July 13th: Nathan Bedford Forrest Day! Huzzah!

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed Saturday, July 13th, as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in Tennessee, a day of observation to honor the former Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader.

State law, still on the books despite the efforts of the usual suspects, requires the Tennessee governor to issue proclamations for six separate days of special observance. Three of those days, including Forrest Day, pertain to personages and events in the history of the Confederate States of America, of late remembrance. January 19th is Robert E. Lee Day, honouring the commander of the Confederate Army. June 3rd is Confederate Decoration Day, otherwise known as Confederate Memorial Day, also the birthday of President Jefferson Davis.

To kind of even things up, the statute instructs the governor to proclaim those three days of special observation along with Abraham Lincoln Day (February 12th), Andrew Jackson Day (March 15th) and Veterans Day (November 11th). The law invites the people of Tennessee "to observe the days in schools, churches, and other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies expressive of the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of such dates."

In the Forrest proclamation, identical to the one issued each year by former Governor Bill Haslam, Lieutenant-General Forrest is described as a "recognized military figure in American history and a native Tennessean." The text goes on to say that the Governor encourages "all citizens to join (him) in this worthy observance."

Snake-handling Kentucky pastor killed by reptilian non-believer

RIP Jamie Coots, former pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name Church in Middlesboro KY. Reverend Coots went to meet his Maker on Saturday, after handling -- and being bitten by -- a large rattlesnake.

Handling snakes is part of the deceased's version of the Christian religion. Followers of the evangelical Protestant sect take literally a passage from the Gospel of St. Mark (16:17-18):
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them...

Errr, maybe not. Cody Winn, another preacher, told the local TV station that on Saturday night "Jamie went across the floor. He had one of the rattlers in his hand, he came over and he was standing beside me. It was plain view, it just turned its head and bit him in the back of the hand…within a second."

After he was bitten, Mr. Coots dropped the snakes, but then picked them back up and continued on for a few minutes, then went to the restoom. When an ambulance arrived at the church at 8:30 p.m., they were told the reverend had gone home. When contacted at his house he refused medical treatment. Said his son Cody, "He's going to hurt, he's going to pray for a while and he's going to get better. That's what happened every other time."

But not this time. Emergency workers left about 9:10 p.m. When they returned about an hour later, Mr. Coots was dead from the venomous snake bite.

A year ago, Rev. Coots was interviewed by AP, and told them, "We literally believe they want us to take up snakes. We've been serpent handling for the past 20 or 21 years."

Has anyone ever been bitten and died before? Errr, yes. In 1995, 28-year-old Melinda Brown, of Parrottsville TN, died in the same church after being bitten by a four-foot [that's length, not the number of feed. Ed.] timber rattlesnake.

At the time, the county attorney wanted to prosecute someone... anyone but Ms Brown presumably... under a 1942 Kentucky law that makes it illegal to handle or display snakes during religious services. But the county judge refused to sign the criminal complaint. "If the court thought that a trial would act to deter future snake handling in church, my decision would be different," Judge James Bowling Jr. wrote to the county attorney. "But you and I both know that this practice is not going to stop until either rattlesnakes or snake handlers become extinct."

If asked to bet on which is more likely to survive, Walt's money would be on the snakes.

Not in Kentucky yet

I was hoping to post this from Kentucky -- Lexington, perhaps -- where I hope to join in the celebration of Ayn Rand's victory in tomorrow's senate race. [Errr... that would be Rand Paul. Ed.]

McClatchy reports a recent Mason-Dixon poll has Rand (or Paul... whoever) 5 points ahead of Democrat Jack Conman [Errr... oh, never mind. Ed.] But the only poll that counts is the one on election day, so all you Tea Partiers better get out there!

But I digress. I am not yet in Kentucky...though I once knew a gal from ole Kentuck. I am stuck at the airport where I've been held up by security for failing to remove my shoes. That's because I wasn't wearing shoes! But, it seems, the rules clearly state that all pax must remove shoes, so here I stand.

Surely I can't be the only one who thinks airport security has reached ridiculous heights. What happened to our individual rights and freedoms, including the right to go barefoot! Dammit, where I come from, a man wants to die with his boots on...but live with his boots off if he chooses!