Review
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK.
These are comments on individual Op-ed essays, most of which are included in the book you are reading.
They come from people who read the Op-ed from across the political and social spectrum, including judges, housewives, professors, professionals, veterans, public officials and especially those with a Christian context to their lives, and I suspect a lot of people in my age bracket (pre-Boomers, Boomers, and post-Boomers) who relate to the subject matter.
I have been traveling and am just now catching up on reading The Tuscaloosa News. I read your column regularly because I find your words "lovely"!! I like the way you weave spirituality into the everyday.
Having never before written to a columnist, I was moved to write and let you know that I very particularly enjoyed your Christmas Eve one. I know the story is told and retold, ad nauseam, every year, but something about this one just caught me. I don't know what it was, but I want to thank you for it!!
Lisa Cain
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Excellent article, full of truth and a message that Christians must share verbally and visually by the manner in which we conduct our daily lives. May God help us to choose to embrace James 1:22.
Ricky Harris
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Thank you for mentioning last night's Reformation program ahead of time in your column, of which I'm a regular reader. If the program was mentioned in UA campus mailings or emails, I failed to notice, so I would have missed the chance to go if not for you. Martin Luther is one of my heroes for what he did for Christianity, and his portrait hangs on my office wall. I learned a lot from the lectures last night and was also surprised to notice that two of my engineering students were in the choir.
Frank Newman | Research Engineer and Instructor
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I couldn't agree more with the points in your column ("I Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy," The Tuscaloosa News, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016)
Larry Oneal
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Brilliant!!! I am a retired pediatrician, having practiced in Tuscaloosa since 1965. This is the truest, most direct, practical piece of advice for women of all ages. ["Ignoring the elephant in the room," The Tuscaloosa News, Dec. 10, 2017] Having dealt with this issue at times in my practice but more so observing these things 'play out' in the media is truly distressing for all parties. Thank you and I plan to share it with my family, particularly, my granddaughters.
Jerry A. Davis M. D.
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Dr. Clayton's attempts to get rid of fake news will end the National Enquirer (or is it Inquirer) Star... etc. We won't have anything to peek at the grocery checkout. That's the only way I know if the Most Interesting Woman in the World.... Kim Kardashian... is getting a divorce... or is it that other actress? Can't keep them straight. My favorite is the Face on Mars. It hurt me when my Dad told me that wasn't true. But.... it's on the front page, Dad! "Sorry, son, it's fake." And how to lose 5 pounds in five minutes. Movie stars without makeup "who have aged horribly." I'll be crushed. Yeesh.... ("Fake News Threatens Integrity of Journalism," The Tuscaloosa News, Sunday December 18, 2016)
Dana Beyerle
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I just wanted to let you know how very much I appreciate your recent article (about golfing and religion), Sorry I cannot recall the actual name of the article. I kept the bottom of the article to be able to respond to your wonderful article. It was about discipline and you encouraged us in the last paragraph " Try Romans 10:17 and follow it up with James 1:22 and don't forget to keep your left arm straight and your eye on the ball."
I commend you for including Scripture and not being afraid to discuss your own belief! You spoke to my heart and am sure many others! In a day when our faith is squelched, it is refreshing to hear God's Word! I commend you, Sir! And look forward to more wonderful articles from you!
Mrs. Mickey DeHaan
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I follow your column, and, though I don't always agree with you, I know you care deeply about the things you discuss. Caring is perhaps more important that absolute correctness....Your 2/12/17 column, "Founders put Liberty before Equality," prompted me to write you directly because, like you, I care deeply about America, and the American Idea....I liked the inference that equality involves elasticity in your questions, "How far did equality stretch? Did it cover all?" It is obviously stretched to the fullest when covering all, which is the active energy of absoluteness in human equality.
Steve Key
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Hello Mr. Clayton--I read your column weekly. I was saddened to read today about your house fire and the loss of your pets. I hope you and your wife are doing well.
Last week's article on the control of language was excellent. In the same edition I saw a request from Mike Daria, Superintendent, for teachers for summer programs for students for a weeklong camp type learning experience. I would like to encourage you to contact him to teach. Our youth badly need someone who can enlighten them on these subjects. They have few critical thinking skills and have no idea of the value of language. Thank you.
Starr R. Hudson
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Bravo! -- A very well-written and thought-provoking article. [Muslims attempt to refashion and out-procreate the rest of the world, note sent 3/21/17, so I think it was a piece on Islam]
Sandy Gathings
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Hi Larry,
As president of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, a 50-year-old nonprofit educational organization, I'd like to invite you to download our white paper on why cursive writing training remains important in a digital age:
ahafhandwriting.org/sites/default/pdf/white-paper.pdf
All best,
Sheila Lowe, MS
President, American Handwriting Analysis Foundation
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I always look forward to reading The Port Rail on Sunday mornings! And many, many thanks to the Claytons for the compassionate ministry you provide in the jail and for the hope you bring to our community.
Scott Donaldson
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Sunday's commentary (6/11) by Larry Clayton on cell phones and the Mark Oppenheimer piece on "Tweet Fatigue" were right on the mark. I used to worry when I saw someone walking alone down the street apparently talking to no one. I thought they were crazy. Now I realize they are on blue tooth. Also, our tweeting president needs to realize most of us do not communicate via Twitter!
-Robert Nicol
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Great article!
Jim Taaffe
Thank you for the Sunday article about UA. This is a very incisive article about the status of higher education in our country. All of us would be better if our agenda was about fairness, truth, honesty, Christian values, etc.
I am a huge supporter of UA, even currently serve on a partnership between UA and Pickens County, and I hope for "excellence" in our great university.
W. O. "Buddy" Kirk, Jr. (7/3/17)
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Thought you might like the attached if you have never seen it before. It relates well to your column in the Tuscaloosa paper this morning. (8/16/17)
Enjoy,
Julian M Brook
Past International Treasurer
Past President, Southeast Region
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
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Mr. Clayton,
Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoy reading your column. I eagerly search it out each Sunday.
You are an inspiration to me as well as a great source of historical facts.
Being a 67-year-old fella, and a Christian, I surely agree with your perspective of today's society. 98/17/17)
A fan,
William (Buddy) Caudill
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Larry, my stepdad Terry Counselman introduced me to your articles a few years ago. He was my science teacher in Thomaston Al and also taught history at MCHS. Incidentally, he was my favorite teacher. He said he attended a lecture by you several years ago, I assume at UA.
I enjoy your writing; it really makes the Sunday paper worth buying.
Keep up the good work! (7/30/17)
Bruce Gwin
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Great column today; I agree wholeheartedly. (11/26/17)
Beau Wicks
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I thoroughly enjoyed your article about apartment living. My husband and I have very recently moved into the same complex as you and your wife. We have always been Tuscaloosa residents and we agree that apartment living is very very different.
We also enjoy "people watching " from our first-floor porch. And visiting the Dump. (I may be delivering some dump diving items soon)
Thanks for a great article. ("Apartment Living, Dumpster Diving and the Heiress," The Tuscaloosa News, Sunday)
Looking forward to another soon. (8/1/17)
Gayle Howard
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I enjoyed your article today. A nice review for me. 8/20/17)
David Cole
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I read your article every Sunday in the Tuscaloosa News and always enjoy it.
This week, your writing of interpreting and translating a language particularly interested me.... (9/18/17)
Keep on writing
Frances Vinson
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As I sat in my den this morning, my precious wife of 43 years has left for church, I am unable to attend because I am recuperating from surgery this past week to remove a cancer from my nose. For the most part I have had peace with this issue because of a practice of praying to God daily, that he will "prepare me for what comes my way today and help me to respond with Christlike love, heart, attitude and perspective".
Your article reminded me that our walk with Christ is a journey that starts over every day! We practice every day so we can become more Christlike and are prepared to deal with the days like I have experienced this week!
The old saying of you play like you practice, is so true in all activities and aspects of our lives! May God always give us the good sense to choose to spend the appropriate amount of our time doing the things such as bible reading, praying and listening for and to the Holy Spirit so we will be prepared for whatever comes our way. I sure appreciate and enjoy your articles! God Bless! (9/24/17)
Ricky Harris
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Hi, Larry:
I enjoyed your column today; you have a great analogy between golf and Christianity!
The beauty of how God created the world and all the things we can apply the principles of being a Christian to are amazing; but He is, isn't He?
Is your book still available? ("Like Golf, Christianity Requires a Lot of Practice" in The Tuscaloosa News Sunday Sept. 24, 2017.
Pam Hamilton
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The Port Rail: your articles in the Tuscaloosa News are always timely and interesting. Thanks for sharing your Christian faith. (9/24/17)
Ann Counselman
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I think I've told you before; because of my Sunday schedule, I usually don't get to read the Sunday paper until Monday.
My Sunday schedule probably mirrors your wife's schedule on the Lord's Day, Amen?!
To use your golf analogy, you hit another "pure stroke" with your pen on yesterday's article.
If followers of Christ did more "practicing" my world, your world, our world would be a better place.
Thanks again for a much-needed lesson we all needed to read. ("Like Golf, Christianity Requires a Lot of Practice" in The Tuscaloosa News Sunday Sept. 24, 2017.
Charlie Wilson
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I enjoyed your column in today's Sunday paper. I must admit until recently I didn't know a lot about Martin Luther's life. I manage a chemical company here in Tuscaloosa and as fate would have it last week, I was visiting a new German supplier, SKW, that we are evaluating. Of all places, their production site is in Wittenberg, Germany. They are the largest fertilizer producer in German.
So, while I was there, I got a chance to learn more about the history and life of Martin Luther. ("Luther and the Storm That Remade Our World," in The Tuscaloosa News, Sunday Sept. 22, 2017)
Marc Smith
About the Author
Larry Clayton is a historian who has published more than a dozen books with major academic and commercial presses like the University of California Press and Harcourt, Brace. He has taught about and traveled through much of Latin America over his career, beginning with life as a boy in Lima, Peru, the son of an American dad and a Chilean mother. He is the former chairman of the Department of History at the University of Alabama and also directed the Latin American Studies Program at the University.
