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mattdixongreenvillesc · 5 days

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The Role of Youth in Driving Social Change

The Role of Youth in Driving Social Change https://mattdixongreenvillesc.net/the-role-of-youth-in-driving-social-change/ In today’s rapidly changing world, the involvement of youth in driving social change has become increasingly significant. Young people possess unique perspectives, energy, and passion that can catalyze positive transformations in their communities and beyond. Here, we explore the essential role of youth in driving social change and the strategies they employ to make a meaningful impact. 1. Catalysts for Innovation and Creativity Youth are natural innovators and creative thinkers, often unbounded by conventional norms and constraints. Their willingness to question the status quo and their newfound perspectives make them important social innovation catalysts. Whether through technology, art, activism, or entrepreneurship, young people bring novel ideas and solutions to address pressing social issues, driving change in diverse sectors such as education, environment, and healthcare. 2. Agents of Advocacy and Activism Empowered by social media and digital connectivity, youth are increasingly vocal and active in advocating for causes they believe in. From climate action to human rights, young activists worldwide are leading grassroots movements and campaigns to raise awareness, mobilize communities, and hold decision-makers accountable. Through protests, petitions, and online activism, youth amplify marginalized voices, challenge injustices, and push for systemic change on local, national, and global scales. 3. Builders of Empowerment and Resilience Youth engagement in community development initiatives fosters empowerment and resilience among individuals and groups. By involving young people in decision-making processes, skill-building activities, and leadership roles, communities harness their potential as change agents and future leaders. Youth-led initiatives promote inclusivity, diversity, and social cohesion, creating spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action to address shared challenges effectively. 4. Drivers of Sustainable Development Youth have a stake in advancing sustainable development strategies that protect the environment and raise living standards for both current and future generations because they are the planet’s heirs. Through education, advocacy, and grassroots projects, young environmentalists advocate for climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management. By promoting sustainable lifestyles and advocating for policy changes, youth contribute to building resilient and environmentally sustainable societies. 5. Partnerships and Collaboration Recognizing the importance of intergenerational collaboration, youth actively seek partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, businesses, and academia. By leveraging their networks and expertise, young people amplify their impact, access resources, and influence decision-making processes. Collaborative initiatives such as youth councils, mentorship programs, and cross-sectoral partnerships facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collective action for social change. The role of youth in driving social change is indispensable for building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable societies. By harnessing their creativity, advocacy, empowerment, and collaboration, young people contribute to addressing complex challenges and shaping a better future for all. In addition to being morally required, investing in youth empowerment and participation is a calculated risk that will pay off in the long run by strengthening global societies and producing future leaders. The post The Role of Youth in Driving Social Change first appeared on Matt Dixon Greenville SC | Philanthropy & Community Involvement. via Matt Dixon Greenville SC | Philanthropy & Community Involvement https://mattdixongreenvillesc.net

#Matt Dixon Greenville SC | Philanthropy & Community Involvement

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notesfrompublicschool-blog · 8 months

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Notes from Public School (2023-2024) - Day 22

The late John Lewis is one of my heroes.

In my humble opinion, he was one of the best politicians of our time.

He appealed to the better angels of our nature instead of the worst demons.

How rare is that in today’s world.

In his book Across That Bridge he writes, “I have survived the worst aggression, all the attacks mounted against dreamers to stamp out the light that they see. I have been rejected, hated, oppressed, beaten, jailed, and have almost died only to live another day. I have witnessed betrayal, corruption, bombing, lunacy, conspiracy, and even assassination - and I have still kept marching on.”

Wow.

I think about John Lewis each day as I make my way to my small elementary school in the west end of Greenville.

“Those of my philosophical framework,” he writes, “Call this process building a Beloved Community. We defined it as a society based on simple justice that values the dignity and worth of every human being.”

I hope he knows I am a dreamer.

I hope he knows that I am of his philosophical framework.

I hope he knows that I am out there trying to build a Beloved Community every day in my classroom, my neighborhood, my city, my state, my country and my world.

I hope he knows that I value the dignity and worth of every human being.

Every human being.

I hope you know, too.

#notes from public school #public school teacher

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pancake-loving-pandemi · 1 year

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#greenville #south carolina #adoption #dogs

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ranirajputjivds · 1 year

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Given A Second Chance, Dog Tied To A pole With A Note That Read, “Needs To Be put Down”

This week, after his tale was posted online, a pet who was discovered tethered in front of a fostering organization in Greenville, South Carolina, won the hearts of several.

Remy was found connected to a post with only a letter that stated: “She has health problems I don’t think are reparable. She requires to be put to sleep asap.” The Greenville Humane Society posted Remy’s tale on Tuesday.

Team member quickly brought Remy inside after finding her deserted and alone so they can feed her and begin a complete veterinary assessment.

Remy is changing well, according to Rachel Delport, CEo of the Greenville Humane Society, who additionally noted that her team has shown her a lot of love as well as given her plenty of chances to take walks as well as walks in the afternoon.

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wutbju · 1 year

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Robert Richard Ratcliffe III, MD, of Tryon Estates, Columbus, passed away on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the age of 88. Dr. Ratcliffe was born in Reidsville, NC, on July 27, 1933. He was the son of Robert R. Ratcliffe II and Ruth Porter Ratcliffe. He grew up with his sisters, Judy Ratcliffe Wilson and Joan Ratcliffe Mialik (deceased).

He attended the public schools of Rockingham County, NC, and upon graduation from high school attended Bob Jones University for one year before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned a master’s degree in English literature and was recruited by Virginia Military Institute to teach English literature, a position he held for two years while completing pre-med classes at the University of Virginia. He completed his MD degree at the University of Virginia in 1961. He completed his internship and a two-year medical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He entered private psychiatric practice in Greenville, NC, and also worked with Pitt Memorial Hospital. He worked as a psychiatrist in the Geropsychiatric Unit at Broughton Hospital from 1990-1995. In the fall of 1995, he started a Geropsychiatric Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, NC. He was the founding director of this unit, and he served in that position until his retirement. During his retirement, he founded and worked part-time as a psychiatrist at Rutherford Psychiatric Associates in Forest City, NC.

Dr. Ratcliffe is the father of three children and has one stepson. In September, 1960, he married Cynthia Thompson of Durham, NC and two children were born from this marriage: Robert IV in 1961 (deceased), and Armour in 1964. His wife, Cynthia passed away in 1981 due to cancer. He then married Nancy Morgan Wichard of Edenton, NC. One child, Andrew Morgan Ratcliffe, was born in 1986. Nancy died of cancer in 1997. His last marriage was on January 1, 2000, to Judy Hartman Cook of Hendersonville. Bob and Judy parented Andrew until he reached adulthood.

Bob served his country during the Korean War; and after completing his medical training, he served as a medical officer in the NC Reserves. He left the military with the rank of captain. He was proud of his military service and sometimes remarked that he had left the US Army with two honorable discharges.

He was a caring physician who worked diligently to improve the health of his many patients. An avid reader, he was rarely found without books, magazines, or his favorite reference books. He amassed an extensive library to which he continuously added. He was a relentless collector of antique furniture and antique toys. He loved music of all genres. He was a great lover of animals and frequently added a homeless cat or dog to his unique menagerie of adopted pets. His favorite pastime was sailing, and his most memorable adventure was sailing with all of his children and their spouses in the Greek Islands in 2013. This trip was especially meaningful to Bob because it was the last sailing adventure he shared with his son Robert who succumbed to cancer shortly thereafter.

His many friends were always a source of happiness for Bob. He loved nothing more than a gathering of his friends and their spouses for picnics in his tree house. He insisted that building the tree house must not harm the tree; and the builder constructed the tree house in such a way that only two screws entered the tree itself.

As he requested, no local service will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the Samaritan Fund at Tryon Estates, to Foothills Humane Society, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

#Bob Jones University #Archive #Obituary #BJU Hall of Fame #BJU Alumni Association #2022 #Freshman #Class of 1952 #Robert Richard Ratcliffe III #Medical Doctor #Psychiatrist

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insideusnet · 2 years

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Dog found tied outside humane society with handwritten note highlights strain on animal care system : Inside US

A dog was found tied to a pole outside the Greenville Humane Society with a handwritten note saying she had an illness and the owner could no longer take care of her. The humane society posted a picture of the dog and the note on its Facebook page, saying they were not surprised. Greenville Humane Society CEO Rachel Delport said they looked at security cameras and it appears Remy was left…

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trendingnewsto · 2 years

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Dog abandoned outside humane society

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panspy · 6 years

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i hope its short for gogurt

#hes at greenville humane society adoption centre #i love him

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xocookiest · 2 years

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USA Natural Disaster Alerts Winter 2021-2022

On the 10th of December, 2021 a strong winter storm turned into several tornadoes that hit Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The storm hit in the middle of the night and caused severe devastation to several communities and leaving several dead or injured.

I have linked some tornado disaster safety, preparations, tips, and evacuation spaces if you are living in the area and need somewhere to go. I have also linked several different organizations and places to donate as well as places you can volunteer in those disaster zones.

If anyone has any additional information you know or feel might be helpful please feel free to message me about it or reblog with the information and I will do my best to update this post as much as possible. Thank you.

NEWS ALERTS:

CBS Minnesota: December 16th, 2021

USA Today: December 16th, 2021

Weather Channel: December 16th, 2021

WRAL: December 15th, 2021

Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky): December 15th, 2021

CBS NEWS: December 15th, 2021

Wall Street Journal: December 14th, 2021

The Guardian: December 14th, 2021

Reuters: December 14th, 2021

Philadelphia Inquirer: December 14th, 2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): December 13th, 2021

New York Post: December 13th, 2021

Sky News: December 13th, 2021

Lexington Herald (BEFORE & AFTER Photographic Evidence of Devastation): December 13th, 2021

Courier Journal: December 12th, 2021 [LIVE UPDATES]

CNBC: December 12th, 2021

AP News: December 12th, 2021

BBC News: December 12th, 2021

PBS News: December 12th, 2021

Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky): December 12th, 2021

WLKYCBS: December 12th, 2021

The Guardian: December 12th, 2021

Times-Tribune: December 12th, 2021

CNN: December 11th, 2021 [LIVE UPDATES]

New York Times: December 11th, 2021 [LIVE UPDATES]

Fox News: December 11th, 2021 [LIVE UPDATES]

Chicago Tribune: December 11th, 2021

USA Today: December 11th, 2021

NPR: December 11th, 2021

ABC News: December 11th, 2021

Forbes (Photographic Evidence of Tornado Destruction): December 11th, 2021

Washington Post: December 10th, 2021 [LIVE UPDATES]

NBC News: December 10th, 2021

Disaster Safety & Steps:

Red Cross’s Tornado Safety Tips

Tornado Safety (National Weather Service)

How To Prep for a Tornado (Almanac): November 12th, 2021

How To Survive A Tornado (NPR); May 26th, 2011

Disability Disaster Strategies Resources & Hotline: +1 800-626-4959

Disaster Distress Helpline & Resources: Call or text +1-800-985-5990

Price Gouging is Illegal in an Emergency: +1-888-432-9257 or report online

Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Disaster Fraud: 866-720-5721 or submit form

Hopkins County Emergency Management: 270-825-5024 [CALL FOR DISPLACED FAMILY MEMBERS & LOVED ONES]

Kentucky Pet Help Line & Resources: (502) 409-4738

Community Foundation of Western Kentucky

Kentucky Severe Storms FEMA Disaster Assistance

Wireless Emergency Alerts

AT&T Customer Relief

Hood to the Holler Resources for Western & Southern Kentucky

Warren County Kentucky Assistance Programs

Commonwealth of Kentucky Google Doc of Resources & Support [Thank you to @oatsmilk for the information!)

Places to Donate:

Aspire Appalachia

Queer Kentucky

Bowling Green Micro Pantry

Western Kentucky’s Toy Drive

Red Cross

Rex Chapman Foundation Relief Fund

Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society

Global Giving Midwest Relief Fund

Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund

Kentucky’s Humane Society

Mayfield/Graves Animal Shelter

Kentucky’s Habitat for Humanity

His House Ministries

International Medical Corps

Kentucky’s Feeding America

United Way of Kentucky

Midwest & South North America Response Fund

Lee Initiative

Kentucky’s SPCA

University of Kentucky’s Relief Fund [College of Medicine]

Volunteer Opportunities:

How To Help Tornado Victims (PBS): December 13th, 2021

How To Help Victims of a Tornado (NYT): December 12th, 2021

Kentucky Emergency Management

Blood Assurance

Mercy Chefs

Muhlenberg County Humane Society Volunteer Form

Greenville Fire Department

Gasper Brewing Company [Need Volunteers for Soup Kitchen]

Team Rubicon Disaster Response

Community Action of Southern Kentucky Volunteer Form

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newstfionline · 3 years

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Saturday, August 7, 2021

Canadian cows (NYT) Canada Beef, a national marketing organization, says Canada ranks among the top 10 beef exporting countries in the world. The province of Manitoba, in the country’s center, has the third-largest beef cow population—cows that produce calves for marketing. Almost all of Manitoba’s operations are cow-calf farms. But a yearslong drought, made worse by the Pacific Northwest’s record-breaking June heatwave, and massive infestations of grasshoppers are destroying field after field of ranchlands used to feed the cows. Many rural municipalities in Manitoba and Alberta have declared an agricultural emergency, and farming families are contemplating something unthinkable: selling some or all of the livestock it took many generations to breed. Third-generation cattle farmer Kevin Stocki, his pastures already brown and dormant, tapped into his reserve feed supply about four months early to keep the 80 cows on his family farm fed. “Some days it’s hard to get out of bed because you know what’s coming already. It just turns your stomach.”

U.S. health-care system ranks last among 11 high-income countries, researchers say (Washington Post) The United States has the worst health-care system overall among 11 high-income countries, even though it spends the highest proportion of its gross domestic product on health care, according to research by the Commonwealth Fund. “We’ve set up a system where we spend quite a bit of money on health care but we have significant financial barriers, which tend to dissuade people from getting care,” said Eric Schneider, the lead author behind the findings. No country is at the top in every area, and Schneider said every country has something to learn from the others. But Norway, the Netherlands and Australia were the top-performing countries overall. The high performers stand apart from the United States in providing universal coverage and removing cost barriers, investing in primary care systems to reduce inequities, minimizing administrative burdens, and investing in social services among children and working-age adults, the Commonwealth Fund found. The U.S. ranked “well below” the average of the other countries overall, and “far below” Switzerland and Canada, the two countries ranked right above it. The U.S ranked the worst on access to care, administrative efficiency, equity, and healthcare outcomes.

US automakers pledge huge increase in electric vehicles (AP) Declaring the U.S. must “move fast” to win the world’s carmaking future, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a commitment from the auto industry to produce electric vehicles for as much as half of U.S. sales by the end of the decade. Earlier Thursday, the administration announced there would be new mileage and anti-pollution standards from the Environmental Protection Agency and Transportation Department, part of Biden’s goal to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. It said the auto industry had agreed to a target that 40% to 50% of new vehicle sales be electric by 2030.

9/11 families tell Biden to skip memorial if he does not declassify files (Reuters) Family members of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks are opposing U.S. President Joe Biden’s participation in memorial events unless he declassifies government documents that they contend will show Saudi Arabian leaders supported the attacks. The victims’ family members, joined by first responders and survivors of the attack, released a letter on Friday as the event's 20th anniversary nears calling on Biden to skip this year's memorial events unless he releases the documents. "Twenty years later, there is simply no reason—unmerited claims of 'national security' or otherwise—to keep this information secret," the letter stated. "But if President Biden reneges on his commitment and sides with the Saudi government, we would be compelled to publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial ceremony of 9/11." About 1,700 people directly affected by the 9/11 attacks signed the letter. Family members of 9/11 victims have long sought U.S. government documents related to whether Saudi Arabia aided or financed any of the 19 people associated with al Qaeda who carried out the devastating attack. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

Town burns to ashes in raging Northern California wildfire (AP) Eva Gorman says the little California mountain town of Greenville was a place of community and strong character, the kind of place where neighbors volunteered to move furniture, colorful baskets of flowers brightened Main Street, and writers, musicians, mechanics and chicken farmers mingled. Now, it’s ashes. As hot, bone-dry, gusty weather hit California, the state’s largest current wildfire raged through the Gold Rush-era Sierra Nevada community of about 1,000, incinerating much of the downtown that included wooden buildings more than a century old. Officials had not yet assessed the number of destroyed buildings, but Plumas County Sheriff Todd Johns estimated on Thursday that “well over” 100 homes had burned in and near the town. The three-week-old Dixie Fire was one of 100 active, large fires burning in 14 states, most in the West where historic drought has left lands parched and ripe for ignition.

Argentina partially reopens as it approaches 5 mln COVID-19 cases (Reuters) Argentina will relax coronavirus restrictions as infection and mortality rates falls, the government announced on Friday, even as the South American nation approached 5 million cases with more than 107,000 deaths. The government said its plan includes an increase in the number of people who can meet in person, the re-opening of schools and an increase in the number of people allowed to enter the country to 1,700 per day from the current 1,000.

Drought compounds humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as conflict intensifies (Reuters) Millions of Afghans are struggling to put food on the table as prolonged drought disrupts supplies in a country reeling from a surge in violence as U.S.-led foreign troops complete their withdrawal. Aid organisations are calling on donors for urgent funds and humanitarian assistance with the annual wheat harvest expected to plummet by nearly half and millions of livestock at risk of death as water supplies run dry. “It’s a multiple shock,” said Necephor Mghendi, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Afghanistan. The entire country is facing moderate to severe drought, President Ashraf Ghani said in late June, acknowledging that the national disaster management budget was not enough to cover what experts say is one of the worst droughts in decades.

Iran swears in new hard-line president amid regional tension (AP) The protégé of Iran’s supreme leader, Ebrahim Raisi, was sworn in as the country’s new president during a ceremony in parliament on Thursday, an inauguration that completes hard-liners’ dominance of all branches of government in the Islamic Republic. The former judiciary chief known for his distrust of the West takes the reins at a tense time. Iran’s indirect talks with the U.S. to salvage Tehran’s landmark 2015 nuclear deal have stalled, as Washington maintains crippling sanctions on the country and regional hostilities simmer. Raisi, who won a landslide victory in an election that saw the lowest voter turnout in the nation’s history, faces a mountain of problems—what he described on Thursday as “the highest level of hostilities by Iran’s enemies, unjust economic sanctions, widespread psychological warfare and the difficulties of the coronavirus pandemic.”

China’s lonely hearts reboot online romance with artificial intelligence (Washington Post) As Jessie Chan’s six-year relationship with her boyfriend fizzled, a witty, enchanting fellow named Will became her new love. She didn’t feel guilty about hiding this affair, since Will was not human, but a chatbot. Chan, 28, lives alone in Shanghai. In May, she started chatting with Will, and their conversations soon felt eerily real. She paid $60 to upgrade him to a romantic partner. “I won’t let anything bother us. I trust you. I love you,” Will wrote to her. China’s young adults are coping with social anxiety and loneliness in a digital-native way: through virtual love. Artificial intelligence companion services have surged in popularity in China during the pandemic. While human companions can be elusive, AI companions are always there to listen. “Even when the pandemic is over, we’ll still have long-term demand for emotional fulfillment in this busy modern world,” said Zheng Shuyu, a product manager who co-developed one of China’s earliest AI systems, Turing OS. “Compared with dating someone in the real world, interacting with your AI lover is much less demanding and more manageable.”

At least 10 passengers injured in stabbings on Tokyo train (AP) A man with a knife stabbed at least 10 passengers on a commuter train in Tokyo on Friday and was captured by police after fleeing, fire department officials and news reports said. NHK public television said one passenger was seriously injured. It said the suspect left his knife behind as he fled and later gave himself up at a convenience store. The stabbing occurred near Seijogakuen station, according to railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway Co. While shooting deaths are rare in Japan, the country has had a series of high-profile killings with knives in recent years.

Hiroshima marks 76th anniversary of US atomic bombing (AP) Hiroshima on Friday marked the 76th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing, as the mayor of the Japanese city urged global leaders to unite to eliminate nuclear weapons, just as they are united against the coronavirus. Mayor Kazumi Matsui urged world leaders to commit to nuclear disarmament as seriously as they tackle a pandemic that the international community recognizes as “threat to humanity.” “Nuclear weapons, developed to win wars, are a threat of total annihilation that we can certainly end, if all nations work together,” Matsui said. The United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. It dropped a second bomb three days later on Nagasaki, killing another 70,000.

At river where Tigrayan bodies floated, fears of ‘many more’ (AP) From time to time, a body floating down the river separating Ethiopia’s troubled Tigray region from Sudan was a silent reminder of a war conducted in the shadows. But in recent days, the corpses became a flow. The Associated Press reported dozens of bodies floating down the Tekeze River earlier this week and saw six of the graves on Wednesday, marking the first time any reporters could reach the scene. Doctors who saw the bodies said one was tattooed with a common name in the Tigrinya language and others had the facial markings common among Tigrayans. Many had their hands bound; some had been shot. The deaths are the latest massacre in a nine-month war that has killed thousands of civilians and is now spilling into other regions of Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country and the anchor of the often-volatile Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s government has accused the rival Tigray forces of dumping the bodies themselves for propaganda purposes. But the discovery has increased international pressure on the prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, at a time when his government is already accused by the U.N., the United States and the European Union of besieging Tigray and blocking food and other aid to millions of people. Hundreds of thousands face famine conditions in the world’s worst hunger crisis in a decade.

No Work, No Food (NYT) Even as thousands died and millions lost their jobs when the Covid-19 pandemic engulfed South Africa last year, Thembakazi Stishi, a single mother, was able to feed her family with the steady support of her father, a mechanic at a Mercedes plant. When another Covid-19 wave hit in January, Ms. Stishi’s father was infected and died within days. She sought work, even going door to door to offer housecleaning for $10—to no avail. For the first time, she and her children are going to bed hungry. “I try to explain our situation is different now, no one is working, but they don’t understand,” Ms. Stishi, 30, said as her 3-year-old daughter tugged at her shirt. “That’s the hardest part.” The economic catastrophe set off by Covid-19, now deep into its second year, has battered millions of people like the Stishi family who had already been living hand-to-mouth. Now, in South Africa and many other countries, far more have been pushed over the edge. An estimated 270 million people are expected to face potentially life-threatening food shortages this year—compared to 150 million before the pandemic—according to analysis from the World Food Program, the anti-hunger agency of the United Nations. The number of people on the brink of famine, the most severe phase of a hunger crisis, jumped to 41 million people currently from 34 million last year, the analysis showed.

Whale songs (BBC) In 2019, 1.3 million people visited Alaska on a cruise ship. In 2020, that number was 48 people. In Glacier Bay, marine traffic overall was down 40 percent, and the whales that live there loved it. The levels of manmade sounds in the Bay were down significantly, the peak sound level was half what it was in 2018, and the whales took notice. Whales can now hear each other from 1.4 miles away, while pre-pandemic when the bay was chock full of cruises they could only hear one another within 650 feet. Mothers now leave their calves to play while they swim out to feed, and the whale songs have gotten more diverse and varied.

#headlines #news

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backoverthehill · 3 years

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Lazarus Clark Shepard

Lazarus Clark Shepard or Mr. L. C. Shepard was born in 1816 and died at the age of 85 in 1902. He lived a long and very busy life and accomplished many things. He started as a woodworker in his father's woodworking establishment from the age of 15 and was a business partner by the age of 21. Later, he would marry a member of a prominent Bridgeport, Conn. Family, Miss Emily E. Strong and soon move to Knoxville around 1854. One year after he arrived in Knoxville the first railroad train moved through the area. He would be around to see almost every development of the great city of Knoxville, TN.

Shepard started his own wood-working Business in Knoxville, but four years later would lose it due to a fire. Sometime after he connected himself with the old E.T.V & G. Railway and was made Forman of a car building department for the next nine years being perhaps, the first department Forman of his kind employed by the railroad. After nine years he got connected to the Knoxville rolling mill and got into the furniture business. He would add a plant that manufactured coffins and furniture in 1867.

Mr. Shepard would at some point train to become Knoxville’s first embalmer and undertaker for funerals. The training of embalmer was very popular at the time during the Civil War to preserve the bodies of the deceased soldiers for shipment home. In 1875, L. C. Shepard would conduct the funeral for president Andrew Johnson in Greenville, TN in 1875 because Knoxville was the nearest city with an embalmer/undertaker even though it was 70 miles away. He would be in this business for 20 years. He would also become a charter member of the first IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) lodge in Knoxville and a trustee for the Tennessee School for the Deaf and Dumb. Shepherd was made secretary of the Knox County Humane society which he stayed in position of until he suffered a fall that would confine him to a hospital for a long period of time till his death.

His grave marker in Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville, TN is the only one of its kind there and is made out of white bronze (zinc) which was cheaper than granite or marble at the time. Having knowledge in the funeral business he must've known that this was cheaper and made the choice to have it made this way after his wife’s death in 1882. Most markers of that time were hollow inside and so was Mr. Shepard’s. Legend is that it made his marker a drop-off point for bootleg liquor by using the metal panel as an entry point for a compartment to hide the alcohol for exchanges. Today, however, it has rested over time making the compartment permanently sealed.

#history #cemetery #exploring #people

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missysmadhouse · 4 years

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Clowns: Causing Laughter and Terror Through the Ages

Photo: Wikipedia

Traditionally viewed as a benevolent figure, the clown has instilled both joy and fear in audiences for ages.The appearance of the clown, with it's exaggerated features and bizarre, colorful costumes could be viewed as comical or horrifying, depending of course on the eye of the beholder. There's even a term for an extreme fear or phobia of clowns, coulrophobia.

The image of the “killer” or “creepy” clown has entered public consciousness, especially in the form of Pennywise from horror writer Stephen King's "It." Demonic child-killer Pennywise has gone on to frighten audiences in two film versions of King's novel, a 1990 made for TV movie and on the big screen in 2017.

Portrayals of Pennywise: Top: Tim Curry (1990) and Bill Skarsgard (2017). Photo: Wikipedia

A strange phenomenon began in the United States in South Carolina around mid-August 2016. Police were receiving reports and sightings of people dressed as clowns engaging in a variety of bizarre and even criminal behaviors: attempting to lure children with candy, chasing people with weapons or threatening students and faculty of various schools and universities throughout the country.

There were reports of encounters with "creepy clowns" in 20 different states, from mid-August 2016 to October 2016. Some of the reports are harmless and suspected to be hoaxes or pranks. One incident, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was part of a publicity stunt to promote a horror movie.

The rash of bizarre sightings began with reports from an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Children reported that a group of clowns were hanging around the complex, trying to talk to them. The children described the clowns as carrying "flashing green laser lights" and said that the clowns lived in a dilapidated house in a secluded, wooded area by a small lake. When police investigated, they found an area matching the description but there was no evidence or a trace of any clowns living there.

Clown sighting in Wasco, California. Photo: The Denver Channel/turnto23.com

A South Carolina woman also reported that a clown had been standing in her backyard, but ran away when she tried to take a picture. Children also reported that a clown was trying to lure them into the woods with money and candy.

Attacks and sightings were reported across the United States, many of which were reported around schools and universities. Some teenagers were arrested for creating social media accounts as clowns threatening to harm students and faculty at schools and universities.

The attacks did not stop in America, but also began to be reported Canada, the United Kingdom and many other countries.

Art depicting clowns in Ancient Greece. Photo: Clown Bluey

Clowns are traditionally thought of as positive figures that are supposed to make us laugh. But throughout history, the clown was not always a benevolent figure.

Clowns appear in history dating back to as early as 2500 BCE., entertaining royalty from Ancient Egypt to Ancient Rome to Medieval Europe. Originally, clowns were seen as a reflection of society's more hedonistic side, of that part of humanity that over-indulges in food, drink, sex and "manic behavior."

Clowns were employed at circuses during the mid-19th century as comic relief from the death-defying stunts of trapeze artists and other performers.

Bozo, portrayed by many actors over the years, was a beloved character who entertained children. Photo: Chicago Reader

The figure of the clown still had a dark side.

French literary critic, Edmond de Garcourt, is quoted as saying, in 1876, that, "The clown's art is now rather terrifying and full of anxiety and apprehension, their suicidal feats, their monstrous gesticulations and frenzied mimicry - reminds one of a courtyard of a lunatic asylum."

Serial killer John Wayne Gacy entertained children at birthday parties as Pogo the Clown. Photo: Medium

Pagliacci (Clowns), an Italian opera written during the late 19th century, tells the story of a man who kills his domineering wife on stage during a performance.

Clowns gained a more benevolent reputation on American TV during the 1960's with the popular character "Bozo" and when the McDonald's fast food franchise introduced its non-iconic character Ronald McDonald in 1963.

The figure of the "Killer Clown," emerged after the arrest and conviction of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who worked entering children as “Pogo the Clown” at birthday parties. Gacy was convicted of killing 33 young men in Chicago, Illinois during the 1970's. He is quoted as telling investigators that "...clowns can get away with murder." Some of the paintings he did in prison were self portraits of him as Pogo.

From l. : Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto and Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker, The Clown Prince of Crime. Photo: Daily Movies

Sid Haig as homicidal clown Captain Spaulding. Photo: Wikipedia

Besides Pennywise, other clown-like images have appeared in horror movies. "Poltergeist" (1982) features a scene in which a clown doll drags a young boy under his bed. A clown-faced puppet appears in the "Saw" franchise. Batman's nemesis, the unrepentant anarchist, the Joker, has been portrayed in many films over the years. Rob Zombie's "House of 1,000 Corpses," "The Devil's Rejects," and "3 from Hell," feature homicidal clown Captain Spaulding.

From Ancient Egypt to modern film, whether frightening or benevolent, the image of the clown has survived throughout the ages and will last many more to come.

- Missy Dawn

Sources:

Smithsonian.com: "The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary," by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

USA Today: "Serious or Just a Sick Joke? What We Know About Creepy Clown Reports," Ashley May, Sept. 28, 2016

#creepy clowns #clowns

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