September 20, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, September 20, 2019 Opinion Page pene “ElkCituNews Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Burns examines country music’s ‘three chords’ Don Munsch, Editor I was an entertainment editor at my first newspaper gig in Denison, Texas, and I did movie reviews and some music and theater coverage in addition to a number of other duties at the daily paper. As far as music, the newspaper had a previous columnist who was a country music lover, and so the paper had con- tacts with publicists. So when I got that gig, some years after the previous entertainment writer left, I got to inter- view folks — mostly in the country western realm — who were on tour or had just released records. Occasionally, I interviewed someone outside the country genre, such as a member of the funk band War, which had hits in the 1970s with “Low Rider” and “The Cisco Kid.” But my paper mostly concentrated on country artists. One of the highlights during my time there: Interviewing Ty England, who was with Garth Brooks’ band for a while. When he went solo, in 1995, England released a record, and it was around that time or when he released his second record that I got to chat with him about where his career was at that point. Of course, I asked him what he learned from Garth or Glynda Lomax is a Chris- tions poured in to the Amish to be angry and bitter. They what advice he had given him. tian author and podcaster community that had suffered would have been tempted to who resides in the Ozark the tragedy. The Amish do remember the hurt, and not “Keep the main thing the main thing,” he said Garth told Mountains of Northern Ar- not generally receive char- release it. him. kansas with her two very ity, but this time they made Forgiveness does not nec- I thought about that first job and writing about the music bossy dogs. She wrote her an exception, possibly due to essarily mean you forget scene when watching “Country Music” this week on PBS. first About Life..column in mounting medical and burial what happened. Forgive- 2003 for a newspaper in expenses. ness means you no longer It’s the latest documentary series from Ken Burns, who has Dallas. She is planning her Immediately after the feel negative emotions con- delved into such subjects as baseball, jazz, national parks next book. shooting, some of the Amish nected to the memory. When and wars in his previous documentaries. went to visit the widow and you can remember what hap- This documentary series spans from the 1920s to the “To forgive is to set a three young children left pened and feel nothing — that prisoner free and discover behind by the shooter to ex- is when you have truly let 1990s, and Burns tells the story of how country music be- that the prisoner was you.” press their forgiveness. They go and forgiven. When you gan as “hillbilly music” and broadened its reach and in- - Lewis B. Smedes later took some of the donat- repeat what happened over ing them — it is hurting you. spired other musical subsets to become a popular American ed money and set up a fund and over to all your friends You are the one whose body art form. In October of 2006, an for the family. and get angry all over again, is being ravaged by stress, Although my musical taste is diverse, my favorite genre armed man took a group of A week later, the Amish saying, “Oh, but I’ve for- anger and pain — not them. is classic rock, but country music could be deemed a first Amish school children hos- demolished the schoolhouse given him/her” - you're ly- You are the one whose en- tage in a rural town in Penn- where the tragedy occurred ing - to yourself as well as to ergy and thoughts are being cousin to rock n’ roll, as both styles of music have been sylvania. Still grief stricken and built a new and different others. You haven't forgiv- eaten up by bitterness and the province of America’s working class and middle class. over the loss of a prema- one in its place. en anybody if you become resentment — not them. You Both genres often explore universal subjects, especially in ture daughter 9 years ear- How many of us would emotional each time you re- lier and plagued by perverse have stood and screamed member. You have not for- are the one still painfully re- romance, such as first love, true love, lost love, unrequited thoughts, he struck out at the curses at the man who took living over and over the pain given a thing if you can still love and infidelity. innocence he felt tormented their children’s lives? How recall every little detail. No you felt - not them. The musical genres also prove an old adage about art - by. Within an hour, he had many of us would have re- one can recall that kind of Sometimes we find the good art, anyway — standing the test of time. Good music shot 10 innocent girls be- sponded with such utter detail unless they are replay- person we most need to for- — no matter the genre — possesses certain attributes, such tween the ages of 6 and 13 grace and dignity? With so ing what happened over and give is ourselves. Whatever before turning the gun on over in their mind for years the case, the kindest thing much evidence of the faith in as intelligence, imagination. honesty and heart. The “main himself. Five children died which they believed? How at a time. you can do for yourself is to thing,” as one could interpret in a certain way, is about fi- and another five were left in many of us could have found Forgiveness does not let go of the hurt, the anger, delity to making music that connects with people in some critical condition. it in our hearts to even think change what has happened the negative thoughts — the way. Anyone who knows any- of forgiveness, much less in the past, but it can change poison that is killing you, Burns told The Tennessean, a newspaper based in Nash- thing about the Amish know extend it, in a time of such what will happen in the fu- and get off the merry-go- they are a wonderful and unspeakable loss? ture. It changes how you will round of resentment before ville, last year why country music is the “perfect subject” gentle people. The world The Amish are indeed a feel every day for the rest of it swallows up your future as for exploration. was about to see just how wise people. They under- your life. well as your past. “Because as (songwriter) Harlan Howard said, ‘It’s three deeply they really believed stand that forgiveness does Forgiveness does not have You can spend your life chords and the truth,’” Burns said. “It does not have the what they claimed. not mean you agree with to be requested or acknowl- trying to make people pay On the day the shooting what the other person did. edged. Forgiveness is some- for what they did to you, sophistication and elegance of jazz, but what it has is es- occurred, one of the Amish They understand forgive- thing you do for yourself, but it will never be enough. sential human emotions and stories told, basically, that ev- grandfathers was overheard ness is not something you not for the other person. Of- It will never erase the pain erybody experiences. When someone says, ‘I’m not a fan warning some of his young- feel, but something you do. ten, the other person doesn’t you went through or give of country music,’ we just say, ‘OK, just watch.’” er relatives not to let hate It is the beginning ofhealing care whether you are hurt or enter their hearts, saying, from the wound, not the end. not. Sometimes they are not you back the time you spent On the second night of the series, viewers learn how Roy grieving it. What has been “We must not think evil of They are humble. Forgive- even aware they have hurt Acuff and Frank Sinatra were equally popular to American this man.” An Amish father ness is not for the proud, for you. Forgiveness should not done can never be undone. servicemen in World War II. Along those lines of WWII was overheard saying, “He the proud often find it diffi- include expectations of the You can be tortured by it participants, we learn how Bob Wills entered the service had a mother and a wife and cult to forgive at all. other person apologizing or forever or you can set your- at age 36, and how Gene Autry, “The Singing Cowboy,” a soul and now he’s standing The fact that they demol- somehow “making things self free by forgiving. took his military oath over the radio. Burns offers gems like before a just God.” ished the old schoolhouse right.” The choice is up to you. In the days, weeks and says a lot. For every time To truly forgive, you must “Whatever has your focus those throughout the series. months following, condo- they looked at it, they would understand that your lack also has you.” — Dr. Charles “Country Music” continues until Wednesday on PBS. lences and financial dona- surely have been tempted of forgiveness is not hurt- Stanley.” Tough stance on cyberbullying is necessary Enid News & Eagle, Okla. rass, or threaten to inflict in- with intent to annoy, abuse, is a misdemeanor. Any sec- officials from saying what vice to engage in Cyberbul- We are glad to see that jury or physical harm to any threaten or harass any per- ond or subsequent offense is actions were taken. lying, to bring any personal Oklahoma is strengthening person or property of that son at the called number. a felony. EPS has rules against cy- communication device on its laws concerning cyber- person. --Knowingly permit any If anything, we wouldn't berbullying that its students district property or district- bullying. --Make a telecommunica- telecommunication or other have minded seeing it be a and employees must follow. sponsored activities.” Starting Nov. 1, state law tion or other electronic com- electronic communication felony crime upon first con- Other school districts have Vigorous application of will make it unlawful for munication, whether or not under the control of the per- viction, but we like that this similar rules. the rules against cyberbul- anyone to use a telecommu- conversation ensues, with son to be used for any pur- The EPS policy states: lying are what is needed at has been spelled out in law. nication or other electronic intent to put the party called pose prohibited by this sec- Cyberbullying reared its “The district may revoke the the school level. While we communication device to: in fear of physical harm or tion. ugly head recently when privilege of board members, won’t be able to totally erad- --Make any comment, death. --In conspiracy or concert- several Enid High School students, staff or patrons icate the problem, maintain- request, suggestion or pro- --Make a telecommunica- ed action with others, makes students, and at least one who use district equipment ing a tough stance, by school posal that is obscene, lewd, tion or other electronic com- repeated calls or electronic student from another school or electronic communication officials and law enforce- lascivious, filthy or indecent. munication, including text, communications or simul- district, engaged in some system to engage in Cyber- ment, will go a long way to --Make a telecommunica- sound or images whether taneous calls or electronic unsavory activity via the bullying, The district may discouraging teens from do- tion or other electronic com- or not conversation ensues, communications solely to social media site Snapchat. revoke the privilege of any ing this sort of thing. munication including text, without disclosing the iden- harass any person at the Students were disciplined, board members, students, It also can’t hurt that state sound or images with intent tity of the person making the called number(s). but federal privacy laws pro- staff or patrons who use a law spells out the conse- to terrify, intimidate or ha- call or communication and A first offense conviction hibited Enid Public Schools personal communication de- quences as well. 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