Tip of the Week # 35

A Blast from the Past

It was about a week ago -- I believe it was on a Saturday afternoon -- when I received a very strange call on my home phone.

Strange -- Why you ask?

Because the caller started out with this question…

……"Are you the newspaper photographer that took the pictures of John Paul Rogers, Florida Grand Dragon of the United Klans of America back in 1977 - when he lead a Klan march down Main Street in Lakeland (Florida)?"

Well, after reached down and picked up my jaw from the floor… I responded…"Yes I am, and who is this?"

You probably don't know me, but my name is Jeff Calder and I'm a member of the band "The Swimming Pool Cues" -- one of the bands that played at the "Sunfest" Rock Concert at the Lakeland International Speedway that was held later on that same day in Lakeland.

Jeff informed me that his group of musicians was still together after all these years (they're now based in Atlanta) and the band would soon be back in Lakeland playing a gig in the very near future.

Seems the reason for Jeff's call was to ask my permission to reprint several of those photos of the Klan march and rock fest, that I took so many years ago, in an article he was writing for his personal blog:

http://www.swimmingpoolqs.com/jeff-calders-personal-archive/phosphate-pit-stop-rock-1977/

At this point, my mind was reeling with vivid memories of all the events of that …..oh so surreal day in Lakeland.

When I finally regained my composure, I told Jeff that it was OK by me if he reprinted my photos on his blog.

And that's when he blew my mind for the second time - by sharing some current events about the exploits of the aforementioned and infamous Florida Grand Dragon of the United Klans of America…. John Paul Rogers.

Jeff told me that Mr. Rogers had recently been elected to the City Commission of Lake Wales (Florida) and was scheduled to be sworn in on May 6, 2008.

Jeff and I finished our phone conversation making small talk, comparing notes and sharing stories about mutual friends we had back then in Lakeland.

Here's one for the -"It's a small world" -- department. Turns out Jeff even knows my x-wife and her former husband (number 2).

Anyway, as soon as Jeff's and my conversation ended, I immediately headed to my office, fired up my laptop and got online to search for the article about John Paul Rogers and his election win in Lake Wales.

The story wasn't hard to find and you too can read all about it here:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080419/NEWS/188905713/1039

With visions of UKA cross burnings I photographed and racial epitaphs I heard swirling around in my head, I read the aforementioned article.

And in my role as a photojournalist, having known this man and personally witnessed and documented his exploits in the 70's, I have to say that I'm both surprised and pleased at the apparent transformation of John Paul Rogers.

It has been said that time heals all wounds -- that forgiveness becomes more likely as time distances the emotion from the event.

Apparently, that's true, because I originally sat down at this laptop to pound out damnation and condemnation -- airing out my negative feelings toward the voters in Lake Wales -- trying to understand how they could be so stupid and uninformed as to elect someone the likes of John Paul Rogers.

But after reading the article written by Bill Bair and published in The Ledger (my former alma matre) I have experienced a change of heart. Why not give the man a chance!

Redemption, isn't that one of the principals we should all live by?

I know personally that the passage of time has made me more compassionate, tolerant and forgiving. I also know that I am much more comfortable now with who I am than I was when I was a younger man. But don't misinterpret what I am saying. I still, and always will, have a strong sense of what's right and wrong. And I still believe passionately in playing fair.

So, we should all sit back, watch and enjoy the show as Mr. John Paul Rogers takes his seat as a Commissioner of the City of Lake Wales Florida.

After all, from my point of view, this time around it's a win-win situation for everyone. There's bureaucratic transparency now (there are no hooded robes to hide behind any more) and if the voters of Lake Wales aren't satisfied with Mr. Rogers performance, they'll have the opportunity to vote for his replacement during the next election.

And speaking of elections, perhaps the rest of us Americans can all learn something from Rogers victory and the behavior of the electorate of Lake Wales.

So, here's my tips to you for this week…

· Don't let yourself be caught asleep at the switch in our upcoming Presidential Election.

· Choose a candidate that doesn't let personal views interfere with proper decisions

· Become are, color and gender blind - vote for the best candidate

· Above all, exercise you right in a Democratic Society - VOTE

Till next time!