NO LEGITIMACY AUTHORITY AUTHENTICITY
Some people may understandably wonder if the essays are legitimate expressions which should have any authority, or be regarded as authentic.
The writer is clearly not well known as an expert in any one specialized narrow area; since the writer has specialized in promoting integrity in ways which cross boundaries between many areas of narrow specialization.
Interested persons can go to long past issues Marquis Who's Who to see information about the writer of the essays.
The writer of the essays is a retired college professor who during 1964 through 2003 held numerous important positions at the local, regional and national levels:
(1) Within the realms of science-teaching he taught physics and astronomy for 35 years at the collegel level, often as Department Chair, and served about a dozen years on the National Council of the American Association of Physics Teachers as Iowa's Representative;
(2) Within Democratic party caucus-convention procedures --- from Iowa Precinct Caucuses up to the National Platform Committee of the USA Democratic Party in 1976; as Secretary of the Iowa Democratic Party for four years, as Secretary of a few State-Level Party-Committees on amending the State Party Constitution, as Secretary or Chair of countless Rules-and-Nominations Committees to Democratic Conventions at the county, district and state levels; as the initiator of and a panelist for one of the focal Workshops at the 1978 National Mid-term Convention; and as Parliamentarian to almost all chairs of the Linn County Iowa Democratic Central Committee during 1968 - 2003, but never the center of any controversy;
(3) Within the Presbyterian Church USA in a local congregation, East Iowa Presbytery, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, and the National General Assembly. He served as Moderator of East Iowa Presbytery for a normal cycle of three years of advancing service, and as the moderator of a newly created "Administrative Unit" during the first year it existed.
(4) The writer has worked to promote minority rights; e.g., students' rights, the rights of oppressed minorities such as blacks, and the rights of vulnerable women and children; sometimes in strong opposition to powerful people who have not appreciated such disturbing efforts.
Authenticity has to do with creative people who are willing to be true to themselves and each other in honestly telling their own stories of what they have done, experienced, and discerned --- even when it disturbs the tranquility of people who are stuck in comfortable ruts leading them in circles, or towards tragic consequences.
Authentic authority and legitimacy have to do with people who are following in the steps of creative leaders who lead others to explore new areas of human understanding, articulation and healthy relationships within the Ways-of-Shalom.