Al Petty Update!

Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 1 Nov 2004 7:36 am

Nice story Jerry. I remember Al well. A talent in may ways. I remember him coming to my home and showing me a new 1" bar made from Dynsite.He explained to me the sustain power of the bar, Bought one from him for $5.00. Still have it and wouldn't let it go for anything. He showed me other things, including placing small threaded rod stock behind the non-roller nut on my Fender 400, that enabled a fine tuning method.
The man is a genius in my opinion when it came to knowing the pedal guitar. I had the opertuinity to watch Al Petty play many times. Not only a player's player, but a sincere person to know. I wish Al the best in every way.

Carl West

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 1 Nov 2004 10:12 am

It may indeed be a crapshoot to expect truly impartial justice from our complex legal system, but my understanding is that most of the court system does attempt to get at the truth, and we hope for the best results. As always, what limited information we get from the media, or anybody's personal websites, doesn't always tell us the full story. I'm curious, with you fellows who've known the innocent as well as the guilty to be imprisoned, if you are pro- or anti-death penalty? If it sucks to be wrongly incarcerated, just imagine what it must be like to be wrongly executed...

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Post by **b0b** » 1 Nov 2004 11:41 am

Nobody's suggested the death penalty for Al Petty, Mark. Political discussions are not permitted on the Steel Guitar Forum. If we can't confine ourselves to discussion of his music, I'll close this topic.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator

Savell · Post by **Savell** » 1 Nov 2004 12:50 pm

If we can't confine ourselves to discussion of his music, I'll close this topic.

Even good musicians don't always exercise good judgement. Lack of judgement seems to be the problem here at both ends. All can learn from experiences like this. The mixing of religion and money (the root of all evil) can result in horrible endings. Especially when one tries to profit largely while using the gospel as a stepping stone.

No doubt, this man has made many friends. This will be good for his moral and he may find it helpful on many lonely nights forthcoming. However, his true strength will only come from his faith. Like his master, we too must have forgiving hearts.

Some with much smaller bank accounts could ask "Who is the victim here?" He too has now become a victim of the misjudgements made by himself and others.

To stay on topic; How many steel guitars can one buy with $8 million?

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<img align=left src="http://www.savellministries.org/images/sa1.jpg" border="0">
-Savell-
Savell Ministries[This message was edited by Savell on 01 November 2004 at 01:26 PM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 1 Nov 2004 1:59 pm

Dang Savell...! You did it again! Is a man's act not sacred anymore?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 1 Nov 2004 3:33 pm

Sorry, b0b! It seemed like this thread had gotten pretty "political" to me... my mistake.

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 1 Nov 2004 6:09 pm

I have no dog in this fight but have been reading this thread wondering how long it would be before b0b decided to comment...the man shows great restraint....probably because most everyone has also.
This could have gotten out of hand but cooler heads are prevailing.
My $.02

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 1 Nov 2004 6:35 pm

MVA. Being rightly incarcerated or executed has a certain sting to it too, I'm sure....

How about the indignance of those who were wrongly fleeced, murdered, or otherwise disabused of their LL&H?

My uncle used to whine to me about how the Minnesota Prison System, and the Justice System in general had given him a bad rap.

I reminded him that a state or society with less stringent laws might have looked the other way in their lenience while he was hung from a tree by relatives of the two people he killed, or so the family he kidnapped prior to that might have buried him in their pumphouse after he fell asleep instead of turning him over to the MHP.

He didn't spend a lot of time trying to get sympathy from me in the twenty years after that, though he did enjoy my voluminous political writings (from the safety of his cell of course).

I don't do much political writing anymore.

It gives people headaches..

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 01 November 2004 at 08:15 PM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 1 Nov 2004 6:42 pm

There are no guilty people behind bars, based on what THEY tell you.

Even so, we should be compassionate for those who've been convicted of crimes and are imprisoned- and especially for any who may have been wrongly condemned. Being compassionate, however, shouldn't equate to being gullible.

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 3 Nov 2004 4:01 am

Ben Gilson (age 37) of Enron - 5 years for $10,000,000 fraud
Andy Fastow (age 43)of Enron - 10 yrs for
$30,000,000 fraud
Al Petty (age 70) 24 yrs for $5,000,000 fraud

without knowing anything about the case, I think somethings wrong here

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 3 Nov 2004 4:13 am

Savelle...."money's the root of all evil"? You know better than that....it's not the money but the "love" of money .....and , quoting Bro Ken Copeland now, there's lots of folks committing that sin that ain't got a dime. It was no doubt the "love of money" that caused this problem. Nonetheless, I believe in restoration and the Word encourages us to pray for Al Petty or anyone who has fallen into temptation.

Savell · Post by **Savell** » 3 Nov 2004 4:56 am

Larry, I stand corrected. Thanks.

Ron, how about this one?
--- Dan Strader (in his 30s) 45 years for $3.7M fraud. Daniel also claims his innocence. Who said life was fair?

Savell

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Nov 2004 2:59 pm

All in all, I'd say we steelers must be a pretty holy lot, what with that stuff about the camel and the needle.

(I don't know very many "millionaire steelplayers") You see, I was raised to believe the terms "millionaire" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive. You can be one or the other, but you can't be both.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 3 Nov 2004 3:45 pm

quote......"You see, I was raised to believe the terms "millionaire" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive. You can be one or the other, but you can't be both"......

That's heavy stuff. Surely there must be a few exceptions!

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 3 Nov 2004 6:48 pm

I wouldn't have thought that someone who used religion as a basis to fleece people would warrant a mention on this forum, let alone a thread -- regardless of how well he could play steel !!!

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 4 Nov 2004 12:40 am

I don't think he used religion other than the fact that he portrayed himself as a very religous person. Which he may well be.

His business concepts that he claims are some 20 to 30 years ahead of the time are the real reason. I get the impression that Al really believes that his business technique is in no way questionable. Whereas the prosecutor, judge, FBI, etc saw it quite differently.
Just because Al has a firm belief that he did nothing wrong and his practices are legit doesn't mean that they are.

The sentence seems very tough though.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 4 Nov 2004 4:28 am

He's a man of strong conviction. Over 90 of them.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Nov 2004 8:40 am

"I was raised to believe the terms "millionaire" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive. You can be one or the other, but you can't be both"......

That's heavy stuff. Surely there must be a few exceptions!"

Yes, Gene, there are. They're called "hippocrites".

The bible is pretty clear on this...

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven."

Now, some parts of the bible may be vague, and subject to different interpretations, but I don't think there's but one way to interpret that passage.
[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 04 November 2004 at 08:43 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 4 Nov 2004 8:57 am

.....quote.."It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven."....

....and I always thought that was a parable or an analogy, like: "Sell all you have and give it to the poor"....

I continue to be amazed at the things I continue to learn....and usually about the time when I think I already know everything!

www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 04 November 2004 at 09:03 AM.]

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 4 Nov 2004 9:42 am

I'm no Bible scholar for sure ___ just do some reading everyday and try to pay attention. I cannot always discern what is metaphor, hyperbole, or what is to be interpreted literally. But, as for some commandments there is no ambiguity.

Some theologians interpret "eye of a needle" as that passageway between close vertical rocks (usually found in the desert, like those at Needles, CA). Passage is possible, but one must shed some of his possessions to squeeze through.

If Al is not guilty, I hope someone close to him can help him get justice.

Rick

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 4 Nov 2004 3:14 pm

I am not really following all of this, but in regards to some of the "home-grown" theology here, one should consider the full context when quoting The Bible. Often people forget to read the rest of the verse...

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My take on those verses is that it is NOT impossible for one to be rich and saved. Notice verse 26--with God all things are possible. And, he says "hardly" not "never."

In fact, the rich Christians I have known were VERY generous with their abundant resources. They were reaping what they sowed.

Rick: that is a common belief about the "eye of a needle."

Post by **b0b** » 4 Nov 2004 3:18 pm

Having strayed far from the topic of "Steel Players: Steel Guitarists and their Music" into the realms of politics and religion, this topic has finally earned its lock.