”
Years later Dr. Du Bois would say this about the 1906 Niagara Movement conference: “…instead of meeting in secret, we met openly… and had… one of the greatest meetings that American Negroes ever held… and we talked some of the plainest English that had been given voice by black men in America.”
Blacks and whites would eventually be able to go to the same churches and schools, after years of hate crimes against anyone trying to integrate adult humans with skin tone and cultural differences. Although later black leaders (MLK and Malcolm X) and presidents have not held civil rights meetings or rallies in the town of Harpers Ferry, this is probably due to the continual flow of intensity inherent in the spirit of place, rather than lack of legacy.
When change needs to happen, we can visit places that inspire us to be brave enough to do what we need to do. Some people take holy pilgrimages for personal religious revelations. Harpers Ferry is sacred to historians and artists of all types for many reasons; while still being too controversial for others.
The Niagara Movement met at Boston’s Faneuil Hall in 1907. In 1908 a Jewish business man named Abe Kaplon built a modern house on the top of Camp Hill in Harpers Ferry, adjacent to his Odd Fellows Lodge, which helped to protect Storer College folk as brothers and sisters (FLT). That year Niagara met at Oberlin, Ohio; and there was a race riot in Springfield, Illinois. In 1909 Niagara met for the final time at Sea Isle City, New Jersey. In 1911 Dr. Du Bois encouraged all members of Niagara to join the ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’ (NAACP). The Niagara Movement is considered the “corner-stone” of the modern civil rights era.
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NOTES:
Niagara Movement leaders: W.E.B. Du Bois (seated), with J.R. Clifford, L.M. Hershaw, and F.H.M. Murray on the grounds of Storer College.
John Brown gave his last statements on hand-written notes, and gave two different ones to two jailers. This is the more famous one.
This project was inspired by the Teacher’s Conference in 2006 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Niagara Movement’s meeting held at Harpers Ferry on the Storer College campus.
Nena Stowell had students cut and paste Storer buildings on map.Nena Stowell taught this historical map lesson as elementary art.
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Lewis Leary was one of John Brown’s men, but before joining the gang he married Miss Mary in Oberlin Ohio. Mary Langston raised her grandson, wrapping him in a shawl that Lewis had worn. That boy was Langston Hughes, the poet who made his name as a member of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1931 Langston wrote this poem to black Americans who are “now free,” to remember abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859), his raid on Harpers Ferry, his trial and execution:
“Perhaps, You will remember John Brown,
John Brown, Who took his gun, Took twenty-one companions, White and black, Went to shoot your way to freedom Where two rivers meet, And the hills of the North, And the hills of the South, Look slow at one another — And died, For your sake.
Now that you are many years free, And the echo of the Civil War has passed away, And Brown himself, Has long been tried at law, Hanged by the neck, And buried in the ground – Since Harpers Ferry is alive with ghosts today, Immortal raiders, Come again to town – Perhaps, You will recall, John Brown.”
(text based on the book ‘HFHOFT’ 2022 SCOD edition)
On Slavery
In the 1700’s and 1800’s slavery fueled the Southern plantation economy, and it was spreading West. Over 388,000 Africans were brought to North America against their will and enslaved to work as property on properties. Since ancient times slaves were at the mercy of masters who owned them. The Old Testament features the liberation of Jews from Egypt by the will of God and his cleric Moses. Abolitionists wanted to end slavery because it was immoral. All workers should be free to travel at least, even when bosses refuse to pay.
Abolitionists fought fiercely for freedom for all, using many strategies. Some enslaved abolitionists like Nat Turner revolted. Some like Harriet Tubman helped slaves escape using an illegal system of secret hiding places and spies called ‘the Underground Railroad’. Social contact for abolitionists was dangerous, because they could be legally assaulted; yet people of all ages and colors participated in trying to expand civil liberties for individuals and a greater American society as promised by the Declaration of Independence (“…all men are created equal,…”).
Abolitionist lobbyists tried to change state and federal civil laws to grant more rights to more people. Frederick Douglass had outstanding speaking skills and influenced national leaders like senators and President Abraham Lincoln. Douglass dedicated his life to securing equal rights for all citizens of the US by peaceful means. This tedious process was slow with setbacks, and led other activists to believe violent revolt was needed.
On John Brown
‘The Freedom Trail’ was and is the path taken by the radical abolitionist John Brown on his last trip across the Mid-West towards Harpers Ferry in the East. Brown had already made several trips before to lead attacks in bloody Kansas. John Brown rescued slaves via the ‘Underground Railroad’, fleeing towards freer areas to the North-East. The physical ‘Freedom Trail’ was blazed from February to October 1859, when Brown came to Harpers Ferry with 21 armed men; but the spiritual and political liberation path continued and continues to grow today. His plan to capture the town and free slaves failed. Many were killed or wounded, and Brown was captured by marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee and his aide J.E.B. Stuart.
During the raid John Brown kept hostages and took refuge in the fire engine guard house. The engine house became known as ‘John Brown’s Fort’, and blacks visited it as a shrine. It was amazing a crazy white man and his loyal band could threaten white institutional tyranny. The Fort remains an important symbol of the struggle for freedoms and civil rights. The Fort was moved to Chicago, then back to WV at the Murphy Farm, then to Storer College, and finally 150 feet from where it was originally.
After their capture Brown and 6 of his raiders were taken to jail in Charles Town and tried at the County Court House. Blacks and abolitionist journalists were not allowed at the pro-slavery trail, and could not visit him in jail until after sentencing. Brown wrote over 100 letters defending the Raid during the month between his trial conviction and execution. Brown and 6 troops were executed on December 2, 1859. However 5 troops had escaped during the Raid.
“I John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had, as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much blood-shed, it might be done.” – John Brown
John Brown gave his last statements on hand-written notes, and gave two different ones to two jailers. This is the more famous one.
On The Civil War
During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry became a refuge for African-Americans who were freed by the Union (North). These men, women, and children were called “contraband”, but they often had their first experience of freedom at Harpers Ferry. Military tents and shebang shacks lined Camp Hill. Osborne P. Anderson was the sole survivor of Brown’s raiders who escaped to write a book ‘A Voice from Harpers Ferry’ and serve as a Union soldier.
Harpers Ferry was shelled by canon-balls from the heights. Although the area had been deforested for weapons and charcoal, there were ruins, rocks, and trenches for snipers to hide and shoot. Safety and freedom were at odds.
On Civil Rights
When the Civil War was over, Frederick Douglass worked intensely to have the Union Federal government pass laws to end slavery nationally. Abolitionist efforts finally resulted in the 13th Amendment which ended slavery. The 14th and 15th Amendments established due process rights and the right to vote for African-Americans. Women would have to wait.
Property and state rights were freedom issues for both the North and the South (Confederates); but Confederate states considered many workers (slaves) to be property, and Union states ran factories with poorly paid labor who could move or quit. Skin color and religion were bigger issues back then, but family blood-lines and laws protecting the rich (from having to share) still keep the classes divided today in much the same ways. Racial labels are attempts to divide humans into sub-species or breeds like we do with other animals; despite that the human race evolves across boundaries as cultures merge over centuries.
“When John Brown stretched forth his arm, the sky was cleared. The time for compromises was gone… and the clash of arms was at hand.” – Frederick Douglass 1881
Storer College trustees like Douglass advocated graduates to become civil rights teachers and spread the legacy of John Brown and Freedom’s Trail. The price of ending slavery was war, and the price of having freedoms is practicing them with vigilance. “John Brown’s Body lies a mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on!” – folk and battle hymn song 1861
Even with an end to slavery and legal changes, it was still more challenging for blacks to rise from poverty in a bigoted class based system. After the South suffered Reconstruction era depression (1865-1877), rich racist whites took control in the South again and made Jim Crow laws to segregate blacks in society again from 1890 to 1965. There were court cases over the years (Dred Scott V. Sandford, Plessy V. Ferguson), but two Federal Rights Acts (Civil and Voting) finally restored the legally protected general equality promised and glimpsed 100 years earlier.
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois both contributed essays to ‘The Negro Problem’ in 1903, and they wrote ‘The Negro In The South’ together in 1907. Booker attended and taught at Hampton Institute, and founded the Tuskegee Institute in the South (1881). He had four children and wrote about Brown and Douglass. Booker felt that blacks should learn a craft or trade, and work within the system respectfully.
Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois believed in bold activism against discrimination, not accommodation. Equality meant to Du Bois that all adults should have the right to vote, children can attend quality schools, and fair law enforcement for all citizens. Du Bois was a socialist sociologist, Pan-Africanist historian, and civil rights lawyer from the North.
Du Bois and other activists suspected that conventional Bookerite meetings for black civil rights (Carnegie funded Washington) were not sufficient for progress, and so they decided to have their own public meetings. Bookerites worked to sabotage and suppress their rivals; but by 1900 Du Bois was awarded a gold medal for his Paris Expo work, which set the stage for his leadership.
The Niagara Movement was named for ‘Niagara Falls’ where their first meeting was held. The second meeting location of the Niagara Movement was Harpers Ferry in 1906. Harpers Ferry is an ancient confluence location for its natural beauty and river transport junction, but John Brown and Storer College make it most important for freedom issues. Du Bois and his fellows made plans to attain more equal rights for African-Americans.
In Harpers Ferry they met in public for the first time on US soil. The meeting was peaceful despite numerous recent riots in other states. Women also became voting members, demonstrating that they recognized broader civil rights for all adult citizens. Niagara grew chapters in many states, with hundreds of members. They published a magazine called ‘Horizon’ from 1907 to 1910.
“A more suitable place for the Second Annual Meeting of the Niagara Movement than Harpers Ferry would have been hard to find.” – Max Barber
“We are not more lawless than the white race; we are more often arrested, convicted, and mobbed.” – W.E.B. Du Bois
In his speech ‘Address To The Country’, Dr. Du Bois clearly outlined his plan for securing equal rights for African-Americans: “First, we would vote. Second, we want discrimination in public accommodation to cease. Third, we claim the right of freedmen to walk, talk, and be with them that want to be with us. Fourth, we want the laws enforced against rich as well as poor; against white as well as black. Fifth, we want our children educated.”
Years later Dr. Du Bois would say this about the 1906 Niagara Movement conference: “…instead of meeting in secret, we met openly… and had… one of the greatest meetings that American Negroes ever held… and we talked some of the plainest English that had been given voice by black men in America.”
Blacks and whites would eventually be able to go to the same churches and schools, after years of hate crimes against anyone trying to integrate adult humans with skin tone and cultural differences. Although later black leaders (MLK and Malcolm X) and presidents have not held civil rights meetings or rallies in the town of Harpers Ferry, this is probably due to the continual flow of intensity inherent in the spirit of place, rather than lack of legacy.
When change needs to happen, we can visit places that inspire us to be brave enough to do what we need to do. Some people take holy pilgrimages for personal religious revelations. Harpers Ferry is sacred to historians and artists of all types for many reasons; while still being too controversial for others.
The Niagara Movement met at Boston’s Faneuil Hall in 1907. In 1908 a Jewish business man named Abe Kaplon built a modern house on the top of Camp Hill in Harpers Ferry, adjacent to his Odd Fellows Lodge, which helped to protect Storer College folk as brothers and sisters (FLT). That year Niagara met at Oberlin, Ohio; and there was a race riot in Springfield, Illinois. In 1909 Niagara met for the final time at Sea Isle City, New Jersey. In 1911 Dr. Du Bois encouraged all members of Niagara to join the ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’ (NAACP). The Niagara Movement is considered the “corner-stone” of the modern civil rights era.
Lewis Leary was one of John Brown’s men, but before joining the gang he married Miss Mary in Oberlin Ohio. Mary Langston raised her grandson, wrapping him in a shawl that Lewis had worn. That boy was Langston Hughes, the poet who made his name as a member of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1931 Langston wrote this poem to black Americans who are “now free,” to remember abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859), his raid on Harpers Ferry, his trial and execution:
“Perhaps, You will remember John Brown,
John Brown, Who took his gun, Took twenty-one companions, White and black, Went to shoot your way to freedom Where two rivers meet, And the hills of the North, And the hills of the South, Look slow at one another — And died, For your sake.
Now that you are many years free, And the echo of the Civil War has passed away, And Brown himself, Has long been tried at law, Hanged by the neck, And buried in the ground – Since Harpers Ferry is alive with ghosts today, Immortal raiders, Come again to town – Perhaps, You will recall, John Brown.”
A few years ago I was mentoring 2 friends younger than me, both adult males in their 20’s, both intelligent savvy talkers. One was a troubled local youth that glorified gun violence and gangster resentment because he was too cowardly to face his own demons. The other was a family friend, and star student of mine at the college where I taught, who I loaned money to, and donated to help to renovate his idea for a coffee bar at the motel where he worked.
The troubled ‘boy’ and I had a disagreement about cooperative attitudes, and we stopped talking; and then one day my car gets vandalized. When i went to visit him unarmed in my casual attire at his grandmother’s house, he pulled a loaded gun (auto-pistol) on me and threatened to shoot me because he was “insane”. The story unfolds from there, where I informed the police that a felon was in possession of a fire arm and claimed to be insane. All of which I wrote about in my report to the Court, which I submitted to the State Troopers along with video tape of his rants for my SCOD Post-Apoc film.
The Troubled Student, soon after threatening me and others, went into a bar and opened fire, killing Nice Student instantly and wounding others. Troubled Student is currently in jail, but i like to check to make sure every year. I am sure that if I had encountered him a second time after that, I would have had to defend my life with extreme violent prejudice. This story is about the failing of a government and social system, to save people from the dark cracks of life, and about 2 young students, that made different choices, and how those worked out for them. Finally, this story to me is about my failure to save either one of them from tragedy.
At some point I hope to be able to write about this story as fiction, with fictional names, to be able to tell it more fully with personal detail and emotion. I still struggle with understanding why it happened, or even what lessons can be learned from it. I have my own thoughts about it, and they weigh heavy on me.
I attended the 2014 ‘Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival’ (HFOF) at the ‘Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship’ (BRCES) because I believe in the concept of celebrating art and sport to preserve wild land and clean water. It is amazing to consider, during a recession based on commercial monopolies, that it is possible to support local talent and save our woods, forests, creeks, rivers, and the wild and free creatures whose lives depend on these environments. During an era where it is common for people to litter on their way to a job that pollutes natural ecology, events like HFOF are truly revolutionary and patriotic in Native American terms.
The BRCES land is beautiful; almost 1,000 acres of wilderness and a small organic farm run by a caring family. Years ago when I visited with my father, BRCES had just begun their mission on the land, and the old white house was over grown and in disrepair. Now the buildings and land are functional again, while being in harmony with the landscape. BRCES is truly a success story for environmentalists.
Volunteers run the show during HFOF. I was lucky enough to be a volunteer under the leadership of President Lisa Cullinane. Lisa is very friendly, kind, and smart; which by the way is my favorite kind of leader. We started preparing a few weeks before the event, and by the event I felt things were flowing well. Vendors are small businesses and non-profit organizations that rent spaces around the field, using tables and tents. I really enjoyed the variety of concessions, and the food and drink was good. There are always tensions and stress involved in any production, but any problems that arose were resolved. Hundreds of people attended the festival; although my non-profit tent for ‘Sustainable Cooperative for Organic Development’ (SCOD), and my fine artist partners did not get visited by many people during the event, so we did not make any earnings. For me it was ok, because I believe in the concept and I was happy to be there.
Camping was easy. I slept in my tent the first night, in the field behind my table. At night the humidity lifted, however this created a dew which saturated my books and artwork exposed to the sky; however items in the tent and oddly enough below the table-cloth were fine. The second day my art partners arrived and set up a tent to shade us a bit; which really helped survive a day of full sun in the field. I also wore sun-block, a large hat, and sunglasses so as to not be sun-burned. Some of us rented the white house for the second night, which was very nice indeed! Staying at the house was a relief from the electric generator that was kept running all night at the main field, to keep their fridge on to preserve the food. Also the best part of the field at the crest, had become over-crowded with vehicles; which in my opinion ruined the very purpose of being there… in other words it turned the perfect camping spot into a parking lot. Despite traffic congestion, most reveled in the mirth, and many stayed up all night with enthusiasm and excitement!!
Bands began playing the first evening, and continued through the night into the next day and night. Some of the bands I had already worked with as friends, so it was a good treat to have them play there. I was even able to deliver my final fan cartoon print-outs to one of the band members that visited my table. Unfortunately I was not able to advertise for the bands, as I had hoped, because like I said very few people came to my booth. Although most of the show revolved around the main stage, my favorite part was the small stage by the grand fire pit. The field has a natural amphi-theater shape around the fire pit; which had just been made formal by Boy Scouts with impressive stone work and movable wood benches. At night the fire pit area hosts musical jam sessions, which embrace the audience, allowing anyone to play with the bands; this is musical freedom and creative collaboration at its finest!!!
Lastly in this article I want to thank everyone that helped make the event happen. Some of my personal high-lights were being with friends, hiking the trails, and witnessing natural phenomena such as the lightning-bug show across the fields, and even into and above the trees!! As I observed the natural light show, I meditated on how often our Nation’s founders enjoyed wonders that surpassed the magic of their technologies back then. Even today many scientists concede that our artificial efforts fail, in comparison to the energy efficiency of the natural world. Thank you also to those that stayed and picked up all the trash! I admit I was tired after the event, and disappointed to once again have to pick up after people that litter. Also the sheer abundance of garbage was not encouraging to my opinion of humanity. However I was pleased there were enough people to pick up all we could find, after many hours of pick-up. I even returned to the site days later to double check that the clean-up was as effective as I thought. Any negative issues did not stop us from having fun, nor did any problems hinder the success of the event as a whole. I definitely want to return next year to BCRES, and be a part of music festivals and sports competitions that donate to wilderness stewardship, and take place within a nature preserve. Please let us get more people to join us!!!!
Yes there are colored people in West Virginia; and they are not afraid of representing their home State WV!! In fact the first free black college in America was in Harpers Ferry, WV; Storer College. From a rich African-American cultural heritage mixed with white “caucasians” for generations; some have been rapping and recording their music for over decades now since MTV began. Although modern multi-media has affected cultural style and subject matter, it does not replace their heritage; rather there is an evolution of expression. In the Harpers Ferry area, some renaissance men have been leading and waging an under-ground musical revolution. In Harpers Ferry there is an historic tradition of revolution.
One such Harpers Ferry musical revolutionary from black-roots is Donald Greene. Together with his circle of friends (many local), they have been doing their thing… all the while having fun. These artists have had to wear many hats to pay bills and play artistically. These new underground pioneers are artists, musicians, producers, writers, film-makers, and more. There is no public funding or venue to sell what they do, yet they do it just to do it. Here we will explore Interviews, Albums, and other aspects of AMM Appalachian Rap Music.
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Freestyle 2006 audio cassette tape “John Brown n Shadows” – JB, Arob, Mike Fields, Paul
B: Beat Boxing w Paul (3 tracks); Slugging w Mike Fields (5 tracks): Thug Snappa, Robo Pirates, Gonna Get It On, Tree Thugga, Circus Dont Stop; JB & Arob (3 Reggae Beat tracks); Local Party recording (w Keith, Doug, DG, Deena, etc)
*
24 Tracks 2007 : JB Codiak & Arob & friends
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AMM 2013-2019: Obama-Nation
AMM Intro, AMM Anthem, Return of JB, What it Is, Morbit, Serial Killa, Dark Echoes, JB Fort, Jeff Rock, In God’s Hands, …
I am putting my plans and dreams for establishing a Medieval Tavern on hold indefinitely. If I had at least an equal business partner willing to meet me half-way on producing designs, plans, and investments; then I would do it. I have not been able to find such a business partner, and so therefore I was not willing to do it myself; as the risk and stress would have been too much for someone that is not rich. I had already taken out loans for college and car, that I struggled to pay. Now that I have greater financial stability and resources, I am not willing to pour all of my savings into a Medieval Tavern; because I would need to take out another loan, and even if I could make a working business, there is a good chance that business would not make net earnings the first few years (it would be in the red). With what would I pay the loans back, if the gross earnings went into paying only the utilities and employees? Business schools generally teach that most new businesses do not start covering costs, until several years later; some close before that, and others go bankrupt.
For many years I have had some loyal and interested friends, that worked on some of the concepts with me; however it takes more than the occasional comment of encouragement or critique, to match what I had designed, planned, and was willing to invest. I have realized, the hard way, that even creative people that can understand what an awesome idea it is, are probably not going to commit to such a major life project (by commit I mean spend most of their waking days on it like I have often done). Most people have their own lives and dreams, that they may or may not pursue. I have yet to find anyone as intent on making a Medieval Tavern as I have been, and I accept that may be the case until I die.
Yet because I am stubborn when it comes to dreams, I am transferring my SCOD efforts from the Medieval Tavern, to the potential for a Victorian Tavern, Tea-House, or Tap-Room. I have a house that was built in 1908, and has a Victorian first floor interior. There is parking along the streets nearby, and the town is the historic tourist town of Harpers Ferry; so there are already successful bed & breakfasts. In fact we had a B&B in our house for years, among other businesses. So it is more likely I will be able to achieve a Victorian Establishment of some kind, before I die; without as much financial backing, and less partners. I will be starting this new dream based on current and future conditions, and no partners (for now). Some dreams we live with, are in fact, in part, already a reality.
I am hereby searching for musician band members to form a local band of some sort, here in the Tri-State area (Frederick Maryland, Harpers Ferry West Virginia, and Leesburg Virginia). I am more concerned about dedication to collaboration, rather than musical “talent”, since talent is relative. Quality is important, and we must be the arbiters of achieving mutual satisfaction. I am an eclectic musician myself, open to various styles and genres; and am searching for other creative people willing to negotiate musically in order to record and play for fun.
Prospective Band Members :
1. Must live locally and have means of transportation.
2. Must have phone or internet means of communication.
3. Must have at least one musical instrument they can play.
4. Must be willing to record or play live cooperatively and have fun.
5. Must be open to almost any style or genre of music or sound.
* NO AUDITIONS
I play keyboard, native american flute, primitive drums, vocals, etc…
Hear some of my past collaborative recordings with SCOD on Soundcloud.
Please contact me via email if interested: drogo76@hotmail (com)
Multiple religious myths and spiritual magics for polytheistic Neo-Pagans
This book is a modern eclectic Pagan Bible. It is the personal beliefs of Prophet Drogo Empedocles, and his interpretation of world religions, New-Age philosophy, and Neo-Pagan magic. Polytheistic Celtic-Wiccan influence is finally proudly written here, in contrast to many Hebrew, Christian, and Muslim beliefs; because of their doctrines of cultural war against Pagans. As a handbook guide of holy Pagan scripture, this book is meant to be a shield and a sword for our faith, in the hands of the chosen guardians. This Pagan Bible includes stories about the magical town of Harpers Faery, and is a combination of historic-fiction, occult magic, and autobiography.
Eclectic-Pagan Celtic-Wiccan New-Age Bible
The word bible, is from the Greek word biblia, meaning simply books. According to religious tradition a bible is also a canon of holy scripture; an authoritative collection of rule books. The dominant rule of this Neo-Pagan Bible is the proclamation of a new covenant with ancient religions, modern Paganism, culture, and individuals in the form of universal spirituality, and acceptance of unique personal magic, and our diverse environments within the Universe. Most of the major religious rule books are now outdated guides. Please help spread the good news of the Pagan Bible!
The word pagan, from Latin paganus, means “rural country folk”. Paganism usually refers to religions or beliefs which are polytheistic or indigenous (non-Christian). Within Paganism are categories such as polytheism, shamanism, pantheism, or animism. Neo-Paganism is the revival of the ancient old ways, adapted in a new way for our modern times. There are many important reasons for this “New-Age” movement, but perhaps most of all Neo-Paganism exists because Mother Earth deserves some respect again, more than ever before!
In various religious and spiritual writings, we may find some answers; or at least stories we can relate to, and are helpful. We may also become upset or troubled by what we read. One curious pattern to notice about written history and other bibles, is how their texts ignore and degrade goddesses, women, and nature-based faiths in general. While mythical stories may be interesting, it is only through our own self-realized connection to civilization and nature that we may put ourselves in context with the true Universe. Remember we are not alone, even when we feel alone.
My name is Drogo Empedocles, and I am a faery. Well, part faery anyway. It is complicated, so I will explain my blood line later. I call myself a faery because fae magic is in my blood, and most of my friends are faeries of one kind or another. I wrote this as my Bible, and it is based on my beliefs and my home town. I encourage everyone to write their own bible. History happens to real people everyday (before it becomes history). This Bible supports polytheism, faerie equal rights, and bloody swear words; in addition to conventional biblical morality and multicultural ethics. This is my Bible.
I was worn out by the time I reached Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The historic Town of Harpers Ferry is the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Also it is the headquarters for many National Park Service (NPS) functions, including the AT Conference Center (ATC). Hikers are welcomed into the town, and there are places to rest and restock. During the summer there are also places to work downtown. After checking in at the ATC, I rented a room in a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) at the top of the hill, and began working in lower-town as Bar dish-washer. Staying in Harpers Ferry gave me a chance to rest my weary back and legs from all that hiking. Most of the patrons at the Bar were tourists, and management treated me ok. The whole area had been lucky enough to be protected by vast stretches of NPS land, and a few locals were quite proud of that fact.
The B&B owner was getting sick of me after a few weeks, because regular B&B income is better than renting rooms. So the B&B owner told me about a place I might like to stay that was more for “hikers and people like me”. There was a commune located just outside of town, but still along the AT. I could live there possibly for free, in exchange for work, and still work at a Pub there for some tip money. Suddenly a bell rang in my head, and I said “This place is not called SCOD by any chance, is it?” And the owner said, “Why yes, I think that is what they call it!” I said “I have heard of it!” The next day I quit my job at the Bar, and moved to SCOD.
This is the dominant bluff of rocky cliffs on Loudoun Heights. I consider it my favorite camp site on the mountains around here. Dad took me and friends camping here as young teenagers, just like his Eagle Scout training taught him to do. Just down the trail, is a parking area and Tri-State gas station.
Some of the trees I saw were black walnut, oak, and poplar. There was an undergrowth of pawpaw; and a ground cover of dead leaves (all year), dead wood (all year), ferns, poison ivy, strangle-thorn vines (2 types), wild mint, wild oregano, etc…
Oddly small white limestones run around the base of some tree trunks. Perhaps they were placed there by fairies or humans, or upon growing the tree pushed the ground around it up through the leaves.
Stone ruins of a Civil War fort sit atop Loudoun Heights Ridge Trail, just as they do on Maryland Heights Ridge Trail; but on Loudoun Heights the ruins are smaller and made of smaller stones. I once camped up here in the rain by myself.
Towards the north-east the path is overgrown by pawpaws. After several minutes of pruning, I was able to clear a hole through the foliage. I used finger snapping, and stick whacking on the branches.
Then the Ridge Trail is threatened by strangle-thorn thin-stem vines, and other thorns (raspberry and thick-stem thorns). Strangle-thorns of the thin-stem variety have odd shaped leaves resembling pale-green wild bean vines. The Orange Trail High End Ridge junction is here.
#1 on Reverb Nation for World Music in Harpers Ferry!
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Bands: The Lance Simmons Quintet (Savannah, GA circa 1999-2000), Savannah Georgia Drum Circle (1997-2000), Harpers Faerie Goblin Jams (emeritus), Loveland Studio, AMM
Bands Collaborated with: Stellar Watson (Shepherdstown, WV circa 2003-2005), (Shepherdstown, WV circa 2001-2004), The Unfortunate Rakes (Celtic Film), Litz, Full Blush, The Sauce, Frederick Drum Circle (2015-2019), etc…
Have hosted Individual Musician friends: John Henry Dale, Bruha, Bruce Wilkens, Chance McCoy, Daniel Ownfeather, Brandon Barnard, Chris Drumwise, and others…
* 1980s
I first played piano on our Hardman Grand Piano as a child. I could read basic music notes, but preferred to learn from others and make up my own songs. Yankee Doodle, Chop-Sticks, TV Themes, and Gothic chords. Then on Keyboard I was able to add sound effects, beats, and different instrument sounds. This opened up the World of Music to me.
Violin was more intensive because i had to practice for a teacher, lessons, and public performances. The cat hated my violin playing, and I did too. If I play a violin now, I will only do free-form fiddle for fun.
*
Most of my individual recordings are spontaneous improvised musical pieces. I try to have consideration for the parts I play; tempo, note for note, pause for pause. When I play with another musician, to decide how to respond to their sounds, I interpret their personality and feelings in relation to mine. Only with others would I worry about confining myself to trying to remember how to repeat the same performance for a “song”. I prefer to imitate sounds like some birds can. When I am alone, there is no context for how to play, except what I make of my mind and environment; my thoughts are too organic to be confined in complex memorized repetition. I like to able to hit a few “wrong” notes, or playing things different without feeling like i ruined the piece for everyone; audience obviously matters for this relationship.
* 1997-2000
I was in some local music jams in high school. Mostly I paid to attend shows at music clubs in cities (DC, Baltimore, NY, Providence).
When I lived in Alabama, I bought a Native American flute with an Alpaca etched into it. It was very affordable, and made of a light-weight reed (naturally hollow stalk), which makes it perfect for travel. The sound is easy to make, and ghostly. I have a variety of other recorder designs, including a “Walton tin whistle”.
My best sounding (note for note), and most expensive flute ($30-$60?) was purchased at a Rendezvous in Wisconsin, made possible by a loan from Cordite, because I didn’t have the cash on me at the time. It has a wolf head on it, and its made from an old red-wood fence. I had been waiting a long time to find a quality flute i could afford; I paid Cordite back asap.
I love to play drums. My favorite drum is a “Walton Irish Bodran” with an elaborate Celtic Knotwork Cross on it. My weekly Drum Circle in Savannah, GA was like pagan church for me.
In the Lance Simmons Pan-Ethnic Quintet, we had Didgeridoo, Piano, Guitar, Vocals, and all kinds of funky percussion. Our style was pan-ethic world music genre. We really just went at it, from our spiritual guts. It was alot of fun. We played in a SCAD Battle of the Bands, SCAD Spring Break Concert at a Dorm Pool, SCAD Sound Studios, SCAD Music Hall (huge old building), in the Parks, and the Percussion guy and I played for money on the Beach Board-Walk and at the Pavilion! He had this crazy water drum he made. That same year I also took a class on African instruments in the Park (in relation to Spiritual Martial-Arts).
LSQ Recordings: Theme for a SCAD Film, Answer, Cowbells in Savannah, Didgeridoo Bass, Clip-Clop Gallop, etc…
* 2000-2012
By 2000 I knew that cassettes would be obsolete, and therefore wanted a new way to make mix-tapes (CD mixes were not made on players like tapes were). Therefore I painfully began to learn about modern computers more, which was difficult because I did not use them enough in college to be able to mix music and storage capacity was always easily maxed out for larger files like video and audio. By 2005 I had reached a point financially where I had to decide between homelessness or joining the military.
2007 – I learned the difference between Wave, MP3, and Wmp files the hard way; by accidently starting to convert all of my music collection to wmp, and then learning that i would be unable to edit wmp or play them on many devices.
2008 Condo Couch Recording – Faster / Slower
2011 Flute Recording “East-West Bridge” – I call it “East-West Bridge” because I play pieces that sound both Asian and Native American, and blends of the two; plus some Celtic style European stuff. I play randomly, whatever I feel like playing when I play solo. My style has constantly evolved since the 1990’s.
2012 – AMM Formed
* 2013-2020- Digital Database
Drogo’s List of Audio Tracks he has worked on:
Doctor SCOD, Scod Battle, SCOD Keywords, Gotta Go Green, Enviro-Mental, Mix, Whale of a Tale, Flute Wolf East-West Bridge 2011, Flute Llama 2008, Flute SCAD 1999, Robert Byrd Barbaric, Resounding Freedom, Operation Delirium, Politics Unusual, Infamous America, Rasta Revolution Relentless Struggle, Sabotage 911 New World Disorder, Rebel Radio Rock, Reggae Roots Alarm Call, Journey to Mongo, Engine at the Station, Beat the Fluted Pipe, Tolkien Hobbit Album, Tolkien LOTR Album, Sherlock Holmes Album, Pirate Cheese, Peace Through Cookie, Simple Life, Ultra-conspiracy Theory, 911 History Pitts, Harpers Faerie Legacy, Flight On Time, Big Country Creation, Drop This Dont Care, Everything Is Dead, BP Oil Spill Wave, Kill the Terrorists, Mocking Thrush Bedlam, Something Serene, Project Cybermumu, Gothic Space Coaster, Midday Power Mix, SCOD Elemental Series [Wild Plants, Berry Picking, Solar Fire, Air Wind, Aqua Water, Earth Wildlife] [50+]
Agora Anxiety, Beat Busting Jam, Cafe Nola Samples (5), Omen Remix, Drogo Beat 1, Droning Gypsy Market, Friday Night Fright, Hippy Drums NF (5), Pipeos, Melodica samples (10), Flute solos (5), Rig Veda Trap, Didge samples (7), 911 Ventura Techno, SCOD Success series (20), Drogo-Ryn Duet, AMM Enviro-Rap, CANI mixes (5), Mother Earth Communion, Bernie Sanders Mix, Alen Watts & Campbell mixes (3), Mystic Meadows samples (12), Wild Things mix, SCOD mixes (50), Loveland samples (9), Bass Pulse mixes (5), Midnight mixes (7), EWB mixes (3), Faery Flow mixes (4), SCOD Beats (200), SCOD sound samples (40), Drogo-Nina mixes (20), Drogo-Carolina Kardrogina mixes (13), AMM archive (50), Wonder Woman mix, Jimmy Dore mixes (5), Comedy skit clips (30), Rockwell Musical 2018 (5), Aether series (5), Greta Toonsberry Time mixes (3), Tone Time series (5), Interviews (10), Karaoke-Covers (30), HFO Music Album (12), Book Readings (50), Other songs (20).
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SCOD Public Blog 
2 Students, 1 Gun, 1 Murder
Posted in Critical Commentary of Civilization, Psychology, Uncategorized with tags Cliffside, gun, harpers ferry, killing, murder, students, violence on September 19, 2016 by DrogoA few years ago I was mentoring 2 friends younger than me, both adult males in their 20’s, both intelligent savvy talkers. One was a troubled local youth that glorified gun violence and gangster resentment because he was too cowardly to face his own demons. The other was a family friend, and star student of mine at the college where I taught, who I loaned money to, and donated to help to renovate his idea for a coffee bar at the motel where he worked.
The troubled ‘boy’ and I had a disagreement about cooperative attitudes, and we stopped talking; and then one day my car gets vandalized. When i went to visit him unarmed in my casual attire at his grandmother’s house, he pulled a loaded gun (auto-pistol) on me and threatened to shoot me because he was “insane”. The story unfolds from there, where I informed the police that a felon was in possession of a fire arm and claimed to be insane. All of which I wrote about in my report to the Court, which I submitted to the State Troopers along with video tape of his rants for my SCOD Post-Apoc film.
The Troubled Student, soon after threatening me and others, went into a bar and opened fire, killing Nice Student instantly and wounding others. Troubled Student is currently in jail, but i like to check to make sure every year. I am sure that if I had encountered him a second time after that, I would have had to defend my life with extreme violent prejudice. This story is about the failing of a government and social system, to save people from the dark cracks of life, and about 2 young students, that made different choices, and how those worked out for them. Finally, this story to me is about my failure to save either one of them from tragedy.
At some point I hope to be able to write about this story as fiction, with fictional names, to be able to tell it more fully with personal detail and emotion. I still struggle with understanding why it happened, or even what lessons can be learned from it. I have my own thoughts about it, and they weigh heavy on me.
– Drogo
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