The latest from erstwhile NSU assistant basketball coach (1999-2001) Joe Peterson, a missionary and teacher in the turbulent country of Kenya:
"Schools are back open in Mbita now. The opposition party (ODM) had announced this past week that students should return to school. Since this part of the country is viewing ODM as the government, people obeyed. Christ's Gift Academy had a staff in-service day on Monday and our kids reported on Tuesday, three weeks later than the original opening date. Everyone is excited to finally be back in school on a daily basis.
As former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan continues his mediation efforts to bring a long-term solution, much of the country is still dealing with outbreaks of violence. It is obvious that what is happening now did not originate from the election, but goes way back to the days of independence. Similar to many countries in Africa, leaders in Kenya have not distributed land and prominent positions on an equitable basis. Many of the violent outbreaks are people seeking revenge for what they feel are gross injustices to their families or their tribes throughout the over 40 years of independence.
Immediately following the election results many tribes throughout the country were directing their attacks against President Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe. They were chasing them from their homes, burning their farms, businesses and homes and in some cases killing them. Much of what has been happening recently in Nakuru and Naivasha has been cases of their tribe organizing and planning revenge attacks against some of the other tribes. Armed youths will block the road and make every vehicle stop. They insist on seeing every passengers' identity card and then take out their revenge on people from other tribes. They will also organize attacks on homes of specific tribes. It is very bitter and tearing this country apart. I was sick to my stomach tonight watching the graphic videos of what is happening in what used to be a peaceful country. It was even worse than the movie Hotel Rwanda. People were being pulled from buses and being hacked to death, lynched or stoned. In Naivasha Sunday, 16 Luos had fled from the mob and locked themselves in a house. They were burnt to death in the house they had gone to for refuge. Following that outbreak Sunday, Luos in Kisumu and Homa Bay erupted in violence. This is a country teetering dangerously on the verge of a full-scale civil war.
Mbita remains one of the safest places in the country. It is very rural, tucked away deep in Luo land. No one passes through Mbita on their way to anywhere else. It is at the edge of the country sitting on Lake Victoria. It is almost exclusively Luo, except a few from friendly neighboring tribes. We are thankful for the safety here, but our prayers go out to the many others throughout the country that are facing tension and uncertainty on a daily basis.
I just finished reading a great book about the Christian heritage of the United States. We are so fortunate that our founding fathers placed our country on a firm and Godly foundation. They understood the sinfulness of man and how corrupt a man can be when he is given power. The checks and balances put into our constitution have been a key to the success of our country. The mistakes made in Kenya and many African countries at the time of Independence have cost them dearly. It is not easy to fix after the fact. We are praying for a miracle. "
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Stoker called it
News of the day: NSU graduate, four-year Demon letterwinner, Top 100 Demon Football Player Ed "Be-Be" Orgeron -- better known as the recently deposed Ole Miss head coach, and the highly regarded defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator previously at Southern Cal -- was hired Wednesday as defensive line coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Demon head coach Scott Stoker told me so.
Soon after Orgeron's ouster at Ole Miss, Stoker predicted he would wind up in the NFL, as Be-Be's Demon teammate and former college coaching colleague Bill Johnson (Denver) did eight years ago.
The relative anonymity of being an NFL assistant coach has to be appealing to Orgeron, whose colorful background and personality made him a prime target for parodies and more vicious attacks from the comically-inclined to the sick and twisted segment of college fans.
Ed chuckled at some of the parodies, but the nature of some internet sites and content went far over the line. When the Demons played at Ole Miss in 2006 -- the first of a two-year deal, requested by Orgeron, netting $650,000 to his alma mater's athletic department -- he told former Demon teammate Britt Brittain that his kids showed him the funny parody video of a song composed by a Memphis disc jockey making fun of his thick Cajun accent. They were laughing, and he did, too.
There were many other examples, both on the internet and in person, where there was nothing to laugh about. Overzealous fans left decency at the curb and the exposure to that abuse no doubt pointed Orgeron in the direction of the NFL.
Anybody who coached with him raves about his football knowledge, especially as a defensive line coach, a role in which he helped Miami and USC win national championships. The same passion and energy that made him a prime target for comedic parody enhances his coaching ability, and despite what some skeptics will think, it will serve him well in the NFL.
There were a lot of LSU fans who were intrigued by the possibility of one of the nation's top recruiters joining the Tigers' staff. There should be a lot of Saints fans who are pleased to have one of college football's best defensive line coaches now working with the Black and Gold.
Congrats, Be-Be!
Doug Ireland, SID
Demon head coach Scott Stoker told me so.
Soon after Orgeron's ouster at Ole Miss, Stoker predicted he would wind up in the NFL, as Be-Be's Demon teammate and former college coaching colleague Bill Johnson (Denver) did eight years ago.
The relative anonymity of being an NFL assistant coach has to be appealing to Orgeron, whose colorful background and personality made him a prime target for parodies and more vicious attacks from the comically-inclined to the sick and twisted segment of college fans.
Ed chuckled at some of the parodies, but the nature of some internet sites and content went far over the line. When the Demons played at Ole Miss in 2006 -- the first of a two-year deal, requested by Orgeron, netting $650,000 to his alma mater's athletic department -- he told former Demon teammate Britt Brittain that his kids showed him the funny parody video of a song composed by a Memphis disc jockey making fun of his thick Cajun accent. They were laughing, and he did, too.
There were many other examples, both on the internet and in person, where there was nothing to laugh about. Overzealous fans left decency at the curb and the exposure to that abuse no doubt pointed Orgeron in the direction of the NFL.
Anybody who coached with him raves about his football knowledge, especially as a defensive line coach, a role in which he helped Miami and USC win national championships. The same passion and energy that made him a prime target for comedic parody enhances his coaching ability, and despite what some skeptics will think, it will serve him well in the NFL.
There were a lot of LSU fans who were intrigued by the possibility of one of the nation's top recruiters joining the Tigers' staff. There should be a lot of Saints fans who are pleased to have one of college football's best defensive line coaches now working with the Black and Gold.
Congrats, Be-Be!
Doug Ireland, SID
Monday, January 21, 2008
Update from Jumpin' Joe in Kenya
With apologies for this being a few days late, it got lost in my e-mail box while I was on the never-ending road trip to Corpus Christi and San Antonio with the Demon basketball team. True to form, former assistant coach and now missionary/teacher Joe Peterson took time to send me a happy birthday wish last week ... now, on to the scene in Kenya, in his words and others:
Ed. Note: Please feel free to view the article written about Joe's Kenya experiences that appeared in the Billings Newspaper.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/11/sports/local/21-rmcathlete.txt
Another day in Kenya and more protests are scheduled. What does that mean for most people throughout the country? It means people are imprisoned in their own homes, hoping that the crowds don't notice them. It means intermittent gun shots in the distance as police try to disperse the mobs because the government has said that all public rallies are illegal. It means all businesses are closed. It means there is no traveling at all because of the armed road blocks set up by the youth. It means that schools are closed for fear of retaliation from angry protestors. In fact most schools in Kenya have not opened the new school year which was supposed to have begun two weeks ago. Most school-going kids are stuck inside their small homes, bored to death, like it is a rainy day, but there is no precipitation.
Christ's Gift Academy did open yesterday for one day. On Monday evening we quickly passed the message to our students through word of mouth to come to school the next morning. About 60% of the students showed up. It was a shortened day designed to touch base with the students, let them know they still have a home and share with them about what is happening in their country from a Biblical perspective. It was a success, but now we have to wait and see what happens next. If the opposition decides to cancel any of the rallies over the next three days then we will try to come back to school. Otherwise, we will wait until Monday or longer if things are not peaceful. Schools throughout the country were supposed to open two weeks ago. It was then postponed to this week, but most parents in most parts of the country have not released their children to attend school which includes the boarding secondary schools or even the local primary schools in their areas.
Because of the disputed Presidential election held in late December, the opposition has called for country wide 'peaceful demonstrations" for the next three days (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). They feel that it is the only way to make the country and the world hear the voice of the Kenyan people supporting their cause. The problem is that the government has outlawed such rallies so the "peaceful demonstrations" usually turn into violent battles.
The news reports are suggesting that over 500 have died in the election aftermath, with over π million being displaced from their homes. From the many people that have been displaced here locally in Mbita and what I have heard from our school staff and other friends about people that have died in the violence, I would say those estimates are pretty low. At least five have died in the small, rural town of Mbita in the past two weeks. Several more have died today in different parts of the country in the running battles with police. It has had a big impact on many, and has affected everyone in the country.
Sometimes achieving freedom and true democracy can come at a great price. Is it worth it? It is not an easy question to answer. Is it right for the government to outlaw "peaceful demonstrations?" Is it right to continue with the demonstrations when they are outlawed by a government you think is in office illegally? Is it right to paralyze an entire country by holding rallies to seek justice and truth? What is the solution? Power-sharing? Re-run of the elections? Re-tallying or re-counting the vote? Do you file a petition in a court system that is run by the government? Do we just put it all behind us and move on without ever discovering the truth and striving for justice? I have my own answers to most of those questions, but it is not easy. The one thing that is very cut and dry is that there is never a reason to attack innocent women and children or to destroy someone's property or steal from another person.
The new Kenyan Parliament opened yesterday afternoon. There were many arguments and tense moments, but the main items on the agenda were electing the House Speaker and swearing in the newly elected members of Parliament. The opposition carried the day by electing their nominee for Speaker since they have the majority. It was a big psychological win for them after having lost the disputed Presidential election. It shows that the opposition does have some power by carrying the majority in Parliament. If things continue as they are, it will be a major stalemate for the next five years in Parliament. I have never heard of the opposition in a country being the majority.
So we wait longer. There doesn't seem to be an ending in sight. This could last for weeks, months or years. But we wait, trusting in God, knowing that He is in control.
JOe Peterson
Mbita, Kenya
Send Contributions to:Christ's Gift Academy P.O. Box 5073 N. Charleston, SC 29405-001 Include a note designating direction of funds (specific missionary, project, child, or general)
Ed. Note: Please feel free to view the article written about Joe's Kenya experiences that appeared in the Billings Newspaper.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/11/sports/local/21-rmcathlete.txt
Another day in Kenya and more protests are scheduled. What does that mean for most people throughout the country? It means people are imprisoned in their own homes, hoping that the crowds don't notice them. It means intermittent gun shots in the distance as police try to disperse the mobs because the government has said that all public rallies are illegal. It means all businesses are closed. It means there is no traveling at all because of the armed road blocks set up by the youth. It means that schools are closed for fear of retaliation from angry protestors. In fact most schools in Kenya have not opened the new school year which was supposed to have begun two weeks ago. Most school-going kids are stuck inside their small homes, bored to death, like it is a rainy day, but there is no precipitation.
Christ's Gift Academy did open yesterday for one day. On Monday evening we quickly passed the message to our students through word of mouth to come to school the next morning. About 60% of the students showed up. It was a shortened day designed to touch base with the students, let them know they still have a home and share with them about what is happening in their country from a Biblical perspective. It was a success, but now we have to wait and see what happens next. If the opposition decides to cancel any of the rallies over the next three days then we will try to come back to school. Otherwise, we will wait until Monday or longer if things are not peaceful. Schools throughout the country were supposed to open two weeks ago. It was then postponed to this week, but most parents in most parts of the country have not released their children to attend school which includes the boarding secondary schools or even the local primary schools in their areas.
Because of the disputed Presidential election held in late December, the opposition has called for country wide 'peaceful demonstrations" for the next three days (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). They feel that it is the only way to make the country and the world hear the voice of the Kenyan people supporting their cause. The problem is that the government has outlawed such rallies so the "peaceful demonstrations" usually turn into violent battles.
The news reports are suggesting that over 500 have died in the election aftermath, with over π million being displaced from their homes. From the many people that have been displaced here locally in Mbita and what I have heard from our school staff and other friends about people that have died in the violence, I would say those estimates are pretty low. At least five have died in the small, rural town of Mbita in the past two weeks. Several more have died today in different parts of the country in the running battles with police. It has had a big impact on many, and has affected everyone in the country.
Sometimes achieving freedom and true democracy can come at a great price. Is it worth it? It is not an easy question to answer. Is it right for the government to outlaw "peaceful demonstrations?" Is it right to continue with the demonstrations when they are outlawed by a government you think is in office illegally? Is it right to paralyze an entire country by holding rallies to seek justice and truth? What is the solution? Power-sharing? Re-run of the elections? Re-tallying or re-counting the vote? Do you file a petition in a court system that is run by the government? Do we just put it all behind us and move on without ever discovering the truth and striving for justice? I have my own answers to most of those questions, but it is not easy. The one thing that is very cut and dry is that there is never a reason to attack innocent women and children or to destroy someone's property or steal from another person.
The new Kenyan Parliament opened yesterday afternoon. There were many arguments and tense moments, but the main items on the agenda were electing the House Speaker and swearing in the newly elected members of Parliament. The opposition carried the day by electing their nominee for Speaker since they have the majority. It was a big psychological win for them after having lost the disputed Presidential election. It shows that the opposition does have some power by carrying the majority in Parliament. If things continue as they are, it will be a major stalemate for the next five years in Parliament. I have never heard of the opposition in a country being the majority.
So we wait longer. There doesn't seem to be an ending in sight. This could last for weeks, months or years. But we wait, trusting in God, knowing that He is in control.
JOe Peterson
Mbita, Kenya
Send Contributions to:Christ's Gift Academy P.O. Box 5073 N. Charleston, SC 29405-001 Include a note designating direction of funds (specific missionary, project, child, or general)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friendly faces
The Demon basketball team benefited from a friendly face in Corpus Christi today. Dr. Randy Bonnette, son of the beloved late Dr. Buddy Bonnette, is chair of the kinesiology education department at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Randy, who has been at TAMCC for eight years and has chaired the department for the last seven, helped arrange for the Demons to practice this morning in the TAMCC physical education/intramurals facility. The team is working out now and should get a good 90-minute session in before we board the bus and head to San Antonio, probably stopping for lunch along the way.
Randy's department is working with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball to study various physiological traits shared by outstanding baseball players, including reaction time and high-caliber vision.
The TAMCC campus is literally on an island, just across the highway from the Gulf of Mexico.
We saw more of Dr. Buddy's extended family last night. More on that in a post later this weekend...
Doug Ireland, SID
Randy, who has been at TAMCC for eight years and has chaired the department for the last seven, helped arrange for the Demons to practice this morning in the TAMCC physical education/intramurals facility. The team is working out now and should get a good 90-minute session in before we board the bus and head to San Antonio, probably stopping for lunch along the way.
Randy's department is working with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball to study various physiological traits shared by outstanding baseball players, including reaction time and high-caliber vision.
The TAMCC campus is literally on an island, just across the highway from the Gulf of Mexico.
We saw more of Dr. Buddy's extended family last night. More on that in a post later this weekend...
Doug Ireland, SID
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The great BBQ debate
A visit to one of the noted barbeque joints in Texas today led me to an online BBQ debate tonight.
The Demon basketball team had lunch at Hintze's Barbeque along U.S. 59 outside of Wharton, about 60 miles southwest of Houston.
On the wall was a page from a 1995 Food & Wine magazine feature listing the country's best barbeque joints. Guess who No. 1 was?
Like the Football Bowl Subdivision, when it comes to barbeque ratings, we will never know for sure who is the best. But the Demon basketball team would definitely give high marks to Hintze's, and so does baseball legend Nolan Ryan, whose letter of endorsement adorned the wall leading to the promised land -- the counter where you place your order.
There's also, however, a stuffed squirrel along the way. Don't know the story, just hope he wasn't cooked. Didn't see it on the menu. The restaurant also had various mounted animals, including a moose head, and full bodied mounts of a mountain lion (don't know where it came from), a modestly sized deer, a turkey, ducks and other birds.
The travel party, heading toward Corpus Christi for Thursday night's game, enjoyed lunch, to say the least!
Tonight, wanting to pinpoint the location, I did a google on Hintze's, and found a chat board discussion of the best Texas BBQ joints. There's not really a wrong answer to a question like that.
So I will chime in with my take on the best BBQ places that I've enjoyed during travels with the Demons. Perhaps my buddy Patrick Netherton will offer his picks, too. Here's my Top 10 rankings -- excluding the great Grayson's in Clarence, Red's and the Tin House in Natchitoches, because that's backyard BBQ for Demons:
1 - The New Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville
2 - Jack Stack BBQ in Kansas City
3 - Hintze's
4 - The Rendevous, Memphis
5 - Dreamland, Tuscaloosa
6 - McClard's, Hot Springs
7 - Cobb's BBQ, Bossier City
8 - Country Tavern, Shreveport
9 - Podnuh's, Monroe
10 - Jamil's, Tulsa
1 - "The Church" may not be what it once was, a truly epic experience, but for sheer volume, unique atmosphere, and variety, you cannot do better than the family style, all-you-can-handle platter served up here. The ribs are the biggest and juiciest. There's something about walking in past the grill where the ribs are being smoked that just drives you crazy. I love the sweet tea, too, and it's the most unique setting you can get.
2 - We stumbled on this at 9:30 on a Friday night before the 2006 football game at Kansas. Jack Stack BBQ is shipped nationwide, and with good reason. It was "upscale" for a BBQ joint, the kind of place you wouldn't walk into with suspenders on. This was probably the best barbeque dinner I've had, but since there was only one visit it can't top years of trips to worship at "The Church."
3 - The side dishes are tremendous here, along with really tasty beef and ribs and ham and sausage and ...
4 - Right down the alley from the fabled Peabody Hotel, where the ducks walk, the Rendevous is a southern classic. My friends from Memphis swear Corky's BBQ is better, but the location and the vibe (again, an upscale place, with a great Friday night crowd enjoying libations while waiting on their seats) combine with wonderful ribs to make this high on my list.
5 - ABC announcer Keith Jackson helped spread the word about Dreamland. The ribs are huge. It's off the beaten track and the kind of place where if you are not wearing suspenders and dirty boots, you're almost the odd man out. I remember thinking as I left, the Church was slightly better, but as Bum Phillips said about Earl Campbell, maybe he's not in a class by himself, but it don't take long to call the roll.
6 - McClard's was made famous by Bill Clinton, but it was an institution long before then. The walls are filled with photos of famous folks who came by, many due to him. They all left happy. It's basically a little diner, with tiny booths and an old style drug store counter. The food is tremendous, the service incredibly good, and somehow you must save room for dessert.
7 - Mr. Joe Cobb knows how to treat beef. His brisket is astounding. Thanks to Mike McConathy for turning me on to Cobb's.
8 - Country Tavern, I know, is high on Patrick Netherton's list. Mine too. Coach Billy Montgomery took us there in Coach Mike's first season. I've been back several times since. Simply put, it's tremendous. A nicer restaurant than most BBQ places, with a little more varied menu, but try the barbeque first.
9 - A personal favorite, from the many trips to Monroe through the years. Great beans and potato salad. Country Line BBQ in the DFW metro area is along the same lines, but the tie goes to the home state.
10 - Not a barbeque restaurant per se, but they serve great ribs. You get more food for your money here than almost anywhere else. The walls are lined with sports photos, just an interesting place.
By the wsy, Coach Mike is on a vegetarian kick at the outset of the year and only had side dishes today at Hintze's. If I hadn't seen it, I would not have believed it. We can tell you their okra gumbo is incredible.
Pass the Pepcid AC, please! Seeing as we are smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico, literally a couple hundred feet away right now, I pledge to have some grilled fish for lunch tomorrow. Healthier, for sure!
Doug Ireland, SID
The Demon basketball team had lunch at Hintze's Barbeque along U.S. 59 outside of Wharton, about 60 miles southwest of Houston.
On the wall was a page from a 1995 Food & Wine magazine feature listing the country's best barbeque joints. Guess who No. 1 was?
Like the Football Bowl Subdivision, when it comes to barbeque ratings, we will never know for sure who is the best. But the Demon basketball team would definitely give high marks to Hintze's, and so does baseball legend Nolan Ryan, whose letter of endorsement adorned the wall leading to the promised land -- the counter where you place your order.
There's also, however, a stuffed squirrel along the way. Don't know the story, just hope he wasn't cooked. Didn't see it on the menu. The restaurant also had various mounted animals, including a moose head, and full bodied mounts of a mountain lion (don't know where it came from), a modestly sized deer, a turkey, ducks and other birds.
The travel party, heading toward Corpus Christi for Thursday night's game, enjoyed lunch, to say the least!
Tonight, wanting to pinpoint the location, I did a google on Hintze's, and found a chat board discussion of the best Texas BBQ joints. There's not really a wrong answer to a question like that.
So I will chime in with my take on the best BBQ places that I've enjoyed during travels with the Demons. Perhaps my buddy Patrick Netherton will offer his picks, too. Here's my Top 10 rankings -- excluding the great Grayson's in Clarence, Red's and the Tin House in Natchitoches, because that's backyard BBQ for Demons:
1 - The New Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville
2 - Jack Stack BBQ in Kansas City
3 - Hintze's
4 - The Rendevous, Memphis
5 - Dreamland, Tuscaloosa
6 - McClard's, Hot Springs
7 - Cobb's BBQ, Bossier City
8 - Country Tavern, Shreveport
9 - Podnuh's, Monroe
10 - Jamil's, Tulsa
1 - "The Church" may not be what it once was, a truly epic experience, but for sheer volume, unique atmosphere, and variety, you cannot do better than the family style, all-you-can-handle platter served up here. The ribs are the biggest and juiciest. There's something about walking in past the grill where the ribs are being smoked that just drives you crazy. I love the sweet tea, too, and it's the most unique setting you can get.
2 - We stumbled on this at 9:30 on a Friday night before the 2006 football game at Kansas. Jack Stack BBQ is shipped nationwide, and with good reason. It was "upscale" for a BBQ joint, the kind of place you wouldn't walk into with suspenders on. This was probably the best barbeque dinner I've had, but since there was only one visit it can't top years of trips to worship at "The Church."
3 - The side dishes are tremendous here, along with really tasty beef and ribs and ham and sausage and ...
4 - Right down the alley from the fabled Peabody Hotel, where the ducks walk, the Rendevous is a southern classic. My friends from Memphis swear Corky's BBQ is better, but the location and the vibe (again, an upscale place, with a great Friday night crowd enjoying libations while waiting on their seats) combine with wonderful ribs to make this high on my list.
5 - ABC announcer Keith Jackson helped spread the word about Dreamland. The ribs are huge. It's off the beaten track and the kind of place where if you are not wearing suspenders and dirty boots, you're almost the odd man out. I remember thinking as I left, the Church was slightly better, but as Bum Phillips said about Earl Campbell, maybe he's not in a class by himself, but it don't take long to call the roll.
6 - McClard's was made famous by Bill Clinton, but it was an institution long before then. The walls are filled with photos of famous folks who came by, many due to him. They all left happy. It's basically a little diner, with tiny booths and an old style drug store counter. The food is tremendous, the service incredibly good, and somehow you must save room for dessert.
7 - Mr. Joe Cobb knows how to treat beef. His brisket is astounding. Thanks to Mike McConathy for turning me on to Cobb's.
8 - Country Tavern, I know, is high on Patrick Netherton's list. Mine too. Coach Billy Montgomery took us there in Coach Mike's first season. I've been back several times since. Simply put, it's tremendous. A nicer restaurant than most BBQ places, with a little more varied menu, but try the barbeque first.
9 - A personal favorite, from the many trips to Monroe through the years. Great beans and potato salad. Country Line BBQ in the DFW metro area is along the same lines, but the tie goes to the home state.
10 - Not a barbeque restaurant per se, but they serve great ribs. You get more food for your money here than almost anywhere else. The walls are lined with sports photos, just an interesting place.
By the wsy, Coach Mike is on a vegetarian kick at the outset of the year and only had side dishes today at Hintze's. If I hadn't seen it, I would not have believed it. We can tell you their okra gumbo is incredible.
Pass the Pepcid AC, please! Seeing as we are smack dab on the Gulf of Mexico, literally a couple hundred feet away right now, I pledge to have some grilled fish for lunch tomorrow. Healthier, for sure!
Doug Ireland, SID
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)