Coins, rain, surges and TV

Opinion

May 16, 2007

By Stoney Hardcastle The McAlester News-Capital Wed May 16, 2007, 11:23 AM CDT

By STONEY HARDCASTLE

The design chosen for our state commemorative quarter showing a scissor tail fly catcher and wild flowers is an embarrassment. What does this tell about our state’s rich history, nothing. Many states have birds and wild flowers. Think, what does the word Oklahoma bring to mind, Indians, oil derricks, cowboys, great athletes, Jim Thorpe and Mickey Mantle. Whoever made that selection must not be a native Oklahoman, but a transplanted Texan who wants us to be known as the state of Gooney Birds.

The rains came. The long drought is over. Every thing is green and the air is perfumed with honeysuckle. But along with the good comes some bad. The bad is tornados. The tornado that completely wiped the small Kansas town off the map brought a disturbing revelation. Most of our National Guard’s emergency equipment has been sent overseas by our Washington War Lords to fight their war in Iraq. Does this mean the Iraq mess has priority over the home front?

And right in the middle President Bush’s new plan, The Surge, the Iraq new generation will be pushed out into our uncertain world to make the transition into the reality of life.

But before they are turned loose they must go through graduation exercises that among other things include a long boring speech by some celebrity, or politician who basically say the same thing. “It is our there, go get it.” However no one ever tells them were to find it.

Here we go again, just in time to wreck vacation plans. Gasoline is up to three dollars per gallon and rising.

Now that the well intended immigration bill has been signed into law everyone is curious how the law is going to be enforced with no funds. It will take a small army of law enforcement to round up the estimated hundreds of illegals in our state. Then where will they be housed? All our county jails are already overflowing.

Have you noticed? Southeastern Oklahoma is getting some great publicity from the Tulsa Channel Eight TV crew. We should all send our thanks to them.

We are being overwhelmed by telephone calls and mail with time share offers on condos, boats, travel trailers and even motorcycles. I am curious if on the motorcycle deal one will be asked to share a bike with a member of the Hell’s Angels.

Support and pray for our troops speedy return.

Stoney Hardcastle is an author and educator who lives in Wilburton.

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