February 15, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 12

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, February 15, 2020 Opinion Page When life doesn’t follow your plans “ElkCituNews Glynda Lomax is a Chris- tian author and podcaster the way we are living to- income, your investments or day in any way, but we can your home, but many parents Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 who resides in the Ozark resolve to give ourselves a sitting tonight in the burn or Mountains of Northern Ar- new chance as the new year Football, choir, cancer unit of a hospital in kansas with her two very bossy dogs. She wrote her begins. We can promise our- a city near you would glad- first About Life column in selves that, no matter what ly trade their problems for band ... esports? 2003 for a newspaper in life has taken from us, no yours. Someone you don’t Dallas. She is planning her matter what curve balls it know who sits tonight by next book. has thrown at us, no matter the bedside of someone they Glynda Lomax “The reason people find it how many disappointments love more than life itself no matter how uncertain to- so hard to be happy is that we have endured the last with a terminal illness would day may appear. I resolve they always see the past bet- year, how many losses have gladly trade places with you. to find the gift in every day left us reeling — we will look They would gladly trade ter than it was, the present I am given, to untie its rib- at them as opportunities not their income or home for worse than it is, and the fu- bons and to enjoy each of ture less resolved than it will to become bitter and disap- none if it meant their child those gifts to the fullest. I be.” - Marcel Pagnol pointed. We can resolve to or loved one could have their resolve to run past all the op- look at them for simply what health back. portunities life offers me to As we step ahead into a they are — events we didn’t Whatever you have lost, become angry or bitter over brand new year, many of us want or ask for, events that resolve to look instead with my losses and to love more S appreciation and thank- also turn and look back at the we could never have fore- deeply than ever before, and Photo by 888sports.com. seen. We can resolve to fulness at what you have one we are leaving behind. to show it. I resolve to seek Last year was full of surpris- search deeply within the left. Resolve that no matter out each day ways to be kind By Don Munsch, Editor es —some good, many not so events for the lessons they how uncertain life seems, to others, to make their bur- EIk City Public Schools administration will study add- good as our economy took bring us. What appear to be if you still have breath, you densa little lighter. I resolve us on a roller coaster ride the worst events can some- still have a purpose on this to give more to the world ing esports as an extracurricular activity. we're not sure has ended. times be the wrapping on the earth. And no matter what around me, no matter how The Elk City school board gave the green light on Many have lost jobs, homes most special of blessings, we you have lost, you still have little I may have. Monday for Superintendent Rick Garrison to check and more, leaving them ca- only have to get past the pa- something left to be thankful T resolve to look for ways reening from their losses and per and peer inside to under- for. to show more love more into adding esports. Other school districts are doing As for my new year’s res- often as well as to improve wondering which direction stand the true value of what their own esports programs, and Garrison said there to head in next. we have been given. olutions, this year I resolve myself not only on the out- Along our journeys, most We must search the gifts to be thankful for my friends side, but more importantly was some scholastic merit to esports. Plus, esports of us have learned that life with the sure knowledge and family in ways they can from the inside out. And not could appeal to students who do not find their niche does not play by our rules. that, no matter how bad see — by calling more of- just at the start of the New anywhere else in school. And more often than not, what has happened to us is, ten, sending cards and gifts Year, but every day of the life does not play out the our lives could always be so they know my thoughts coming year. I can’t imagine the idea of a competition centering way we hoped. The way we worse. And we must learn to are with them, by spending on playing video games becoming an extracurricular envisioned our life would be thankful for the good we more time making memories “Attitude is a little thing be when we were small still have. with them. I resolve to look that makes a big difference.” activity, but a lot has changed over the years. Esports children may not resemble You may have lost your to the future with optimism; ~ Winston Churchill can be found televised on sports networks now. Boy, video games themselves have come a long way from Pong, haven’t they? Many of us in my age brack- The Conscience of a Conservative et grew up playing hand-held football and baseball by Bob Topper gue that each of their moral peal to a “higher power,” as of the political preachers Mark my word, if and codes is their God’s law some members of Congress across this country telling games from Mattel Electronics. I could never hit a when these preachers get and is therefore supreme. claim, is contrary to the en- me as a citizen that ifI want curve ball for a homer on the baseball game, but those control of the [Republican] That argument did not sit tire concept of America. to be a moral person, I must well with the framers of the games held a certain charm because they were among party, and they’re sure try- Constitution who treated all To allow religious belief to believe in “A,” “B,’ “C’ and ing to do so, it’s going to trump the Constitution in- “D.’ Just who do they think the first of their breed. be a terrible damn problem. religions equally and based our government and laws on vites lawlessness. “Honor they are? And from where Then came a slew of video games one could find at Frankly, these people fright- reason, not religion or mysti- killings,” for example, while en me. Politics and govern- cism or superstition. not uncommon in some do they presume to claim the convenience stores or the arcade at the mall. If you right to dictate their moral ing demand compromise. The Enlightenment think- countries, could never be were lucky, you might have had a pool hall or bowl- But these Christians believe ers rejected Christian rev- acceptable here. For obvi- beliefs to me? And I ameven ing alley that offered games. [Growing up, we had a they are acting in the name elation and replaced it with ous reasons the Constitution more angry as a legislator of God, so they can’t and reason. Consequently our overrides the any religious who must endure the threats pool hall in my hometown that catered to teens.] Those won’t compromise. I know, Constitution, the most im- code that egregiously vio- of every religious group places had everything from Space Invaders to Pac- T’ve tried to deal with them portant document to come lates our rights. who thinks it has some God- Barry Goldwater, Conser- out of the Age of Enlighten- Interestingly, the Christian Man to Gauntlet to Donkey Kong. Those games, too, ment, is derived from rea- granted right to control my vative Republican, 1981 Bible also demands honor son. It is neither an endorse- vote on every roll call in the brimmed with character, and they not only left imag- There are many good Killings, though Christians ment nor a denial of God or Senate. I am warning them ery in my mind, but sounds as well, such as Pac-Man’s people from other cultures, religion. That does not mean no longer believe that pre- with quite different faiths, that the founders were in- serving a man’s honor re- today: I will fight them ev- “waka-waka-waka” or Gauntlet’s “Your life force is who live moral and produc- quires that he kill his daugh- ery step of the way if they try different to religion. On the running out.” tive lives. Judeo-Christian contrary, they believed in ter for promiscuity. Here to dictate their moral convic- principles are not the only God and defended religious common sense has clearly tions to all Americans in the Those halcyon days eventually evolved into contem- path to morality. Hinduism beliefs. Many were Deists triumphed over the Biblical name of ‘conservatism.’ porary times when games became popular on home and Buddhism teach similar and Christians. But when it mandate. Unfortunately the reli- video systems. The games themselves became more principals and have equally came to writing the Consti- Democracy requires gious right has changed tution, they took the Deist’s thoughtful deliberation, interesting mythical histo- what it means to be a con- sophisticated and violent. Sophistication, I like. Vio- ries. The very fact that simi- position and wisely rejected debate based in fact and revelation as its foundation. truth, not faith, or fantasy. servative. The Republican lence, not so much. lar sets of principles were Consequently, our Constitu- Members of Congress who Party of today bears little developed simultaneously tion is a secular document refuse to reason, who ap- And now international competitions set in arenas. resemblance to Goldwa- by different cultures implies that guarantees religious peal to scripture and reject Who woulda thunk? that rather than being hand- ter’s. And the religious right freedom. evidence, fail to understand ed down from the gods, they So it is that politicians what the Constitution re- seems hell-bent on dictating I worked in a video arcade shortly after high school, evolved along with their re- must reconcile their per- quires of them. They do a “their moral convictions to but I was never a gamer. It was just a job. Happened spective cultures. sonal religious beliefs with great disservice to our na- all Americans in the name of before I left to go to another job in the days before I Western culture is rooted reason and a secular con- tion. To choose Christian “conservatism,” as they try in ancient Greece. Plato’s stitution. With courage and revelation over reason is to rewrite American history, left home to attend a four-year university. grace Senator Mitt Romney to do what our enlightened tules of logic defined how My interest in video games waned sometime in ado- recently showed how that is founders rejected. It is not and change the meaning of we reason, and Socrates, the Constitution. Should done. Faith guided his con- lescence, and I only occasionally play video games as who lived 400 years before the American way. As Gold- science, but his objective they succeed, it will be sad Christ, was the first moral water remarked 40 years an adult, such as when I have gone to Dave & Buster’s consideration of the facts led day for everyone,...Chris- philosopher. He developed to the truth, and his decision ago, “politics and governing tians included. with my two nieces, who are gamers. his moral principles using to vote “guilty” in the Trump require compromise.” reason. He did not rely on impeachment trial on one Goldwater also had this to Bob Topper is a retired en- Again, Elk City Public School will investigate add- say: gineer and is syndicated by Christian revelation. Article of Impeachment. ing esports, so stay tuned on developments. Christianity and Islam, ar- The idea that one can ap- I’m frankly sick and tired PeaceVoice. Have something to share? Send your editorial to [email protected]