Pops J Casselbury

Pops J. Casselbury
8 Maple Lane
Clover County, GA

Tears Are The Only Sensible Reaction

Mama Haddie and I been cryin' and cryin' about that shootin' since we watched the news last night.

Pops J Casselbury

I keep thinkin' -- it could'a been my wife that got killed in her Bible community. She keeps sayin' -- it couldn't been me, her husband, they'd have to be layin' all flat out in the ground.

In times like these, you either grow cold, or you shut down your soul, or you be honest with your feelings and you let out a good wail.

I am not afraid to cry.

Some people say "real men" don't cry -- that they ain't supposed to. Well, brother, there are a lot of things "real men" ain't supposed to do -- like shoot each other in a House of the Lord! Or fester in their hatred of people different from themselves. That's prejudice.

You want somethin' to NOT be doin' -- don't be doin' that!

But cryin'... everyone's allowed to cry. The Lord wouldn't have given us tear ducks if we weren't meant to let 'em quack every once in a while.

My mama used to say that.

I live by them words, yes I do. I know it's alright to cry.

Pops J Casselbury

Quack them ducks! Mama used to say. That's why God gave 'em to ya', gotta show you're grateful an' use 'em now an' again. Quack them ducks, child, quack 'em!

And I also have to say this: When you cry, cry loud.

It don't matter if you're a man or a woman or something else, neither or both, long as you're human, every person's got a hanging ball in the back of the throat. Now let me educate you on something: That's the testicle of the vocal chords, and it's part of what gives you the ability to sing and talk and cry and communicate. That means that everyone has balls. Like I said, man or woman, it don't make no difference. Everyone has the ability to mouth up and sing.

Pops J Casselbury

So we gotta join together and cry and sing and bring ourselves some peace.

What else can you do after a tragedy like this?