"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." (St. Paul in a letter to the Christian church at Corinth)
The crowd was roaring. The lone man in his impeccable tan colored uniform would step forward toward the lectern, then pause and let his eyes wander over the thousands of up turned faces -- all staring at him, waiting for him to speak. And they waited -- and they waited.
The man at the lectern made no effort to speak. He just stood there, almost motionless, and didn't say a word.
A wave of anxiety, nervousness, began to sweep through the crowd of expectant listeners. The noise level began to recede. Soon the roar of the crowd was gone completely. The crowd became quiet and motionless, a reflection of the man they had come expecting to hear speak.
A full sixty seconds would expire before that man would take the one remaining step to the lectern, and begin speaking.
At first he spoke softly forcing his audience to strain to hear his words. Quickly they were leaning forward, heads cocked, hands cupped behind ears in rapt attention, desperately seeking to hear every word, every syllable, every breath, and lay claim to the wisdom his words would impart.
(Editor’s note: J.D. Longstreet passed away in 2014. He will be greatly missed.)
Longstreet is a conservative Southern American (A native sandlapper and an adopted Tar Heel) with a deep passion for the history, heritage, and culture of the southern states of America. At the same time he is a deeply loyal American believing strongly in “America First”.
He is a thirty-year veteran of the broadcasting business, as an “in the field” and “on-air” news reporter (contributing to radio, TV, and newspapers) and a conservative broadcast commentator.
Longstreet is a veteran of the US Army and US Army Reserve. He is a member of the American Legion and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. A lifelong Christian, Longstreet subscribes to “old Lutheranism” to express and exercise his faith.