A Lot to Be Thankful For
One plus to sowing wheat this close to Thanksgiving is that time spent on the tractor can be a time to reflect. I do not always have that luxury, but I have spent several hours going around and around this year. I have had the opportunity to think about some of the things that I am thankful for. Another thing that brought this to the forefront for me, interestingly enough, is Facebook. A lot of the folks on Facebook have been posting something everyday that they are thankful for. It shifted me into that gear and I believe it is good for all of us to stop and count our blessings.
First of all, I am thankful to live in a state like Oklahoma where our values are “the right kind”. And where, for the most part, people believe “if you don’t work, you don’t eat”, and they are not afraid to work. I am thankful to be a state representative and to be able to stand for my kind of people. I am not sure how I would get along in a mostly urban district, but a mostly rural district suits me pretty well. I am thankful for being able to live in rural Oklahoma and being able to enjoy the lifestyle that we have been able to provide for our family. I am glad that my kids have been able to grow up in a setting where they can see the stars at night.
Although I might not consider my girls true farm girls, they at least have had opportunities to do things like be in FFA and show animals, and they know that having room to breathe is a luxury. As a matter of a fact, my youngest daughter, Kelsey, has practically taught herself to drive in the pasture. She has a path worn into the grass and she does not like it to rain because it muddies up her practice track. I am thankful that my oldest daughter, Katy, has only one year left in her college education. I am also thankful, although I whine about it a lot, that we were able to provide that for her. I guess, while we are on the kids, I am thankful that our kids have, for the most part, been pretty good growing up. We have had our drama and neither are perfect but we have tried to raise them in church and impart some of our values on them and maybe some of them have stuck. I am thankful that Dede and I have had 25 years as husband and wife and both of us have enjoyed good health. Even though politics is tough on families, mine seems to be weathering the storm fairly well.
I am thankful for our freedom and for those who sacrificed to make sure that we do live in the greatest country on earth, free to decide what to do for a living and how to live our lives. I am thankful for good friends from all over the state, as well as the ones right down the road.
I am thankful for all the prayers and the people that cared during the tragedy that occurred early this summer with the loss of my assistant, Ashley Pena. It was a very dark time and there were prayer chains, blood donations and a tremendous outpouring of love that made that time much more bearable. I am thankful for the new Ashley in my life and the fact that God saw fit to send me someone equally as good.
I am thankful that we are not in the shape financially in our state that some other states are in. And, although things look bleak, I know they will get better and that our state and nation will make it through. I am thankful that Oklahomans are as tough a lot as we are. We live in a great spot on the map and I think everyday we should be thankful for who we are.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.” -Frank A. Clark
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Manners
Manners
About a week ago, there was an incident in Washington as President Obama was addressing a joint session of congress about the health care issue. During that address, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina heckled the President and shouted out “you lie” when the President said that legislation would not mandate coverage for undocumented immigrants. The situation was embarrassing for all in attendance. Of course, from her perch “Queen Pelosi” gave the congressman the skunk eye and tried to make him explode in his seat. If looks could kill, the congressman would have turned into a pile of rubble. The camera did not catch all the glares and stares from other members of congress, but I can only imagine that there were a great many.
Now, before you draw any conclusions about the president or the goofy health care plan that he proposes, remember this is not about the subject or the issue. It is about poor manners and respect. The President, whether you love him or hate him, is still the President. It is no different for we at the state capitol. We must show our respect to the office of the state governor. It boils down to this, you may not like the man in the seat and you may not agree with him. But the fact remains, that entity alone commands a certain level of respect. After all, the members were in a joint session of congress, not on the Jerry Springer show.
I understand that Representative Wilson has apologized and he should have. He owed the president an apology. It is very easy to lose your cool in a politically charged environment. I have been there and I have learned that no matter how you feel, there are ways to communicate and ways not to. That was certainly not the proper way for Representative Wilson to get his point across. It is unfortunate but, of course, it has been made newsworthy.
I fully believe that the President is wrong in regards to the healthcare issue. I believe that it is a step to socialism and I do not think it is fair for hard-working Americans, who struggle and pay their insurance, to have to pay for those who are unwilling to work. There is a big difference in my mind between unwilling and unable. It is like the old saying goes “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”
Even if Congressman Wilson disagreed with the President, it does not give him the right to yell and scream in that chamber. All the boos that followed were equally as inappropriate and the whole thing just turned into an unnecessary circus. Now, I am all for healthy debate and disagreements, for that is what the political process is all about. But again, it aint Jerry Springer. And it aint reality tv. It is an institution with hundreds of years of tradition.
Now, on to state matters. By the time you read this, a Southwest Oklahoma water tour will be underway. The Speaker of the House, as well as the House of Representatives Water-Working Group and the Natural Resources Committee will make a two-day trip through southwest Oklahoma. The purpose will be to access current water infrastructure as well as look at some possibilities for future water needs in the most arid region in Oklahoma that many of us call home. We will look at the Waurika reservoir as well as the proposed Cookietown reservoir. We will also look at Hackberry flats and will visit the Altus Irrigation District at Lake Lugert. We will look into the chloride removal project in that area. The final stop will be Medicine Park where presentations will occur and the tour will conclude. It will be a privilege to welcome the Speaker of the House, as well as at least 27 legislators, to Southwest Oklahoma. It will be a great opportunity to showcase some of the really great things that are happening in our area. As information is gathered in our swing through the area, I will keep you informed.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Character is much easier kept than recovered. -Thomas Paine
About a week ago, there was an incident in Washington as President Obama was addressing a joint session of congress about the health care issue. During that address, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina heckled the President and shouted out “you lie” when the President said that legislation would not mandate coverage for undocumented immigrants. The situation was embarrassing for all in attendance. Of course, from her perch “Queen Pelosi” gave the congressman the skunk eye and tried to make him explode in his seat. If looks could kill, the congressman would have turned into a pile of rubble. The camera did not catch all the glares and stares from other members of congress, but I can only imagine that there were a great many.
Now, before you draw any conclusions about the president or the goofy health care plan that he proposes, remember this is not about the subject or the issue. It is about poor manners and respect. The President, whether you love him or hate him, is still the President. It is no different for we at the state capitol. We must show our respect to the office of the state governor. It boils down to this, you may not like the man in the seat and you may not agree with him. But the fact remains, that entity alone commands a certain level of respect. After all, the members were in a joint session of congress, not on the Jerry Springer show.
I understand that Representative Wilson has apologized and he should have. He owed the president an apology. It is very easy to lose your cool in a politically charged environment. I have been there and I have learned that no matter how you feel, there are ways to communicate and ways not to. That was certainly not the proper way for Representative Wilson to get his point across. It is unfortunate but, of course, it has been made newsworthy.
I fully believe that the President is wrong in regards to the healthcare issue. I believe that it is a step to socialism and I do not think it is fair for hard-working Americans, who struggle and pay their insurance, to have to pay for those who are unwilling to work. There is a big difference in my mind between unwilling and unable. It is like the old saying goes “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”
Even if Congressman Wilson disagreed with the President, it does not give him the right to yell and scream in that chamber. All the boos that followed were equally as inappropriate and the whole thing just turned into an unnecessary circus. Now, I am all for healthy debate and disagreements, for that is what the political process is all about. But again, it aint Jerry Springer. And it aint reality tv. It is an institution with hundreds of years of tradition.
Now, on to state matters. By the time you read this, a Southwest Oklahoma water tour will be underway. The Speaker of the House, as well as the House of Representatives Water-Working Group and the Natural Resources Committee will make a two-day trip through southwest Oklahoma. The purpose will be to access current water infrastructure as well as look at some possibilities for future water needs in the most arid region in Oklahoma that many of us call home. We will look at the Waurika reservoir as well as the proposed Cookietown reservoir. We will also look at Hackberry flats and will visit the Altus Irrigation District at Lake Lugert. We will look into the chloride removal project in that area. The final stop will be Medicine Park where presentations will occur and the tour will conclude. It will be a privilege to welcome the Speaker of the House, as well as at least 27 legislators, to Southwest Oklahoma. It will be a great opportunity to showcase some of the really great things that are happening in our area. As information is gathered in our swing through the area, I will keep you informed.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Character is much easier kept than recovered. -Thomas Paine
Ag Secretary Visits Oklahoma
Ag Secretary Visits Oklahoma
Last Wednesday morning, I made a mad dash to El Reno to hear and observe the rural forum held by United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. The meeting was held at Redlands Community College and the room was packed. Several Oklahoma legislators were in attendance. Francie Tolle, State Farm Service Agency Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and former house member and USDA Field Representative Ryan McMullan were also in attendance at the forum. Folks from all over, representing all different farm organizations, were there to hear the views of Secretary Vilasck, who is a former governor of Iowa. You would think, with Iowa’s farm production, he would be a fairly agricultural guy. Several questions were posed by the audience and everyone was extremely polite. Like we talked about last week, the rank of the position alone should be respected.
I sensed that Secretary Vilsack’s views might be a little bit different than many of us here in Oklahoma. Particularly disturbing to me were his comments on global warming. Even though science says otherwise, he still believes that global warming is a real issue. So while nobody jumped and heckled the secretary of agriculture, I saw a lot of indicators that Oklahomans were not necessarily buying into his theory. The thought that agriculture can negatively impact the environment does not sit well with those of us in the business. Now, to Secretary Vilsack’s credit, he is appointed by the Obama administration and I feel that maybe his remarks were carefully thought out so as not to inflame the people who put him in his position. It makes you wonder if he really believes in what he is saying.
All in all, the meeting went fairly well. And again, folks were polite. But, it does give me a slight hesitation to think that the current head of agriculture for the entire country buys into the global warming theory. One positive thing is that we did get a visit from a national figure and relationships were formed. At least there is now an open line of communication, which is a very good thing. Secretary Vilsack has now been face-to-face with Francie Tolle, who is from a farm family in northwest Oklahoma. I truly believe that with her agricultural background and a direct line to the top, she at least has a chance to tell Oklahoma’s story when the time comes. So, the meeting was definitely not a waste. At least we know that the lady in charge of our state USDA now has a direct link.
As this article is being written, we are heading to the first stop of the water tour that we spoke of last week. It is interesting that my goal was to show urban legislators and the speaker of the house how dry it can get down here in southwest Oklahoma. Ironically enough, we have had a huge rain in the past week. However, I will take the rain over a tour any day of the week. And, I still think that we can show those folks what they need to see. Hopefully by this time next week we will be able to tell you some of the reactions of the folks from all different parts of the state. Next week, we will talk more about what was learned on the tour.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.” - Robert Green Ingersoll
Last Wednesday morning, I made a mad dash to El Reno to hear and observe the rural forum held by United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. The meeting was held at Redlands Community College and the room was packed. Several Oklahoma legislators were in attendance. Francie Tolle, State Farm Service Agency Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and former house member and USDA Field Representative Ryan McMullan were also in attendance at the forum. Folks from all over, representing all different farm organizations, were there to hear the views of Secretary Vilasck, who is a former governor of Iowa. You would think, with Iowa’s farm production, he would be a fairly agricultural guy. Several questions were posed by the audience and everyone was extremely polite. Like we talked about last week, the rank of the position alone should be respected.
I sensed that Secretary Vilsack’s views might be a little bit different than many of us here in Oklahoma. Particularly disturbing to me were his comments on global warming. Even though science says otherwise, he still believes that global warming is a real issue. So while nobody jumped and heckled the secretary of agriculture, I saw a lot of indicators that Oklahomans were not necessarily buying into his theory. The thought that agriculture can negatively impact the environment does not sit well with those of us in the business. Now, to Secretary Vilsack’s credit, he is appointed by the Obama administration and I feel that maybe his remarks were carefully thought out so as not to inflame the people who put him in his position. It makes you wonder if he really believes in what he is saying.
All in all, the meeting went fairly well. And again, folks were polite. But, it does give me a slight hesitation to think that the current head of agriculture for the entire country buys into the global warming theory. One positive thing is that we did get a visit from a national figure and relationships were formed. At least there is now an open line of communication, which is a very good thing. Secretary Vilsack has now been face-to-face with Francie Tolle, who is from a farm family in northwest Oklahoma. I truly believe that with her agricultural background and a direct line to the top, she at least has a chance to tell Oklahoma’s story when the time comes. So, the meeting was definitely not a waste. At least we know that the lady in charge of our state USDA now has a direct link.
As this article is being written, we are heading to the first stop of the water tour that we spoke of last week. It is interesting that my goal was to show urban legislators and the speaker of the house how dry it can get down here in southwest Oklahoma. Ironically enough, we have had a huge rain in the past week. However, I will take the rain over a tour any day of the week. And, I still think that we can show those folks what they need to see. Hopefully by this time next week we will be able to tell you some of the reactions of the folks from all different parts of the state. Next week, we will talk more about what was learned on the tour.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.” - Robert Green Ingersoll
Governor Henry Bellmon: "Statesman"
Governor Henry Bellmon: “Statesman”
I have to admit that I never had the pleasure of meeting Henry Bellmon. What little I do know of him comes from his reputation and what others have said about him. The thing that sticks in my mind the most is a statement that one of my very good friends, Jerry Gunkle from Eldorado, Oklahoma, always used to say, “Henry Bellmon was the only Republican I ever voted for.” Now, Jerry was a staunch Democrat, so there had to be some pretty compelling reasons that he would make such a statement. I also learned about Henry Bellmon from Facebook because a lot of people posted comments about him on the day of his passing.
In my younger years, I was not very politically active. I was too busy trying to be an Ag teacher and an Auctioneer while raising a family. So, not growing up as a political junkie, I just was not that engaged. But, the one thing that keeps coming to my mind is that Henry Bellmon was well thought of by lots of people, regardless of their political affiliation. This, I think, speaks volumes about who he was. I think, for most Oklahomans, the character of the man speaks louder than party affiliation. I think he truly cared about Oklahoma and was able to transcend the political clutter and noise and partisan bickering that we all seem to be so caught up in these days.
When I discuss politics with young people, the old teacher in me kicks in and I try to paint a picture with words so they can understand the two political ends of the spectrum. I have used the analogy many times of a pickup traveling down a country road. On the right, I had them visualize a Republican with a rope tied on to the right side mirror. On the left, a Democrat with an equally long rope, tied on to the left side. I told them to imagine each one pulling as hard as they could in their respective directions. In the process of the right pulling his way and the left pulling his way, that pickup, which I equate to the average Oklahoman, operates in the road and not in the bar ditch. I truly believe that most Oklahomans would rather operate in that road than in any ditch. It provides a balance of the two parties. The opposing pull, hopefully, will keep us out of either ditch.
From what I have read and heard about Henry Bellmon, he must have been somewhat of a centrist because many people from both sides liked him so much. It is interesting to note that he served as Governor from 1963 to 1967. In 1968, Oklahomans thought well enough of him to send him to Washington for two terms in the US Senate.
Bellmon then went back among the people, back to his agricultural roots, which he never truly left. There he resurfaced and a new generation of Oklahomans tapped him for the Governor’s post once again. He must have had widespread appeal. He obviously had public service in his blood to come back and sign on for another hitch.
I know that there are a few veterans out there that remember a time when he was not so popular. Bellmon was a veteran himself, so he had some credibility with that group, even if they disagreed. Bellmon must have been a lot like Ronald Reagan, in that both sides accepted him and he must have had tremendous leadership qualities. I think the one word that I have heard over and over that sums up this great Oklahoman is simply the word “Statesman”.
Thank you Governor Bellmon for your part in making Oklahoma a state we can be proud to call home.
If you would like to contact me, while I’m at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an email to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you do down the road:
Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.
-Shaquille O’ Neal
I have to admit that I never had the pleasure of meeting Henry Bellmon. What little I do know of him comes from his reputation and what others have said about him. The thing that sticks in my mind the most is a statement that one of my very good friends, Jerry Gunkle from Eldorado, Oklahoma, always used to say, “Henry Bellmon was the only Republican I ever voted for.” Now, Jerry was a staunch Democrat, so there had to be some pretty compelling reasons that he would make such a statement. I also learned about Henry Bellmon from Facebook because a lot of people posted comments about him on the day of his passing.
In my younger years, I was not very politically active. I was too busy trying to be an Ag teacher and an Auctioneer while raising a family. So, not growing up as a political junkie, I just was not that engaged. But, the one thing that keeps coming to my mind is that Henry Bellmon was well thought of by lots of people, regardless of their political affiliation. This, I think, speaks volumes about who he was. I think, for most Oklahomans, the character of the man speaks louder than party affiliation. I think he truly cared about Oklahoma and was able to transcend the political clutter and noise and partisan bickering that we all seem to be so caught up in these days.
When I discuss politics with young people, the old teacher in me kicks in and I try to paint a picture with words so they can understand the two political ends of the spectrum. I have used the analogy many times of a pickup traveling down a country road. On the right, I had them visualize a Republican with a rope tied on to the right side mirror. On the left, a Democrat with an equally long rope, tied on to the left side. I told them to imagine each one pulling as hard as they could in their respective directions. In the process of the right pulling his way and the left pulling his way, that pickup, which I equate to the average Oklahoman, operates in the road and not in the bar ditch. I truly believe that most Oklahomans would rather operate in that road than in any ditch. It provides a balance of the two parties. The opposing pull, hopefully, will keep us out of either ditch.
From what I have read and heard about Henry Bellmon, he must have been somewhat of a centrist because many people from both sides liked him so much. It is interesting to note that he served as Governor from 1963 to 1967. In 1968, Oklahomans thought well enough of him to send him to Washington for two terms in the US Senate.
Bellmon then went back among the people, back to his agricultural roots, which he never truly left. There he resurfaced and a new generation of Oklahomans tapped him for the Governor’s post once again. He must have had widespread appeal. He obviously had public service in his blood to come back and sign on for another hitch.
I know that there are a few veterans out there that remember a time when he was not so popular. Bellmon was a veteran himself, so he had some credibility with that group, even if they disagreed. Bellmon must have been a lot like Ronald Reagan, in that both sides accepted him and he must have had tremendous leadership qualities. I think the one word that I have heard over and over that sums up this great Oklahoman is simply the word “Statesman”.
Thank you Governor Bellmon for your part in making Oklahoma a state we can be proud to call home.
If you would like to contact me, while I’m at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an email to donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you do down the road:
Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.
-Shaquille O’ Neal
Who Cares What Happens In Central Park? Maybe WE Should..
Who Cares What Happens In Central Park? Maybe WE should..
I caught an article last week that struck my interest. It was fairly deep into the paper, not front page, but I read every word. It was a story from Central Park in New York City. Now, on a typical day in my life in Oklahoma, I could give a rip about what is going on in Central Park in the Big Apple. But, this particular story sent shivers down my spine. This is the kind of thing that could find its way into Oklahoma. The article said that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is pushing to do away with horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. They want to replace them with “horseless” carriages. Well, as you might imagine if you have followed Don Armes very long, I had a problem with that. PETA’s position is that the horses are not treated properly and lead a mundane life and that it is unfair to those animals. I do not know how many carriages you have been around, but those horses do not have it too bad. Typically they are well fed and well groomed, because if you want people to ride in your carriage, you do not want an old nasty horse standing there. You want him to look good because there is, of course, plenty of competition among carriage drivers. Which, by the way, there are lots of carriage drivers in New York City who are fearing the loss of their jobs over this whole issue.
So, if the horses are well-groomed and well-fed, the only draw back is that they have to live in New York City. Now, personally I would rather have poison ivy than to live there. But, if one must live there, then what better place than central park? PETA all of a sudden thinks that this is bad. The interesting thing about PETA is that the organization gets so much power from famous names and movie stars. Well, in this particular instance, a very well-known movie star, Liam Neeson, stepped out to give his opinion on the matter. You may not know his name but I promise you have seen him in movies. (He was in the recent action film “Taken”.) For once, somebody in a position like his has come down on the right side of this issue. I believe he said that the horses and carriages in Central Park are “iconic”. They have been there for generations and they employ lots of people in that small, but beautiful green zone in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. So, in Neeson’s opinion, it would take away the charm of Central Park and the tradition of the carriage rides. And, it just would not be right to try to replace something so traditional with a gas-fired buggy. Now, I am sure that PETA will reach into their data bank and pull out one of their big time movie stars to rebut everything that Liam Neeson says. But, most of the time those people know so little about animal welfare and instead play on people’s sympathies who know even less about what a well-treated animal looks like. And, before you know it, somebody listens.
Rest assured, even though PETA and the folks that operate that terrorist sect are wrong, they are not stupid. They know that the target is much easier in New York City than it ever would be in a place like Oklahoma. I remember just a year or two ago when I ran a bill to help incentivize more large animal veterinarians, I actually got a call from the New York Times. When I asked the reporter what I was missing and why the New York Times was interested in the shortage of large animal vets, the lady told me that New York has the same problem. A large number of dairies surround the New York City area but there are not enough veterinarians to take care of all the dairy cattle. I was surprised until I thought about it. Millions of people congregated in one big wad in New York City still have to eat and drink milk. No matter how sophisticated they are, they still have to eat. So, I hope that the dairy farmers in New York and everybody across the United States who is involved in agriculture watches this story with great interest. As we say so often in politics, “it’s the camel’s nose under the tent.” It is like blood in the water for sharks. PETA may pull this off in New York City but as John Wayne said in his movie, John Wayne and the Cowboys, after the outlaws picked on his boys, “We see what you can do with a boy. Let’s see how you do when they come a little bigger.” So PETA, you may pull it off in New York City but I do not believe I would try it in Oklahoma.
I will never forget several years ago when I was in the ag teaching business. My good friend, the late Fred Krasser, wore a t-shirt with the letters P-E-T-A and underneath it said “people eating tasty animals”. That is how we roll in Oklahoma. We are still an agricultural state. We still make our living with animal agriculture and if that changes, we will be sure and call ya. But, I would not count on it.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“There's nothin' in life that's worth doin', if it can't be done from a horse." -Red Steagall
I caught an article last week that struck my interest. It was fairly deep into the paper, not front page, but I read every word. It was a story from Central Park in New York City. Now, on a typical day in my life in Oklahoma, I could give a rip about what is going on in Central Park in the Big Apple. But, this particular story sent shivers down my spine. This is the kind of thing that could find its way into Oklahoma. The article said that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is pushing to do away with horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. They want to replace them with “horseless” carriages. Well, as you might imagine if you have followed Don Armes very long, I had a problem with that. PETA’s position is that the horses are not treated properly and lead a mundane life and that it is unfair to those animals. I do not know how many carriages you have been around, but those horses do not have it too bad. Typically they are well fed and well groomed, because if you want people to ride in your carriage, you do not want an old nasty horse standing there. You want him to look good because there is, of course, plenty of competition among carriage drivers. Which, by the way, there are lots of carriage drivers in New York City who are fearing the loss of their jobs over this whole issue.
So, if the horses are well-groomed and well-fed, the only draw back is that they have to live in New York City. Now, personally I would rather have poison ivy than to live there. But, if one must live there, then what better place than central park? PETA all of a sudden thinks that this is bad. The interesting thing about PETA is that the organization gets so much power from famous names and movie stars. Well, in this particular instance, a very well-known movie star, Liam Neeson, stepped out to give his opinion on the matter. You may not know his name but I promise you have seen him in movies. (He was in the recent action film “Taken”.) For once, somebody in a position like his has come down on the right side of this issue. I believe he said that the horses and carriages in Central Park are “iconic”. They have been there for generations and they employ lots of people in that small, but beautiful green zone in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. So, in Neeson’s opinion, it would take away the charm of Central Park and the tradition of the carriage rides. And, it just would not be right to try to replace something so traditional with a gas-fired buggy. Now, I am sure that PETA will reach into their data bank and pull out one of their big time movie stars to rebut everything that Liam Neeson says. But, most of the time those people know so little about animal welfare and instead play on people’s sympathies who know even less about what a well-treated animal looks like. And, before you know it, somebody listens.
Rest assured, even though PETA and the folks that operate that terrorist sect are wrong, they are not stupid. They know that the target is much easier in New York City than it ever would be in a place like Oklahoma. I remember just a year or two ago when I ran a bill to help incentivize more large animal veterinarians, I actually got a call from the New York Times. When I asked the reporter what I was missing and why the New York Times was interested in the shortage of large animal vets, the lady told me that New York has the same problem. A large number of dairies surround the New York City area but there are not enough veterinarians to take care of all the dairy cattle. I was surprised until I thought about it. Millions of people congregated in one big wad in New York City still have to eat and drink milk. No matter how sophisticated they are, they still have to eat. So, I hope that the dairy farmers in New York and everybody across the United States who is involved in agriculture watches this story with great interest. As we say so often in politics, “it’s the camel’s nose under the tent.” It is like blood in the water for sharks. PETA may pull this off in New York City but as John Wayne said in his movie, John Wayne and the Cowboys, after the outlaws picked on his boys, “We see what you can do with a boy. Let’s see how you do when they come a little bigger.” So PETA, you may pull it off in New York City but I do not believe I would try it in Oklahoma.
I will never forget several years ago when I was in the ag teaching business. My good friend, the late Fred Krasser, wore a t-shirt with the letters P-E-T-A and underneath it said “people eating tasty animals”. That is how we roll in Oklahoma. We are still an agricultural state. We still make our living with animal agriculture and if that changes, we will be sure and call ya. But, I would not count on it.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an e-mail to donarmes@okhouse.gov.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“There's nothin' in life that's worth doin', if it can't be done from a horse." -Red Steagall
Sirens in the Country
Sirens in the Country
Friday morning, I was out just a little after daylight going through my morning routine. I was feeding the horses and just generally looking things over as I do every morning. Off in the distance, I heard a siren that sounded like it was coming from Lawton. It was still and it must have been several miles away. My first thought was “I wonder if that is heading somewhere toward one of my neighbors”? The thing that struck me was that it sure seemed like a long time for that siren to go get closer. Most people who live in town do not think much about a siren because they are likely to hear several throughout the course of a day. However, those of us who live out in the country may not hear one for an entire month. So, it makes you perk up because your mind goes to “I hope nothing happened to one of my neighbors” or “I hope there has not been a wreck” or any number of thoughts. Now, keep in mind that for us rural folks, a neighbor could be three miles away because we tend to know the people who live around us and we tend to care.
As I headed back to the house to get ready for the rest of day, my mind went to the recent home invasion near Cache where tragedy struck just a few days ago. Two lives were lost and a family is now dealing with the grief. We take things for granted in rural Oklahoma. You often hear someone say “I do not even lock my door”. But, we cannot take for granted that bad things only happen in the cities. Rural folks are not immune to these things. We tend to let our guard down but we really have to stay vigilant and we need to be careful. And of course, there is the school of thought which I tend to agree with which says that we need to be prepared to take care of ourselves.
That siren in the distance really magnified the fact for me that help can be a long way off when you are in a jam. Whether that jam consists of a health issue, or a fire, or even a robbery or home invasion. It is one the reasons that rural legislators fight so hard for volunteer fire departments. It is one of the reasons that we need to make sure that small communities have some type of ambulance service. I can tell you that in Comanche and Tillman counties, the two counties that I serve as a state representative, the sheriffs departments do a great job with limited resources. However, these areas are very spread out and unless they just happen to be going down your road, it may be twenty minutes before anyone can reach you to render aid of any kind. I guess it is one of the trade offs that we are willing to live with, but it does not take away the fact that we need to be prepared and that we need to pay attention.
I find myself looking over my neighbors’ places as I drive by just to make sure that things do not look out of sorts. I check to see if there is a gate left open or a strange car where it should not be. I think that is the way that most of us are. With the advent of cell phones, we can call each other at the drop of a hat if something is not right. Now, I am not advocating that people take the law into their own hand or that we become vigilantes or anything like that. But, we still have to be as prepared as we can and watch out for one another. Bad things can still happen to good people. But, when something like the incident that occurred a few days ago happens, it makes us a little more cautious. I know at the Armes household, we start making sure the doors are locked, taking the keys out of vehicles and all sorts of normal precautions. Let me tell you, there is nothing I hate worse than to get into a vehicle without the keys in it. I always tend to think “my neighbor may break down and need a pickup”. Unfortunately, in this new day and time, it may not be practical to think that way. It is really kind of sad when you stop and think about it. Lots of times people move away from town to get away from the bad element that a concentration of people can bring. But, as we have said before, living in the country does not make us immune.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family at this time as they deal with this very tragic situation. I think we all need to “step it up a notch” as neighbors and friends. We must look out for one other and do our best to help rural Oklahoma remain a great place to live.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Fear is the foundation of safety.” -Tertullian
Friday morning, I was out just a little after daylight going through my morning routine. I was feeding the horses and just generally looking things over as I do every morning. Off in the distance, I heard a siren that sounded like it was coming from Lawton. It was still and it must have been several miles away. My first thought was “I wonder if that is heading somewhere toward one of my neighbors”? The thing that struck me was that it sure seemed like a long time for that siren to go get closer. Most people who live in town do not think much about a siren because they are likely to hear several throughout the course of a day. However, those of us who live out in the country may not hear one for an entire month. So, it makes you perk up because your mind goes to “I hope nothing happened to one of my neighbors” or “I hope there has not been a wreck” or any number of thoughts. Now, keep in mind that for us rural folks, a neighbor could be three miles away because we tend to know the people who live around us and we tend to care.
As I headed back to the house to get ready for the rest of day, my mind went to the recent home invasion near Cache where tragedy struck just a few days ago. Two lives were lost and a family is now dealing with the grief. We take things for granted in rural Oklahoma. You often hear someone say “I do not even lock my door”. But, we cannot take for granted that bad things only happen in the cities. Rural folks are not immune to these things. We tend to let our guard down but we really have to stay vigilant and we need to be careful. And of course, there is the school of thought which I tend to agree with which says that we need to be prepared to take care of ourselves.
That siren in the distance really magnified the fact for me that help can be a long way off when you are in a jam. Whether that jam consists of a health issue, or a fire, or even a robbery or home invasion. It is one the reasons that rural legislators fight so hard for volunteer fire departments. It is one of the reasons that we need to make sure that small communities have some type of ambulance service. I can tell you that in Comanche and Tillman counties, the two counties that I serve as a state representative, the sheriffs departments do a great job with limited resources. However, these areas are very spread out and unless they just happen to be going down your road, it may be twenty minutes before anyone can reach you to render aid of any kind. I guess it is one of the trade offs that we are willing to live with, but it does not take away the fact that we need to be prepared and that we need to pay attention.
I find myself looking over my neighbors’ places as I drive by just to make sure that things do not look out of sorts. I check to see if there is a gate left open or a strange car where it should not be. I think that is the way that most of us are. With the advent of cell phones, we can call each other at the drop of a hat if something is not right. Now, I am not advocating that people take the law into their own hand or that we become vigilantes or anything like that. But, we still have to be as prepared as we can and watch out for one another. Bad things can still happen to good people. But, when something like the incident that occurred a few days ago happens, it makes us a little more cautious. I know at the Armes household, we start making sure the doors are locked, taking the keys out of vehicles and all sorts of normal precautions. Let me tell you, there is nothing I hate worse than to get into a vehicle without the keys in it. I always tend to think “my neighbor may break down and need a pickup”. Unfortunately, in this new day and time, it may not be practical to think that way. It is really kind of sad when you stop and think about it. Lots of times people move away from town to get away from the bad element that a concentration of people can bring. But, as we have said before, living in the country does not make us immune.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Miller family at this time as they deal with this very tragic situation. I think we all need to “step it up a notch” as neighbors and friends. We must look out for one other and do our best to help rural Oklahoma remain a great place to live.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Fear is the foundation of safety.” -Tertullian
Boy Scouts of America Turn 100
Boy Scouts of America Turn 100
It is interesting when you look back on your life and think about the things that you know and where you learned them. As I read the paper last week, I noticed that scouting was celebrating its centennial year. It made me think of a lot of little things that I take for granted that I learned in the few brief years that I was involved in Boy Scouts. I was certainly not a poster boy for the program or a career scout. In fact, most of my scouting years were my grade school years. But, what is interesting is the life-long skills that I still carry today that I learned during that brief period of my life.
The Boy Scout motto is “be prepared”. I truly believe that I could survive in the wilderness, if I had to, just because of the basic things that we learned as young scouts. For instance, how many people do you know who can really, and I mean really, sharpen a knife? I am not talking about these new fangled gadgets that you order off the internet with diamond surfaces. I am talking about taking a whet stone and a few drops of oil and putting a real edge on a knife. To this day, you hand me your knife, and if it is any good at all, I can hand it back to you with a razor edge. In fact, I still carry a scar on the index knuckle of my left hand where I learned knife safety the hard way. It took twenty-eight stitches to sew the tendon and the knuckle back together. Yep, I got er’ sharp.
Another small thing that I learned in Boy Scouts, from the camping trips that we took, was to bake in a reflector oven. I remember as a young ag teacher, taking my ag boys on a camping trip to the river. We built a reflector oven out of sucker rod, lined it with foil, built a brisk fire and cooked biscuits for breakfast. You would have thought I was a magician. Those boys could hardly believe it. I guess they planned on eating honey buns. Just because you are outside does not mean you have to eat junk. They were amazed. It was just one of those basic things that I had learned in scouting. I have since moved on to the Dutch oven, which I like better.
I sometimes wonder how many people out there know how to whip the end of a rope. Not everything is nylon rope where you can melt the end. And, whipping is preferable to black tape.
One of the interesting that I learned how to do came from my old Boy Scout book. I think I may have been in high school and had an occasion where I needed to tie my neck tie and no one was there to show me. I remembered that my Boy Scout book had a step-by-step diagram. So, I taught myself using that simple guide. And, speaking of knots, you can bet your life, I can still tie a square knot. There is no other knot that can join two pieces of rope more securely than a square knot and still be easy to untie. Simple things, yet useful.
But, isn’t that really what scouting is all about? Life skills, outdoor skills, and most important, values. We were taught proper flag etiquette, proper manners, and just plain old-fashioned, solid values like: do a good turn each day. In fact, the iconic symbol of the Boy Scout was a picture of the young scout helping the little old lady across the street.
It is an amazing program. I feel that in our modern society, when we probably need it most, it is underutilized and, quite frankly, it is not always held in a high enough esteem and that is a shame. If you were to do a survey of junior high and high school boys, you may find that the “cool kids” are not in the organization. But the “cool kids” are probably the ones who need it the worst.
In Boy Scouts, we were taught to honor God and country. We learned to survive outside and not fear the wilderness. I learned what poison ivy looked like and, therefore, could stay out of it. I could tell at a very young age whether a snake was poisonous or not. I learned basic first aid and a host of other skills that I still carry and use from time to time. I owe part of who I am to my brief years in that program. I learned a lot of other lessons from other individuals and organizations, but I still have to give scouting its due. So, happy centennial Boy Scouts of America. We need ya now more than ever.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
A Scout is never taken by surprise; he knows exactly what to do when anything unexpected happens. -Robert Baden-Powell
It is interesting when you look back on your life and think about the things that you know and where you learned them. As I read the paper last week, I noticed that scouting was celebrating its centennial year. It made me think of a lot of little things that I take for granted that I learned in the few brief years that I was involved in Boy Scouts. I was certainly not a poster boy for the program or a career scout. In fact, most of my scouting years were my grade school years. But, what is interesting is the life-long skills that I still carry today that I learned during that brief period of my life.
The Boy Scout motto is “be prepared”. I truly believe that I could survive in the wilderness, if I had to, just because of the basic things that we learned as young scouts. For instance, how many people do you know who can really, and I mean really, sharpen a knife? I am not talking about these new fangled gadgets that you order off the internet with diamond surfaces. I am talking about taking a whet stone and a few drops of oil and putting a real edge on a knife. To this day, you hand me your knife, and if it is any good at all, I can hand it back to you with a razor edge. In fact, I still carry a scar on the index knuckle of my left hand where I learned knife safety the hard way. It took twenty-eight stitches to sew the tendon and the knuckle back together. Yep, I got er’ sharp.
Another small thing that I learned in Boy Scouts, from the camping trips that we took, was to bake in a reflector oven. I remember as a young ag teacher, taking my ag boys on a camping trip to the river. We built a reflector oven out of sucker rod, lined it with foil, built a brisk fire and cooked biscuits for breakfast. You would have thought I was a magician. Those boys could hardly believe it. I guess they planned on eating honey buns. Just because you are outside does not mean you have to eat junk. They were amazed. It was just one of those basic things that I had learned in scouting. I have since moved on to the Dutch oven, which I like better.
I sometimes wonder how many people out there know how to whip the end of a rope. Not everything is nylon rope where you can melt the end. And, whipping is preferable to black tape.
One of the interesting that I learned how to do came from my old Boy Scout book. I think I may have been in high school and had an occasion where I needed to tie my neck tie and no one was there to show me. I remembered that my Boy Scout book had a step-by-step diagram. So, I taught myself using that simple guide. And, speaking of knots, you can bet your life, I can still tie a square knot. There is no other knot that can join two pieces of rope more securely than a square knot and still be easy to untie. Simple things, yet useful.
But, isn’t that really what scouting is all about? Life skills, outdoor skills, and most important, values. We were taught proper flag etiquette, proper manners, and just plain old-fashioned, solid values like: do a good turn each day. In fact, the iconic symbol of the Boy Scout was a picture of the young scout helping the little old lady across the street.
It is an amazing program. I feel that in our modern society, when we probably need it most, it is underutilized and, quite frankly, it is not always held in a high enough esteem and that is a shame. If you were to do a survey of junior high and high school boys, you may find that the “cool kids” are not in the organization. But the “cool kids” are probably the ones who need it the worst.
In Boy Scouts, we were taught to honor God and country. We learned to survive outside and not fear the wilderness. I learned what poison ivy looked like and, therefore, could stay out of it. I could tell at a very young age whether a snake was poisonous or not. I learned basic first aid and a host of other skills that I still carry and use from time to time. I owe part of who I am to my brief years in that program. I learned a lot of other lessons from other individuals and organizations, but I still have to give scouting its due. So, happy centennial Boy Scouts of America. We need ya now more than ever.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
A Scout is never taken by surprise; he knows exactly what to do when anything unexpected happens. -Robert Baden-Powell
General Tommy Franks Had a Choice
General Tommy Franks Had a Choice
Last Wednesday, I had to decide which Veteran’s Day Ceremony to attend. I chose to attend the ceremony in Frederick partly because Frederick does not usually have a big ceremony. But, the main reason was to hear a great American hero deliver a speech. The audience included several veterans from the Tillman county area, but mainly it was Frederick High School students. I overheard a conversation prior to the ceremony where someone said that General Franks had a choice of ten different places to be that day. I am not sure if the students fully grasped who General Franks is because he did not arrive in a limo; he wore an open-collar shirt and a sport coat. He chose to speak to a group of kids, when just the week before he was having a meeting with the king of Jordan. He could have been at any number of large scale ceremonies with large crowds of awe-struck veterans and families. But, General Franks chose the low-key location where he could address a group of students on that very important day.
General Franks has been all over the world. He is a true American hero. A few years ago, I personally witnessed a line of people wrapped around the Lawton Wal-Mart store to get his autograph on their personal copies of his book “American Soldier”. His speaking fee, I am sure, is in the tens of thousands of dollars. He has been everywhere and seen it all. It is kinda interesting that a man of his stature and accomplishment really enjoys living in Southwest Oklahoma. As a matter of a fact, I am pretty sure that he and his wife, Cathy, ate lunch at Sonic that afternoon.
I guess it could be said that General Franks took the easy deal close to home, but from what I know about him, he made that choice for the right reasons. He saw a chance to educate young people about the value of military service and he honored a small group of Tillman county veterans in the process. I hope that the folks in Tillman County appreciated the opportunity to be in the presence of greatness. It was very moving to hear the high school choir and band as they performed patriotic numbers. It was a great ceremony and I for one appreciate what happened that day.
“Tommy Ray”, as his parents called him, was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and grew up in rural Oklahoma where he learned those solid values that we all know are so important. He spent part of his military career at Ft. Sill. He married Cathy Carley and they now live on the Ellis family ranch not far from Hobart. He has done a great deal for the community of Hobart. A museum has been established to exhibit many of his items of interest that have been gathered from his highly decorated career. I actually attended the soft opening of that museum a year or so ago and would recommend anyone looking for a quick day trip to go to Hobart and see what General Franks has amassed over the years.
I am sure that a retired four-star general who led the charge for the American forces against the war on terror would probably have a security detail anytime he travels. But, he did not need it in Frederick, Oklahoma. I am also sure that, rather than drawing the big check, he came to Frederick because it was the right thing to do. I, for one, would like to thank General Franks for honoring those veterans from Tillman County whose service to our great country means every bit as much as veterans from anywhere else in the United States. It was a very special day and I was honored to be present. Thank you general. Our country is in your debt.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was”.
–Robert Louis Stevenson
Last Wednesday, I had to decide which Veteran’s Day Ceremony to attend. I chose to attend the ceremony in Frederick partly because Frederick does not usually have a big ceremony. But, the main reason was to hear a great American hero deliver a speech. The audience included several veterans from the Tillman county area, but mainly it was Frederick High School students. I overheard a conversation prior to the ceremony where someone said that General Franks had a choice of ten different places to be that day. I am not sure if the students fully grasped who General Franks is because he did not arrive in a limo; he wore an open-collar shirt and a sport coat. He chose to speak to a group of kids, when just the week before he was having a meeting with the king of Jordan. He could have been at any number of large scale ceremonies with large crowds of awe-struck veterans and families. But, General Franks chose the low-key location where he could address a group of students on that very important day.
General Franks has been all over the world. He is a true American hero. A few years ago, I personally witnessed a line of people wrapped around the Lawton Wal-Mart store to get his autograph on their personal copies of his book “American Soldier”. His speaking fee, I am sure, is in the tens of thousands of dollars. He has been everywhere and seen it all. It is kinda interesting that a man of his stature and accomplishment really enjoys living in Southwest Oklahoma. As a matter of a fact, I am pretty sure that he and his wife, Cathy, ate lunch at Sonic that afternoon.
I guess it could be said that General Franks took the easy deal close to home, but from what I know about him, he made that choice for the right reasons. He saw a chance to educate young people about the value of military service and he honored a small group of Tillman county veterans in the process. I hope that the folks in Tillman County appreciated the opportunity to be in the presence of greatness. It was very moving to hear the high school choir and band as they performed patriotic numbers. It was a great ceremony and I for one appreciate what happened that day.
“Tommy Ray”, as his parents called him, was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and grew up in rural Oklahoma where he learned those solid values that we all know are so important. He spent part of his military career at Ft. Sill. He married Cathy Carley and they now live on the Ellis family ranch not far from Hobart. He has done a great deal for the community of Hobart. A museum has been established to exhibit many of his items of interest that have been gathered from his highly decorated career. I actually attended the soft opening of that museum a year or so ago and would recommend anyone looking for a quick day trip to go to Hobart and see what General Franks has amassed over the years.
I am sure that a retired four-star general who led the charge for the American forces against the war on terror would probably have a security detail anytime he travels. But, he did not need it in Frederick, Oklahoma. I am also sure that, rather than drawing the big check, he came to Frederick because it was the right thing to do. I, for one, would like to thank General Franks for honoring those veterans from Tillman County whose service to our great country means every bit as much as veterans from anywhere else in the United States. It was a very special day and I was honored to be present. Thank you general. Our country is in your debt.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was”.
–Robert Louis Stevenson
Tragedy Strikes Close to Home
Tragedy Strikes Close to Home
As I tried last week to digest the events that happened last Thursday at Ft. Hood, Texas, I could not get my mind wrapped around an event like that happening, especially at one of our army posts. As I traveled home from Oklahoma City, I thought about how dangerous this world can be. Every time an incident like that occurs, it always seems to take me back to the tragedy of the Edmond Post Office Massacre that happened over twenty years ago. Unfortunately these tragedies seem to occur all too frequently. The Edmond tragedy even created a term that is now all too commonly used. That term is “going postal.” It seems that these acts occur completely in random locations and we just never know where the next breaking news story is going to happens. But, one thing is sure, it always seems like it is somewhere else. While we are shocked and saddened at the loss of life, we are almost always somewhat removed because it is not in our neck of the woods. Except, even that statement is not really accurate because, come to think of it, the first event was in Edmond, and then one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history occurred at the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. So, maybe it is in our neck of the woods.
The Ft. Hood tragedy reached all the way to Tipton, Oklahoma. One of the young soldiers was one of our own, Tipton native, Specialist Jason Dean Hunt (known at home as “J.D”) was on his way to serve his country and stand in harm’s way to keep us free, knowing full well that he could possibly give his life for his country. He had already done a stint in Iraq and had just reenlisted for six years to go back for round two. It seems unimaginable that his service would cost him his life here at home at the hands of a fellow soldier.
It is hard to say what switch flips in somebody’s brain that makes them do terrible things and there seems to be no way to predict when the short circuit will occur. That is really what makes it so scary is that you just never know. We have had terrible tragedies in a post office, a church, even schools. They have been young, and some not so young. It is just an unexplainable tragedy. It seems a total waste of many lives and it is hard to understand. One common thread that stands out as you look back over events like these is that it almost always seems to be a tormented soul, someone who feels abused or mistreated in someway. I do not know what has happened in our society that causes a few of these people to react in such violent ways. But, the all too common denominator seems to be that profile for some reason.
To even make the tragedy worse, J.D. had just married two months before. He was 22 years old and was a 2005 graduate of Tipton High School. Specialist Hunt leaves behind a young wife, a sister (Lelia Willingham), his mother (Gale Hunt), and his grandmother (Kay Smith). We feel hopeless in these situations and most, including myself, really do not know what to do or say. But, as Oklahomans always do, we will pray for this family and do all we can to help them through this time of sorrow and terrible tragedy, and as time passes, we will struggle to understand.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” -Calvin Coolidge
As I tried last week to digest the events that happened last Thursday at Ft. Hood, Texas, I could not get my mind wrapped around an event like that happening, especially at one of our army posts. As I traveled home from Oklahoma City, I thought about how dangerous this world can be. Every time an incident like that occurs, it always seems to take me back to the tragedy of the Edmond Post Office Massacre that happened over twenty years ago. Unfortunately these tragedies seem to occur all too frequently. The Edmond tragedy even created a term that is now all too commonly used. That term is “going postal.” It seems that these acts occur completely in random locations and we just never know where the next breaking news story is going to happens. But, one thing is sure, it always seems like it is somewhere else. While we are shocked and saddened at the loss of life, we are almost always somewhat removed because it is not in our neck of the woods. Except, even that statement is not really accurate because, come to think of it, the first event was in Edmond, and then one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history occurred at the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. So, maybe it is in our neck of the woods.
The Ft. Hood tragedy reached all the way to Tipton, Oklahoma. One of the young soldiers was one of our own, Tipton native, Specialist Jason Dean Hunt (known at home as “J.D”) was on his way to serve his country and stand in harm’s way to keep us free, knowing full well that he could possibly give his life for his country. He had already done a stint in Iraq and had just reenlisted for six years to go back for round two. It seems unimaginable that his service would cost him his life here at home at the hands of a fellow soldier.
It is hard to say what switch flips in somebody’s brain that makes them do terrible things and there seems to be no way to predict when the short circuit will occur. That is really what makes it so scary is that you just never know. We have had terrible tragedies in a post office, a church, even schools. They have been young, and some not so young. It is just an unexplainable tragedy. It seems a total waste of many lives and it is hard to understand. One common thread that stands out as you look back over events like these is that it almost always seems to be a tormented soul, someone who feels abused or mistreated in someway. I do not know what has happened in our society that causes a few of these people to react in such violent ways. But, the all too common denominator seems to be that profile for some reason.
To even make the tragedy worse, J.D. had just married two months before. He was 22 years old and was a 2005 graduate of Tipton High School. Specialist Hunt leaves behind a young wife, a sister (Lelia Willingham), his mother (Gale Hunt), and his grandmother (Kay Smith). We feel hopeless in these situations and most, including myself, really do not know what to do or say. But, as Oklahomans always do, we will pray for this family and do all we can to help them through this time of sorrow and terrible tragedy, and as time passes, we will struggle to understand.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” -Calvin Coolidge
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