November 15, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, November 15, 2019 “ElkCituNews The thought that counts Opinion Page Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Glynda Lomax is a Chris- placed it and how much see- lesson and come to simply tian author and podcaster ing it each day blessed her. expect gifts without giving Time to change who resides in the Ozark Her note warmed my heart Mountains of Northern Ar- and made me truly glad I had kansas with her two very given her the gift. It made me even a mere acknowledg- ment in return? Is it really possible to be so busy you think ahead to other lovely cannot say Thank You? the subject bossy dogs. She wrote her first About Life..column in gifts I could bestow upon We have so much to be 2003 for a newspaper in her. Gratitude often creates thankful for — even those Dallas. She is planning her that response. Whenever of us who have lost jobs, By Don Munsch, Editor next book. someone truly appreciates homes, investments and what we give them, it makes more in the Recession only a Surveys fascinate me. “God gave you a gift of decade ago — we are left with us want to give them more. Whether they come from Gallup, a think tank or a news| 86,400 seconds today. Have At Christmas, most of us so much more than many organization, surveys can give insight into the mood of the you used one to say “Thank love to give gifts to show around us ever had to begin public or reveal something about people’s values. You?” - William Arthur our love and appreciation of with. Even so, we seem to You? Even if it wasn’t a gift I ran across a series published on CNN.com the other] Ward family and friends. In many be living in an increasingly you truly liked, the outlay of day that chronicled the nation’s current polarized state and| cases, we are present when thankless society, one in My Aunt Wilda was recipients open our gifts which many seem to expect time, effort and expense of its effects. CNN stated the “Fractured States of America” known as a giver of beautiful and know they like them, everything and want to give the giver deserves your ac- series will, over the next three weeks, “explore the new} gifts in our family. She had but that is not always pos- nothing. knowledgment. landscape of a polarized America and examine ways to get a flair for choosing lovely sible. My family and friends Thank yous do not have to The art of saying Thank beyond it, with the help of frequent CNN Opinion contribu- gifts and graciously bestow- are spread over numerous take the time of a long phone You should not be a lost one, but an art we all practice dai- tors and many new voices, including those ofour readers.” ing them on family mem- states, as are the families call. They do not have to be ly. Gratitude brings with it While no one is surprised that people are divided about| bers upon her every visit and friends of many others. on fancy note cards. They politics and the never-ending “culture wars,” what jumped] from her resplendent Texas Over the years, in contrast can be as simple as a scrib- many benefits, not the least home. One Christmas I sent to my gracious Aunt, I have bled note on plain paper or of which is to make us con- out at me was the info in the third paragraph: A little over} her a package containing a noticed that some on my gift a quick email, but every gift stantly aware of our many one third of people who identify as Republicans and nearly delicate collectible plate and list who live in other towns or act of kindness deserves blessings. one-half of those who are Democrats wouldn’t want their} plate holder. As always, my fail repeatedly to so much as to be acknowledged. Think As for all the thankless child to marry someone from the opposite political party, Aunt had the tastefulness to acknowledge the gifts I give of the time the giver of the people on my gift list - next according to research from the Public Religion Research| send a Thank You note for them by even a note or email gift took to shop for or even year, I’m giving them all the gift. Her note was not to say they received them. make what they thought was Thank You cards for Christ- Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit polling organization only an expression of true The first phrases most peo- just the right gift for you, mas. based in Washington, D.C. appreciation, it was more. ple teach their children are pay for it, wrap it and then Astounding. People wouldn’t want their child to marry She not only stated she Please and Thank You. How see it was delivered to you, “Silent gratitude isn't someone who holds different political beliefs or opinions?| had received the plate but is it then that as adults, we the recipient. And you can’t much use to anyone.” ~ G.B. Couldn’t they easily agree to disagree on politics and just also where in her home she have lost such an important find the time to say Thank Stern avoid discussions about those matters during get-togethers, | including the holidays? The first part of the series got me thinking about how far| the country has drifted into tribalism, that people are avoid-| ing contact with those they deem to be “others” because} Fees not unreasonable for they want to be comfortable in every part of their life and| associate with like-minded people. Self-segregation wasn’t always this extreme, though. In one community I once worked in, the two leaders of the} Oklahoma state parks county’s political parties - Republican and Democratic -| The Oklahoman, Okla- lagoons at Sequoyah State He was right -- the park this Entrance fees won’t come got together to have lunch periodically to chat about what- homa City Park, Tenkiller State Park year began charging $10 per close to paying for all the For years, officials with and Lake Texoma State Park car on weekends. We've work that’s needed, Win- ever was going on. the Oklahoma Department led to an order to close rest heard no reports of that driv- chester says. He and his staff That was many years ago, and now I could easily imag- rooms. Similar problems of Tourism and Recreation ing visitors away. estimate that improving and ine the leaders of the two parties — even without knowing} have sought ways to im- were reported elsewhere. Jerry Winchester, execu- maintaining infrastructure, who they are — don’t have anything to do with each other, prove and maintain our state It’s also true that many of tive director of the tourism lodging, trails, swimming based on what’s happened in the country in the last couple| parks. The current head of our parks have been money- department, announced last the agency believes entry pools, parking lots, etc., losers that haven’t attracted week that beginning in the of decades fees will help, and he’s right the number of visitors need- spring, fees will be charged would take an additional $40 Still, people can overcome differences. Just about every- to pursue them. ed to justify the costs of op- at about 50 of the 117 en- million per year. one has a friend, co-worker or family member who sees the| Oklahoma is one of the eration. Early in this decade, trances to Oklahoma state But you’ve got to start world in a certain way — a way we may not subscribe to —| few states that don’t charge to address this problem, the parks. Fees will be based on somewhere. Otherwise, and we can definitely just try to avoid topics of discussion| for admission at most of tourism department closed a dynamic pricing structure Winchester is concerned that that create friction so we can remain on good terms. its state parks. There has or transferred the operation and could vary by park and park conditions will deterio- But, by the same token, wouldn’t we benefit from a more| long been a natural opposi- of seven parks that weren’t the time of year. rate to a point where people tion to the idea, often from self-sufficient. All seven It’s anticipated the fees won't want to visit. Rough- “tell-me-more-so-I-can-understand” approach in these re-| members of the Legislature were taken over by local could generate $8 million ly 10 million use the parks lationships? I get, though, that some people are definitely -- even though that body governments, injecting life to $10 million annually -- each year. not curious about the opposition’s views or how those indi: controls the purse strings into the parks and saving the a significant chunk of that “Tt will get to the point viduals came to form certain attitudes and opinions. and hasn’t always been kind state money. from out-of-state visitors. where people say, ‘I don’t This CNN series triggered thoughts about how people to the agency. In the past Last year, the agency “We can’t continue for our want to go there. The bath- can still form bonds of friendship, family or community. decade, its state funding has turned operations of Red mission to be just to keep the fallen by nearly a third. Rock Canyon State Park near doors open so that people rooms are horrible, the roads Filmmaker Ken Burns was quoted in the first part of the Oklahoma has many beau- Hinton to a company owned can go enjoy what’s left of are bad, the beach is bad, the series saying that the way to bridge gaps is to share stories, tiful parks, but at times they by a local businessman. That the parks as they return to access is bad and the camp- because everyone has stories and they can sometimes lead| have been saddled with in- angered the park’s former their natural state,” Win- sites aren’t done very well,” back to “emotions and feelings we have in common.” frastructure problems. In manager, who warned that chester said. “We’ve got to he said. That’s a great start. 2002, problems with sewage an entrance fee could result. invest in them ...” No one should want that. Oklahoma ScissorTales: Clock ticking on REAL ID compliance By Oklahomn, Oklahoma spent $11 million and could upon someone openly carry- a “Department of Redundan- lumbia across 29 metrics, missioner in 2016 by Mayor City spend another $10 million in ing, or when they are called cy.” But later in the commis- WalletHub ranked Oklaho- Bill de Blasio, who prefers The news that it could cost the next year on this effort. to look into someone who sioners’ meeting, Stein said ma as the sixth-fattest state. the police take a hands-off $21 million-plus to make “It’s a big project for us,” is. But Gourley, the head of he did want to be included. The top spot is held by Mis- approach to small crimes. Oklahoma’s state identifica- Gov. Kevin Stitt said this the Oklahoma City Fraternal A nine-member jail trust is sissippi, followed by West tion cards compliant with week. “We’re committed. Order of Police and a ma- working on hiring an admin- Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes- This summer saw a handful federal law makes one won- We're playing the hand we jor in the Oklahoma County istrator to run the jail, instead see and Alabama. The re- of incidents where people der what it would have cost were dealt, but we've got sheriff's office say officers of the sheriff, who is turning port placed Oklahoma third dumped water on police offi- if policymakers had simply to get this across the finish are well-informed about the over the reins on Jan. 1. The nationally for the percentage cers and taunted them as they complied from the outset. line.” Jaw and well-trained to han- newly formed committee of obese adults, 11th for the tried to do their jobs. More The law, called the REAL He’s right. Homeland Se- dle it. They do wish, how- includes designees for each percentage of overweight ID Act, was approved by curity has given Oklahoma, ever, that legislators would of the three commissioners, children, fifth for the per- recently, people roughly 1,000 marched through the Congress in 2005 in re- one of three states that have have consulted them before the sheriff, the treasurer, the centage of physically inac- sponse to the 9/11 attacks yet to comply, until Oct. 1, passing the law this year. “It county clerk and the pur- tive adults and fifth for the borough of Brooklyn to pro- with the aim of making it 2020. The agency insists this would be nice to have some chasing department. “We percentage of adults with test what they say is police more difficult for criminals will be the final extension. input prior to those things wanted to include anybody high cholesterol. The report brutality in the subway sys- to obtain fake ID cards. In Asking the pros would taking effect so they could who thought they might be says more than seven in 10 tem. Chants included “No 2007, citing concerns about have been nice hear our side of it,” Gourley left out,” said Commissioner U.S. adults 20 and older ei- justice, no peace/(bleep) government overreach, pri- Three local law enforce- said. Gee, what a concept. Brian Maughan. Mission ac- ther overweight or obese. these racist police” and vacy and compliance costs, ment officials interviewed Jail transition gives birth complished. Someday, maybe Oklahoma the Legislature approved by The Oklahoman say to anew committee “Punch a cop in the face/ev- Health rating continues a won’t contribute so signifi- without opposition a bill re- they believe issues related A committee created this long tradition cantly to that statistic. ery nation, every race.” (The jecting REAL ID. to a new gun law will work week to help with a leader- Oklahoma’s health-related NYC police commissioner protests earned applause, Twelve years later, the themselves out in time. The ship transition at the Okla- statistics when compared has had enough naturally, from Rep. Alexan- Legislature repealed the statute lets law-abiding citi- homa County jail got off to with other states have long James O’Neill, commis- dria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.) law after the Department of zens 21 and older carry a an interesting start. Asked if ranked near the bottom of sioner of the New York Po- O'Neill didn’t give a reason Homeland Security withheld firearm without a permit or he wanted to be part of the the list. A new report by the lice Department, is leaving for his departure. But if he’s a deadline extension for the training. Oklahoma City’s committee, County Asses- finance website WalletHub after three years in his cur- state to come into compli- police chief, Wade Gourley, sor Larry Stein said no and provides yet another chap- rent post and more than three simply grown weary of the ance. That work is ongoing. says the law will make more wondered why county com- ter. After comparing the 50 decades with the NYPD. disrespect, who could blame Officials sav Oklahoma has work for officers who come missioners needed to create states and the District of Co- O’Neill was named com- him?