BusinessWeek’s fourth annual survey calculated information from several categories. Affordability, safety*, and school test scores were given the greatest weight.

“It makes sense. We have beautiful parks, Greenways and a Riverwalk. Families can afford to buy a home in safe neighborhoods. They have easy access to jobs, with more on the way through HSC. Clarksville really is Tennessee’s Top Spot” said Mayor Johnny Piper.

Parents pushing their children on the swings at one of Clarksville TN's may Parks

Other criteria included number of schools, household expenditures, air quality, job growth, family income, museums, parks, theaters, other amenities, and diversity.

Recently, Clarksville was also named by CNN as the fourth best city in the country to start a business and .

Clarksville is Tennessee’s fifth largest city and the ninth fastest growing city in the U.S.

Resthaven Cemetery

On a Sunday, my 13-year-old grandson and I were on our way to the Unitarian Universalist Church to refresh ourselves spiritually. Since we were early, we detoured to the Resthaven Cemetery on the way. As we walked solemnly and respectfully among the final resting places of hundreds of people, I discussed with him death. After sharing with him about cremation, my select means of disposing of my body, and the traditional burial six feet under the sod, he turned to me and said “Papa, I’ll come to visit your burial place if you have one.” On that Sunday, I experienced a deeper intimacy with my grandson, Brett.

As a veteran, I have a death benefit. If I choose, my survivors could request a military funeral with a flag, firing of the volley, playing of TAPS, a Chaplain from Fort Campbell to say a few meaningful words, and a single gravestone marker. I can be buried at the new Kentucky Veterans Cemetery. These benefits are available even with the increasingly popular cremation. Every American veteran deserves such benefits, especially those killed in action.

Recently in the Church and State newsletter, I read a story of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, killed in the war, whose family was denied the privilege of full military honors. In Missouri, we use the metaphor “that causes my blood to boil” to express our outrage, anger, and righteous indignation.

What disqualified Sgt. Stewart and his family for this benefit? This is the inside story:

“…Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in combat in September of 2005 when his helicopter was shot down. The Department of veterans Affairs refused to put a pentacle, the symbol of Stewart’s Wiccan faith, on his memorial marker. Roberta Stewart (his wife) sued. to settle the case, officials in the department greed to add the pentacle to its list of disapproved religious symbols.

“Patrick was my everything,” (Roberta) Stewart said in taped remarks. “I decided to fight because I decided that if I didn’t, I felt felt it made our love not as valid, and I wasn’t willing to accept that. Nor was I willing to accept discrimination. We took our vows underneath a pentacle, on our altar; the pentacle was a huge part of our lives. Every special moment in our life, there was a pentacle present. And there would be one on my husband’s headstone.”

“…(Roberta Stewart) regrets nothing about battling the federal government. She noted that president George Bush even called her to apologize after she was left out of a meeting with family members of deceased veterans.

“My husband was a military man…there was no way (he would forget) his brothers on the front line, his Pagan brothers, his Wiccan friends. I had to fight and continue to litigate.”

Discrimination does exist, although it’s done covertly. Through spiritual growth and especially fellowship with others of different denominations and major faiths, we can be aware of our religious prejudices and control and conquer such latent evil in us. The VA under pressure expanded their policy to include even unpopular religious so-called “sects.” VA benefits for all regardless of their faiths. Religious symbols on memorial markers are normally Christian and Jewish, but now, because of one wife’s insistence, the surviving families of all deceased veterans will have their requests granted, even when their faith is not on the “popular list.”

As I read this story, I gave a prayer of Thanksgiving for Americans United for their support of Roberta Stewart. AU accepted a member of our greater US Army family. The AU is dedicated to serving everyone, including the members of minority faiths.

Having made the trip to Lake Barkley, I was impressed with the diversity of ideas expressed by our council members and city department heads. As for the event location, it was quicker to drive to Lake Barkley Resort than Paris Landing. It would have been good to have held this function instate, but that was not the decision.

The ideas, goals and mission statement of the retreat represent a declared new vision for our city. The actual realization of those ideals will be the real test. The promised final report should be “must reading” for all citizens and residents. Pour over it with a fine tooth comb. Capital projects will likely warrant intense and dynamic scrutiny by the electorate. Proposals will not meet with everyone’s approval. These officials have agreed upon a plan for Clarksville’s future. Our future.

As such, WE MUST:

1. be diligent in attending the details of those plans;
2. make ourselves fully informed of the facts of those plans, proposals and initiatives;
3. share our interpretations of these plans and goals with our elected and appointed government officials and provide them with coherent feedback and suggested alternatives, where appropriate;
4. hold our government accountable for non-waiverable mandates, dictates and requirements of federal law and oversight which protect and insure receipt of federal financial assistance to our city and correct any deficiencies wherever they may exist, to include seeking federal assistance to make those corrections. This will insure continued eligibility for federal financial assistance. It will also enhance our status as a community that embraces and supports its diversity.;
5. the city image should be upgraded, city beautification projects must be crafted for all areas of the city, and private efforts should be recognized for their participation. However, any deficiency also should not be ignored or hidden away, but rather, given due diligence to achieve a positive resolution.

The realization of the proposed changes will entail pursuit of new revenue streams, and that was recognized as not meaning increased or new taxes. Proposals to tackle old and emerging problems were also discussed.

Public safety was addressed. It cannot be emphasized enough that our law enforcement leaders have all declared that incarceration alone IS NOT the answer. Young people MUST have clear, viable opportunities to develop their potential talents. They MUST have clear, identifiable means to address social and academic shortcomings that preclude the judicial system. Human resource is our greatest asset in economic recruitment and development. Locking our young people away in penal situations wastes one of our most valuable asset for growth. Resources to aid law enforcement must be updated in a timely fashion. Recreational outlets for all levels of our socio-economic diversity MUST be addressed. Recreation outlets need to be increased in previously underserved areas of our city community. Additionally, new outlets MUST be incorporated in our ever expanding growth infrastructure model.

These are realities facing Clarksville. This retreat was presented to the public as an effort to confront, analyze and prioritize those realities. Citizen input will be crucial to accomplishing these goals so essential to our future. Be factual, analytical and concise. Forget the emotional, petty and vindictive. This game is serious business and those negatives will only insure defeat if you pursue them.

Being an informed, attentive and involved citizenry is our only true option in this coming upheaval. Those who fail to get on board will surely be left behind at the train station. Where will you be?

America is a very young country but is the wealthiest country in the world. With over 400 years of free labor off the backs of enslaved Africans it not only explains its # 1 economic power position among all nations, but also why we still and must continue to fight for equality for all Americans. You can not wipe away over 400 years of institutionalized slavery in a mere 142 years. Remember the law of the land as stated in the United States Constitution declared slavery very much legal and all black people property. We are still healing as a nation people! (read more)